The narrative he builds is one that compels us to become more comfortable with math and statistics, one that suggests we should take advantage of machines where possible, and one in which we cannot lose the human element guiding the analysis if we want to avoid catastrophic chaos-theory driven failures to which machines are susceptible.

FORBES: A Guide to Thinking In the Era of Big Data: Nate Silver's "The Signal & The Noise"

Second, it almost entirely ignored a major, if not the major, element of this kind of analysis: prejudice to the defendants.

FORBES: Lindsey Prosecutors Deserved Better

Current and former marshals contacted by CNN took exception to Napolitano's claims, saying that although there is an element of randomness to increase unpredictability, the assignments of air marshals are largely based on intelligence and an analysis of which flights are most vulnerable or most attractive to terrorists.

CNN: Air travel security under review, officials say