Posted on 01/10/2010 11:38:34 AM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) – US spy agencies in recent months picked up clues pointing to an Al-Qaeda attack out of Yemen and were moving to disrupt it, but a crucial piece of information fell through the cracks.
Intelligence officials describe a trail of warning signs for the botched Christmas Day attack on a US-bound airliner dating back to August, when the National Security Agency reportedly intercepted chatter among Al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen.
The NSA, which runs an elaborate global eavesdropping operation, heard conversations from Al-Qaeda figures describing a plot to recruit a Nigerian man for a terrorist attack, the New York Times reported.
...
The same month, a bomber crossed from Yemen and staged a suicide attack against Saudi Arabia's anti-terror chief, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef.
The attack failed but Saudi officials in October reportedly told President Barack Obama's top counter-terrorism adviser that the bomber had sewn explosives into his underwear, ..
In September, the head of the National Counterterrorism Center, Michael Leiter, warned a senate hearing that Al-Qaeda had gained a dangerous foothold in Yemen and was turning it into a regional base for operations.
Sometime in October or November, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab .. approached US embassy officials in Abuja and told them he was worried his son had become radicalized by extremists in Yemen, the Times wrote.
His son's name, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was passed on to intelligence agencies -- including the National Counterterrorism Center -- ..
But as the father apparently gave no indication that his son planned an attack, US authorities did not add Abdulmutallab's name to a higher level terrror watch list or to the "No Fly List" ..
Moreover, State Department officials remained unaware that Abdulmutallab had a valid US visa due to a misspelling of his name, .. did not review his visa status.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Experts man their stations at the Threat Operations Center inside the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2006 in suburban Fort Mead, Maryland. US spy agencies in recent months picked up clues pointing to an Al-Qaeda attack out of Yemen and were moving to disrupt it, but a crucial piece of information fell through the cracks. (AFP/File/Paul J.Richards)
Yemen's government says the capture of key Al-Qaeda militants on Wednesday shows its can police its own territory. But many in the West fear that chronic instability and weak government have made the country an ideal haven for Al-Qaeda. Duration: 01: 57(AFPTV)
So when Hussein was flat out lying when he claimed that the undie-bomber was an “isolaed extremist”?
I noticed they say they had a vast data base of 1/2 million people.....this is the same government that wants to handle 300million health info.
Agence France Presse is a leftist, French outfit with a long record of sympathy for Muslims. So it’s pretty pathetic that they are doing better reporting on this intelligence failure than any of our own media, outside of Fox and the internet.
According to AFP, “There are conflicting reports if his ticket was one-way or round-trip.”
Well, if that’s so, then I’m inclined to believe the often repeated story that it was a one-way ticket. Because if it was round trip, it’s pretty certain that embarrassed U.S. authorities would have released that evidence to counter those stories.
Sounds like the National Counterterrorism Center, CIA, FBI, and State require written notice of a terrorist attack, preferably from a family member of the terrorist, before any action will be taken.
We are in big, big trouble!
Did you read that John Kerry (who served in Vietnam) has invited the father to congress to speak with him..... ??????
Another photo op for Live Shot.
After the failed attack on Christians on Christmas, in AQ America's backyard (Detroit) he appeared angry about the failure.
"Daddy, I tried to get my room cleaned up by 8:00 but I fell asleep and then I ran out of time." "Honest, I was going to do it, but it's not my fault."
Fire them, hold them criminally accountable, void their fatass pensions, and de-fund their agencies of the billions they waste every year. Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary.
Actually it was a gift from God to Obama and for which, as far as I can tell, there has no due thanks been rendered.
seem like it hasn’t.
After the failed attack on Christians on Christmas, in AQ America's backyard (Detroit) he appeared angry about the failure.
BTTT.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.