Whitehouse Reverses Spin On Terror Attack

Whitehouse officials are in a tailspin trying to control the embarrassment caused by the near bombing of an airline by a known terrorist suspect allowed on the plane with explosives hidden under his shirt. On Sunday, Homeland Security Advisor Napolitano said, "One thing I'd like to point out is that the system worked." On Monday, she reversed course, saying she was referring to the system of notifying other flights as well as law enforcement on the ground about the incident soon after it happened.

The top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee took issue with Napolitano's initial assessment.

Airport security "failed in every respect," Rep. Peter King of New York said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation." "It's not reassuring when the secretary of Homeland Security says the system worked."

Investigators are piecing together Abdulmutallab's brazen attempt to bring down Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Dec. 25. Law enforcement officials say he tucked below his waist a small bag holding his potentially deadly concoction of liquid and powder explosive material.

Abdulmutallab had been placed in a U.S. database of people suspected of terrorist ties in November, but there was not enough information about his activity that would kept him from flying.

However, British officials placed Abdulmutallab's name on a U.K. watch list after he was refused a student visa in May. Abdulmutallab received a degree in engineering and business finance from University College London last year and later applied to re-enter Britain to study at another institution. Johnson said Monday he was refused entry because officials suspected the school was not genuine and they then put his name on the list.

Meanwhile, President Obama remains in Hawaii on vacation. See Chick's THE SKYLIGHTER.