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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

Key security agencies without leadership

President Barack Obama speaks to the media Monday about the airliner bombing attempt on Christmas Day.  (Associated Press)
President Barack Obama speaks to the media Monday about the airliner bombing attempt on Christmas Day. (Associated Press)

President Barack Obama speaks to the media Monday about the airliner bombing attempt on Christmas Day.

WASHINGTON – Two federal agencies charged with keeping potential terrorists off airplanes and out of the country have been without their top leaders for nearly a year.

It took the Obama administration more than eight months to nominate anyone to lead the Transportation Security Administration and the Customs and Border Protection agency.

President Barack Obama has ordered a review of U.S. security policies following the failed Christmas Day attack on a Detroit-bound flight from Amsterdam. He vowed Monday to "do everything that we can to keep America safe."

The acting heads of the TSA and CBP — both created in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — will be at the forefront of these efforts. More here.

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Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.