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Jetliner Bomb Plot Is Foiled
WallStreet Journal ^ | By SIOBHAN GORMAN, LAURA MECKLER and EVAN PERE

Posted on 05/07/2012 10:30:31 PM PDT by lbryce

The U.S. thwarted a bomb plot by al Qaeda's Yemeni branch aimed at bringing down a jetliner with a more advanced version of an underwear bomb used in a failed 2009 Christmas Day attempt, officials said Monday.

The Central Intelligence Agency, working with foreign security services, was able to seize the bomb—which they believed was intended for a U.S.-bound flight—before the would-be suicide bomber was able to move ahead with his plot, officials said. Because the plot was headed off in its early stages, officials said the effort never represented a threat to Americans or to U.S. allies, nor did airlines face a direct threat.

The bomb was "viable," a senior U.S. counterterrorism official said. The official added that it probably would have gone off but it did have some flaws that may have impacted its ability to detonate properly. The Federal Bureau of Investigation now has the bomb and is analyzing its makeup. The agency hopes to better understand tactics being employed by the al Qaeda affiliate that U.S. officials say poses the greatest danger to the U.S.

The CIA thwarted a plot by al Qaeda to bomb a U.S.-bound plane last week around the one-year anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta refused to comment on the specifics of the operation, but said the U.S. must remain vigilant in the face of terror.

It wasn't clear late Monday whether federal authorities had the alleged plotter in custody and U.S. officials wouldn't say whether the suspect is still alive.

A senior administration official suggested that intelligence gathered during the investigation helped lead to what Yemeni officials have described as an apparent U.S. drone strike Sunday that killed a top al Qaeda operative, Fahd al-Quso.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; ap; apphonerecords; fahdalquso; leaks; mi5; mi6; phonerecords; underwearbomb; wot; yemen
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Didn't Panetta and the rest of the administration just only a few days ago say the war of terror was over, won? Mr. Panetta would you kindly care to commment?
1 posted on 05/07/2012 10:30:34 PM PDT by lbryce
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To: lbryce

Yes. It’s over. We lost.


2 posted on 05/07/2012 10:32:51 PM PDT by null and void (Day 1204 of our ObamaVacation from reality [and what dark chill/is gathering still/before the storm])
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To: lbryce

someone set us up the bomb, but was unable to don it


3 posted on 05/07/2012 10:33:37 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Mitt! You're going to have to try harder than that to be "severely conservative" my friend.)
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To: lbryce

So, TSA agents fondling six year olds didn’t foil the plot?


4 posted on 05/07/2012 10:36:20 PM PDT by Terry Mross ("It happened. And we let it happen." Peter Griffin - FAMILY GUY)
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To: lbryce
The only things missing from this story are; the jet, an airport and the bomber.
Otherwise it was the perfect Jetliner Bomb Plot!
5 posted on 05/07/2012 10:39:19 PM PDT by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
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To: lbryce

What now, go through the TSA screening naked?

Or maybe just maybe they ought to start profiling.


6 posted on 05/07/2012 10:39:42 PM PDT by gunsequalfreedom (Conservative is not a label of convenience. It is a guide to your actions.)
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To: lbryce

Ban all inbound passengers with origin in any know terrorist countries and countries knows to support terrorism.

Ban all inbound flights from the same countries.

For starters...


7 posted on 05/07/2012 10:42:44 PM PDT by gunsequalfreedom (Conservative is not a label of convenience. It is a guide to your actions.)
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To: lbryce

Another barn door to close. We’ll be told that we need more TSA hands down our pants.


8 posted on 05/07/2012 10:45:31 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
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To: TigersEye

All Hail Obama!


9 posted on 05/07/2012 10:52:18 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Mases Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

10 posted on 05/07/2012 11:05:39 PM PDT by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
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To: ElkGroveDan

We’ll be told that we need more TSA hands down our pants.”

It’s started already. According to our local news, a TSA spokesman has already said that this type of bomb would not have been detected by someone simply going through a scanner and that TSA is looking into other methods of detection. Two years ago I decided that unless it is a dire emergency if I can’t drive I just won’t go. Probably what BO really wants anyway.


11 posted on 05/07/2012 11:07:51 PM PDT by Grams A (The Sun will rise in the East in the morning and God is still on his throne.)
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To: TigersEye
I was just going to say that!

A "viable" bomb that our CIA found in an undisclosed country that was accessible to Yemeni terrorists.

I'm thinking that leaves just one airport? Near 15 Yemen Road? In Yemen?

-PJ

12 posted on 05/07/2012 11:12:06 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (If you can vote for President, then your children can run for President.)
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To: Political Junkie Too

I don’t know Yemen very well so I’ll take your word on the street address. lol


13 posted on 05/07/2012 11:15:54 PM PDT by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
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To: lbryce

I’m supposed to return from Athens to JFK on Delta at the end of this month - not so sure about this. Thinking about changing to Lufthansa to Frankfurt then home. Hmmm

Can’t help but think flying into JFK is just a prime terrorist destination.


14 posted on 05/07/2012 11:51:49 PM PDT by Aria ( 2008 wasn't an election - it was a coup d'etat.)
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To: lbryce

Obama figured it out....he stopped it. (off sarcasm)


15 posted on 05/08/2012 2:33:31 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: TigersEye

I’m sure they have a bunch of these “plots” on ice just waiting for the most opportune times for press release up through the election just so people stop believing Obama hates this country and the white people that live in it.

I was cynical enough when Bush was in office; this guy is 100 times worse.


16 posted on 05/08/2012 2:51:20 AM PDT by kearnyirish2
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To: kearnyirish2

Was listening to Quinn & Rose. An audio clip was played, which said the WH is being very vague about when Obama first heard of the plot, and also that the “bomb” was not a threat to anyone. The questions was asked: what kind of bomb is not a threat to anyone? VERY odd.


17 posted on 05/08/2012 3:15:07 AM PDT by PghBaldy
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To: PghBaldy

The Dems have to spend the next 6 months convincing people that 1) Obama is protecting us, 2) that he is protecting white people as well as black people, and 3) that he is an American patriot.

Good luck on all three...


18 posted on 05/08/2012 3:18:41 AM PDT by kearnyirish2
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To: PghBaldy

The kind of bomb that is not a physical threat to the public is one of these, it’s a re-election campaign commercial.


19 posted on 05/08/2012 3:49:30 AM PDT by RS_Rider (I hate Illinois Nazis)
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To: lbryce
In today's world, the CIA made the body bomb, gave it to the terrorists, and then watched over them as they figured out a way to use it against us, “catching” them just before they boarded a plane....
Just so Obama can say “ I am protecting America”
20 posted on 05/08/2012 4:04:30 AM PDT by lucky american
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