Confirming what the evidence has indicated so far. Note the claim that this attack was in retaliation for recent strikes in Yemen. It seems much more likely that this was in the works for quite some time, and the attack would have taken place on Christmas in any event. Jihadists will find any convenient grievance to claim as cause for "revenge," though claiming such a fast turnaround is also an attempt to amplify the appearance of the group's operational power. "Al Qaeda claims responsibility for failed terror attack," from CNN, December 28:
Romulus, Michigan (CNN) -- Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attempted Christmas Day terrorist attack on a plane about to land in the U.S., saying it was in retaliation for alleged U.S. strikes on Yemeni soil.
A suspect, Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, is being held for allegedly trying to blow up the flight carrying 300 passengers.
A preliminary FBI analysis found that the device AbdulMutallab allegedly carried aboard the flight from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Detroit, Michigan, contained the explosive pentaerythritol tetranitrate, known as PETN.
The amount of explosive involved was sufficient to blow a hole in the side of the aircraft, a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Sunday.
Authorities have focused their investigation on how AbdulMutallab, 23, allegedly smuggled the explosives aboard the flight and who might have helped him.
Backpedaling a bit:
"We're ascertaining why it was that he was not flagged in a more specific way when he purchased his ticket, given the information that we think was available, allegedly was available," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told CNN's "American Morning" Monday. ...
Oh, come on! This was just a lone-wolf, poverty stricken Nigerian who lacked the opportunity for a decent education and likely was taken in by radicals of some inconsequential religion. Has anyone mentioned that he may have been mentally deficient yet?
/sarc
I see that Al-Qaeda sent their brightest and best ...
IMO Janet is a lame duck....trots out the party line whenever she can.
She should be "reassigned", she's had so many faux pas it's pathetic.
Remember when she warned against "right wing" militants from her own country?
Sheesh.
How was this brilliant Muslim suicide bomber going to deal with his 72 virgins using a crouch bomb.
"Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that she was briefed before the release of a controversial intelligence assessment and that she stands by the report, which lists returning veterans among terrorist risks to the U.S. "
Ya see...Janet Napolitano feels the veterans are the real terrorists....
Obama is really on the fence now. He's stuck between protecting his Muslim cohorts and being squeezed by very intelligent people in the counterterrorism agencies of our government. The ones who are really counterterrorists in our agencies know what is going on and how to deal with it. Obama has his hands full because the things he is best at are; apologizing to the rest of the world for everything we've ever done, and denying that Islamic extremists really exist. He absolutely refuses to speak the words..ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS, or, ISLAMIC TERRORISTS. His lack of experience in the real world is crashing down on him now. It's almost pitiful. I said "almost." His ego is still way ahead of his ability. Americans must stand up and take their own security seriously. L.E. cannot be everywhere, all the time, and we must look out for each other.
Obama is really on the fence now. He's stuck between protecting his Muslim cohorts and being squeezed by very intelligent people in the counterterrorism agencies of our government. The ones who are really counterterrorists in our agencies know what is going on and how to deal with it. Obama has his hands full because the things he is best at are; apologizing to the rest of the world for everything we've ever done, and denying that Islamic extremists really exist. He absolutely refuses to speak the words..ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS, or, ISLAMIC TERRORISTS. His lack of experience in the real world is crashing down on him now. It's almost pitiful. I said "almost." His ego is still way ahead of his ability. Americans must stand up and take their own security seriously. L.E. cannot be everywhere, all the time, and we must look out for each other.
Obama is really on the fence now. He's stuck between protecting his Muslim cohorts and being squeezed by very intelligent people in the counterterrorism agencies of our government. The ones who are really counterterrorists in our agencies know what is going on and how to deal with it. Obama has his hands full because the things he is best at are; apologizing to the rest of the world for everything we've ever done, and denying that Islamic extremists really exist. He absolutely refuses to speak the words..ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS, or, ISLAMIC TERRORISTS. His lack of experience in the real world is crashing down on him now. It's almost pitiful. I said "almost." His ego is still way ahead of his ability. Americans must stand up and take their own security seriously. L.E. cannot be everywhere, all the time, and we must look out for each other.