President Obama said today the failed Christmas Day plot to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner was an apparent “human and system” failure and a “catastrophic breach of security.”

Speaking to pool reporters at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Obama said reviews are ongoing on the terrorist watch system and screening at airports.
“It’s essential that we diagnose the problems quickly,” he said. “The more comprehensive reviews will be completed in the coming weeks.”
He said it appears that “weeks ago” information was passed to “a component of our intelligence community” on the Detroit suspect, but “was not effectively distributed.”
He said the information “should have and could have been pieced together" and added “the warning signs would have raised red flags. The suspect would have never been allowed to board that plane for America.”
Obama made the remarks before jumping in his motorcade and heading for Hanauma Bay, where he met his family for a picnic and snorkeling.
The popular bay was empty because it is closed on Tuesdays to both commercial and private users to give the park some time to recuperate after busy weekends.
The motorcade drove from Kailua through Waimanalo to the bay.
Pool reporters traveling in the motorcade were not able to see Obama get out at the bay. The reporters are staying at the bay, but they are unable to see the first family.
After about two and half hours at Hanauma Bay, Obama and family were packing up to head out.
Obama and his family returned to their Kailua vacation home from Hanauma Bay about 3:50 p.m.
As the motorcade made its way back to Kailua, dozens stood along the side of the road to wave.
More than 20 swimmers lined Sandy Beach, where Obama last bodysurfed in August 2008.
The president and family are back at thehir Kailua vacation home. The media pool is holding, awaiting word on the first family's plans for the evening.
At Hanauma Bay, Obama and family were joined by family friends, including the Nesbitts and the Whitakers.
During the earlier remarks to the press, Obama said the intelligence community is making “real and daily progress,” but also needs improvement.
“When our government has information on a known extremist and that information is not shared” and that suspect boards a plane “a systemic failure has occurred.”
He said, “I consider that totally unacceptable.”
Lastly, Obama said he would do everything he could to support the intelligence community, law enforcement and military, while also holding them accountable.
Obama did not answer any questions.
Obama began his day with an early-morning workout at Marine Corps Base Hawaii’s “Semper Fit” Gym.
Obama’s motorcade left the first family’s Kailua vacation compound at 7:25 a.m., pool reporter Mary Vorsino of the Advertiser reported.
The president spent about an hour working out on base — as he has done every day since he and his family arrived Dec. 24 for a 10-day Hawaii vacation — then returned to his vacation home.
The Advertiser will be updating its homepage throughout the day with pool reports and photographs on the Obamas’ activities as they continue their vacation in the Islands.