Posted on 01/03/2010 6:23:59 AM PST by kristinn
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.
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.
"There is no smoking gun," Brennan said. "There was no single piece of intelligence that said, 'this guy is going to get on a plane.'"
Brennan is leading a White House review of the incident. Obama has said there was a systemic failure to prevent the attack, which he said was instigated by an affiliate in Yemen of the al-Qaida terrorist network.
Obama ordered a thorough look at the shortcomings that permitted the plot, which failed not because of U.S. actions but because the would-be attacker was unable to ignite an explosive device. The president has summoned homeland security officials to meet with him in the White House Situation Room on Tuesday.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab apparently assembled an explosive device, including 80 grams of Pentrite, or PETN, in the aircraft toilet of a Detroit-bound Northwest flight, then planned to detonate it with a syringe of chemicals. Passengers intervened, and the plan failed.
The 23-year-old suspect's name was known to intelligence officials, and his father had passed along his concern about the son's increasing radicalization.
"We had bits and pieces of information," Brennan said on CNN's "State of the Union." The father's warning, he said, was "one set of data."
But Brennan said other information available didn't provide the details needed to map it and attach it to Abdulmutallab.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
We just so happen were in the last row of the plane, 44, and the Muslim gal was 3 seats ahead of us, the Sikh guy was 2 seats ahead of us on the other side. I'm wondering, did they both get a crotch search? A total cavity search? I knew they hadn't, so it was tension city all the way to Seattle. Did anyone talk with them, interview them, like the Israelis do? I'm sweating bullets when she went to the bathroom. I honest to God almost didn't get on the plane. . .
Anyway, we made it, but unless things change, it's just a matter of time until 300 men, women and children get killed. There were a lot of kids on the plane. . .
Whatever comes out of their mouths, we can be sure the opposite is True.
I know.. Their blaming Bush is ridiculous considering there was no Dept. of Homeland Security then!
There was no one ‘smoking gun’.. there were 20.
EEeeeeWwwwwww!!! That gives a whole new meaning to the cr@p hitting the fan.
I watched this Brennan clown this morning with the utmost disgust. Chris Wallace conducted the most detailed interview but he failed to ask about the briefing Obama got on December 23, which was a Wednesday.
Obama advisor now in the news, John Brennan, former CIA goon, was advisor for Obambi and campaign donor who’s firm was behind Obama’s passport breach and scrubbing summer 2008:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/22/passport.files/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/20/obama.passport/index.html
Hillary’s and McCain’s were accessed to cover tracks while Obambi’s accessed 3 times. What specifically was accessed?
The passport application:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ackyapAMTtMY
“The State Department said the only document kept in an individual’s passport file is the application package. The application form includes information such as PLACE OF BIRTH and Social Security number.”
Looks like the NON NATURAL KENYAN BORN USURPER IN THIEF had his file scrubbed.
Of course, Obambi and Brennan probably had nothing to do with silencing loose ends, right?:
Key Witness working with Feds in Passport Case Shot:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/apr/19/key-witness-in-passport-fraud-case-fatally-shot/
Scrubbing documents has been a goal of Barry’s for awhile.
FOIA requests for passport usage of Obama’s mom Stanley Ann Dunham, AMAZINGLY reveal no record found for her prior to 1982. How can this be? For a woman who transplanted to Indonesia and traveled Asia doing microlending?
“With regard to records pertaining to Stanley Ann Dunham, who is widely known as a matter of public record to be deceased, you requested documents pertaining to Ms. Dunham involving entry and exits into and out of United States from January 01, 1960 through December 31, 1975. and January 1, 1979 through December 31, 1985. There are no entry.exit records available prior to 1982, either in electronic or paper format.
A search for documents responsive to your request produced a total of one page. CBP has determined that the one page is partially releasable pursuant to Title 5 U.S.C. 5 552 (b)(2)(high), (b)(2)(low), (b)(6), and (b)(7). Enclosed is one page With certain information withheld as described below.”
Likewise, Stanley Ann Dunham and Obama Sr’s Divorce papers from Jan-March 1964 reveal a missing page 11 in the 13 page document:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/18130289/Obama-1964-Divorce-Papers-13-Pages-Missing-Pg-11
Which was most likely Barry’s birth certificate copy so judge would know who the parents are before he awards child support/custody...
More scrubbing.
Another Obama idiot.
Brennan, whom I don’t know, sounds like he wouldn’t know “intelligence” information if it bit him in the ass.
Same mentality that led to 9/11. FBI people wouldn’t listen to their field agents in Arizona and Minnesota.
Somebody should sue Obama over this latest screw-up.
They’re saying that it doesn’t count as a ‘smoking gun’ unless it’s irrefutable, specific, definitive, verified intel.
More shucking and jiving - spin, lie, spin, lie.......
They’d see smoking guns everywhere, if they weren’t so
into “smoking gun control”.
Is that pic for real? You’ve got to be kidding me!
sadly, yes :-(
I had to endure almost 10 minutes of extra time in the security line from TSA trying to wand and body image a screaming squirming blonde toddler enroute to Orlando last September- his parents were silently outraged, so was I
Well then how about the multiple pieces of intelligence available to the FBI that would have revealed the plot. If they are too stupid to connect the dots, then they are too stupid to be in the FBI or anywhere in government.
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