U.S.: No ‘smoking gun’ in airline bombing plot

[maseman]

Source: MSNBC/AP

WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence agencies did not miss a "smoking gun" that could have prevented an alleged attempt to blow up a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day, President Barack Obama's top counterterrorism adviser said Sunday.

Appearing on Sunday news talk shows, White House aide John Brennan cited "lapses" and errors in the sharing of intelligence and clues about the Nigerian man accused in the foiled attempt.

(snip)

His comments came as a senior British government official revealed that British intelligence officials knew that the suspect had ties to U.K. extremists but did not consider him enough of a high risk to alert American authorities.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34672794/ns/us_news-airliner_attack

---

Doesn't matter. The MSM and right-wingnuts will most certainly blast Obama and Dems for being soft on terra. Doesn't matter that 3,000 people died on Sept. 11th. Shrub and Darth kept us safe. Obama and the Dems can't. Blah blah. Cue the asshole media in three...two...one...

[seeinfweggos]

1. only smoking underwear

[maseman]

2. That's great!

:rofl:

My son (11) asked with a straight face "Was the terrorist trying to light a fart to catch the plane on fire?" As I burst out laughing I realized it was also a sad discussion overall.

[seeinfweggos]

5. i had to laugh when aq put out the statement bragging about having gotten their

bomb on to the plane, even though it didn't go off properly. my only thought was, ok, but your guy set his junk on fire. you really want to brag about this one?

edit spellin'

[rcrush]

3. Have the people started screaming for nude body scanners yet?

Seems like this is where its going.

[damntexdem]

16. How about scanners where one goes through nude but appears on the screen with clothes on?

Meanwhile, TSA agents will be checking the actual nude bodies.

;-)

[kgnu_fan]

4. Do we trust anything John Brennan says???

Brennan has publicly supported the CIA’s policies “enhanced interrogation techniques” and extraordinary rendition...


http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/9/headlines#12
Brennan Appointed Obama Counterterror Adviser

In other news, Obama has appointed former CIA official John Brennan as his top aide on counterterrorism. Brennan had been Obama’s top candidate to head the Central Intelligence Agency but was forced to withdraw from consideration amid protests. Brennan has publicly supported the CIA’s policies of so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques” and extraordinary rendition. Brennan’s new position doesn’t require congressional approval.


http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/9/did_obama_aide_admiral_dennis_blair
Did Obama Aide Admiral Dennis Blair Lie to Congress?

President-elect Obama is expected to name his intelligence team today: Leon Panetta for the CIA, John Brennan as a key White House adviser, and Admiral Dennis Blair as Director of National Intelligence. Blair, as Allan Nairn reported on Democracy Now!, was implicated in backing the perpetrators of church massacres in East Timor in 1999. Award-winning investigative reporter Allan Nairn reveals new information that indicates he may have lied to Congress.

[sandnsea]

6. 2008 Ambassador to Britain = Anne Amstrong

Mother of Katharine Armstrong, who was at the Armstrong Ranch when Cheney shot his friend in the face.

She was the Ambassador in June 2008, when the terrorist's VISA was issued.

Where's that story?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/us/27terror.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Armstrong

[go west young man]

14. Where is the backstory on his previous trip to Houston?

Mr. Abdulmutallab was issued a regular visitor’s visa by the United States Embassy in London in June 2008, the administration official said. There was no “derogatory information available” on him at the time he applied, and he was granted a two-year visa, which is still valid, the official said. He had traveled to the United States once before, to Houston in August 2008.

[sandnsea]

15. To attend an Islamic school

http://www.kvue.com/news/Houstons-Nigerian-community-distances-itself-from-terrorism-suspect-80500472.html

[leveymg]

7. Deja Vu - 02/11/2004 - "No smoking guns" in White House intel reports - 9/11 Comm. Chair Thom Kean

Deja vu all over again. Poorly chosen words, at least. And if repeating them makes some sort of statement by the MSM about a supposed equivalence between the two events, that is quite intentionally so.

From Tribune news services
Published February 11, 2004

WASHINGTON -- The chairman of the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks said Tuesday there were "no smoking guns" in classified Oval Office intelligence reports to suggest that President Bush and his senior White House aides fumbled intelligence warning of the possibility of a terrorist strike before the attacks.

The comments from the chairman of the panel, former Gov. Thomas Kean of New Jersey, came on the same day that the White House relented in the face of a subpoena threat and agreed to allow all 10 members of the independent panel to review a summary of the intelligence reports. The daily briefings are prepared each morning by the Central Intelligence Agency for the Oval Office.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0402...

So, Governor, what was the 08/06/01 PDB, if not a smoking hot .357 Magnum? But, we didn't learn about that from you, did we?

[Andronex]

8. One million on the no fly list...

and after repeated warnings to the CIA they did not put this guy on it... why?

[Ter]

9. Maybe they wanted him on the plane

The Patriot Act was set to expire on 12/31/09, and this happens about a week before. Hmm...

[maseman]

12. I doubt that

I think that there are so many moving parts nobody can figure out what the other is doing. Who knows if this guy was using an alias. You'd assume he would be if working for Al-Q. Of course he did try to lite his undies on fire also.

[seeinfweggos]

10. because obviously the system is worthless

look, there is no way there needs to be a list with a million people on it. and ANY list needed the undie bomber on it. big fail.

[RogueBandit]

11. The guns sure smell like they're smoking!

As "Hulk" said in another DU thread <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4208929&mesg_id=4208964">Link>, "The guy bought a one-way ticket with cash? The guy had NO LUGGAGE??? The guy is from YEMEN, and on a "terrorist watch list"????"

No 'Smoking Gun'? What the hell are those signs Hulk mentioned if not a smoking gun?

Disgusted with the whole terrorist bull*.

[clear eye]

13. What?! His father talked to a CIA staffer in the U.S. embassy.

This is nonsensical spin.