While_CS terrorists_NN2 plot_VV0 ,_, the_AT FAA_NN1 parties_NN2 While_CS a_AT1 terrorist_NN1 was_VBDZ plotting_VVG to_TO kill_VVI Americans_NN2 over_II the_AT Christmas_NNT1 holidays_NN2 ,_, what_DDQ was_VBDZ the_AT Federal_JJ Aviation_NN1 Administration_NN1 doing_VDG ?_? 
Why_RRQ ,_, spending_VVG $5_NNU million_NNO on_II a_AT1 three-week-long_JJ Christmas_NNT1 party_NN1 ,_, of_RR21 course_RR22 ._. 
A_AT1 series_NN of_IO seminars_NN2 in_II Atlanta_NP1 officially_RR were_VBDR aimed_VVN at_II training_NN1 managers_NN2 on_II a_AT1 new_JJ air-traffic-controller_JJ contract_NN1 but_CCB degenerated_VVD into_II one_MC1 big_JJ bash_NN1 ._. 
According_II21 to_II22 ABC_NP1 News_NN1 ,_, the_AT seminars_NN2 did_VDD n't_XX even_RR cover_VVI half_DB of_IO the_AT 100_MC new_JJ provisions_NN2 in_II a_AT1 contract_NN1 that_CST went_VVD into_II effect_NN1 two_MC months_NNT2 ago_RA ._. 
Participants_NN2 apparently_RR also_RR were_VBDR too_RG busy_JJ partying_NN1 on_II the_AT taxpayer_NN1 dime_NN1 to_TO learn_VVI much_RR ._. 
Whistleblowers_NN2 told_VVD ABC_NP1 tales_NN2 of_IO rampant_JJ drunken_JJ debauchery_NN1 ,_, including_II one_MC1 attendee_NN1 propositioning_VVG an_AT1 undercover_JJ reporter_NN1 for_IF her_APPGE services_NN2 as_II a_AT1 prostitute_NN1 ._. 
The_AT agency_NN1 has_VHZ a_AT1 long_JJ history_NN1 of_IO misguided_JJ spending_NN1 that_CST does_VDZ nothing_PN1 to_TO improve_VVI flight_NN1 safety_NN1 or_CC efficiency_NN1 ._. 
Since_II 1998_MC ,_, the_AT FAA_NN1 has_VHZ allowed_VVN $3.5_NNU billion_NNO in_II taxpayer_NN1 funds_NN2 intended_VVD to_TO improve_VVI aviation_NN1 safety_NN1 to_TO be_VBI used_VVN to_TO build_VVI private_JJ jet_NN1 hangars_NN2 and_CC new_JJ luxurious_JJ terminals_NN2 for_IF airports_NN2 that_CST average_VV0 just_RR three_MC flights_NN2 a_AT1 day_NNT1 ,_, according_II21 to_II22 USA_NP1 Today_RT ._. 
The_AT problem_NN1 only_RR appears_VVZ to_TO be_VBI getting_VVG worse_JJR under_II President_NNB Obama_NP1 :_: Spending_VVG on_II airport_NN1 projects_VVZ the_AT FAA_NN1 classifies_VVZ as_RG low_JJ priority_NN1 hit_VVD a_AT1 record_NN1 $507_NNU million_NNO this_DD1 year_NNT1 ,_, almost_RR five_MC times_NNT2 what_DDQ was_VBDZ spent_VVN in_II 1998_MC on_II such_DA efforts_NN2 ._. 
That_DD1 money_NN1 could_VM have_VHI been_VBN used_VVN for_IF more_RGR urgent_JJ projects_NN2 ._. 
Improving_VVG the_AT hodgepodge_NN1 of_IO modern_JJ computer_NN1 systems_NN2 layered_VVN on_II31 top_II32 of_II33 long_JJ out-of-date_JJ technology_NN1 should_VM be_VBI the_AT agency_NN1 's_GE top_JJ priority_NN1 ._. 
In_II November_NPM1 ,_, the_AT failure_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 single_JJ computer_NN1 system_NN1 in_II Utah_NP1 disrupted_VVD air_NN1 travel_VV0 nationwide_RL for_IF hours_NNT2 ,_, the_AT second_MD such_DA data-processing_JJ failure_NN1 in_II 15_MC months_NNT2 ._. 
The_AT agency_NN1 is_VBZ spending_VVG $800_NNU million_NNO a_AT1 year_NNT1 on_II its_APPGE so-called_JJ NextGen_NN1 satellite-based_JJ air-traffic_JJ network_NN1 ,_, the_AT centerpiece_NN1 of_IO its_APPGE modernization_NN1 efforts_NN2 ._. 
However_RR ,_, with_IW only_RR a_AT1 minority_NN1 of_IO aircraft_NN nationwide_RL even_RR equipped_VVN to_TO take_VVI advantage_NN1 of_IO satellite_NN1 navigation_NN1 ,_, it_PPH1 will_VM be_VBI years_NNT2 before_CS this_DD1 system_NN1 can_VM significantly_RR improve_VVI air_NN1 travel_NN1 ._. 
Though_CS ,_, as_CSA a_AT1 part_NN1 of_IO the_AT Department_NN1 of_IO Transportation_NN1 ,_, the_AT FAA_NP1 's_GE primary_JJ job_NN1 is_VBZ safety_NN1 and_CC managing_VVG the_AT national_JJ air-traffic_JJ system_NN1 ,_, not_XX security_NN1 ;_; the_AT agency_NN1 's_GE failure_NN1 to_TO focus_VVI on_II the_AT basics_NN2 is_VBZ symptomatic_JJ of_IO the_AT broader_JJR federal_JJ approach_NN1 to_II protecting_VVG the_AT flying_JJ public_JJ --_NN1 failing_VVG management_NN1 ,_, pork-barrel_JJ politics_NN1 and_CC outdated_JJ technology_NN1 ._. 
