January 2010 Archives

The Bomber Who Got Through: Mea Culpa But We’re Still Working On It

We have an obviously obsolete technology trying to match the most dangerous low-tech operators in the world. Today the clueless Michael Leiter did more to earn my new Kermit Tyler award than he did by enjoying his Christmas vacation

The Last People Out Alive

I see the Alfred R. Murrah building multiplied thousands of times and realize how appallingly inadequate the resources are for rescue. It was my frustration at seeing this that made me so critical of the way the resources of the U.S. were deployed in the first 36 hours in Haiti

Where are the Americans?

The Pentagon has already failed the President. And the people of Haiti.

Announcing the Kermit Tyler Award for America The Unready

Given the intelligence mistakes that made the destruction Northwest Flight 253 a near reality, I have decided to institute an award, given to an individual who, responsible for keeping the nation safe, spectacularly drops the ball.

Who Really Picked Seat 19A?

If the jockstrap bomber had been instructed to find a window seat in a row over the wings, when and how did he achieve this? Detroit leg. Getting to the bottom of his ticketing and seat selection is vital to understanding just how deliberately and skillfully planned this trip was

Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself

If anyone remains so convinced of the uniqueness of their own private parts that they would rather not have them innocuously scanned at an airport they should just stay home.

About Clive Alive

Clive Irving is senior consulting editor for Condé Nast Traveler and a founder of the magazine. He believes that travel should not just broaden the mind but broaden the stomach. And that the true miracle of travel, flying, should have a level of service equal to a great hotel. He’s not holding his breath.