EXCLUSIVE: Photos of the Northwest Airlines Bomb
A singed pair of underwear with a packet of powder sewn into the crotch, seen in government photos obtained exclusively by ABC News, is all that remains of al Qaeda’s attempt to down an American passenger plane over Detroit. As seen in these photos, the alleged bomb consisted of a packet of powder sewn into the briefs of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian. Al Qaeda took credit Monday for the attempted bombing, boasted of its ability to overcome U.S. intelligence and airport security, and promised new attacks. [Normally most folks would not be interested in what the underwear of a terrorist bomber looks like…ed]
MSNBC criticized for response to terrorism story
MSNBC spent considerable time Monday reporting on the aftermath of an attempted Christmas Day attack on a Detroit-bound airliner, but its executives didn’t want to talk about why the story received little attention as it was breaking. Competitors CNN and Fox News Channel gave much more extensive attention to the story on Christmas night as MSNBC stuck with taped programs on a murder mystery and environmental issues, along with an “undercover” report on the teenage sex trade. MSNBC has been criticized in the past for failing to respond quickly to breaking news during off-hours, a choice that may complicate its efforts to be seen as a go-to news source. The network is revamping its daytime schedule to be more news-oriented than personality-driven, since the latter approach has proven to be a ratings failure. [msnbc….the Obama news network dedicated to covering their messiah’s ass 24/7….ed]
Two al Qaeda Leaders Behind Northwest Flight 253 Terror Plot Were Released by U.S.
Two of the four leaders allegedly behind the al Qaeda plot to blow up a Northwest Airlines passenger jet over Detroit were released by the U.S. from the Guantanamo prison in November, 2007, according to American officials and Department of Defense documents. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the Northwest bombing in a Monday statement that vowed more attacks on Americans. American officials agreed to send the two terrorists from Guantanamo to Saudi Arabia where they entered into an “art therapy rehabilitation program” and were set free, according to U.S. and Saudi officials. [I have a terrific idea. How about when we capture these America hatin’ muslims we throw them into a very secure prison run by the military that is located somewhere offshore and keep their skinny asses there as enemy combatants until the war is over. You know, like Guantanamo bay Cuba…ed]
Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.) said last week he was “shocked” to hear a senior Department of Defense official agree with him that the administration’s plan to move detainees of Guantanamo Bay to Thomson, Ill., would pose an increased security risk. At a press conference in the House of Representatives, Manzullo said the official “agreed with me there would be an increased security risk to northwest Illinois, but he had no way of estimating the extent of this threat.” Manzullo told reporters he was “shocked” at the admission and later told CNSNews.com he was confused about how the administration could manage a risk it could not quantify. “That’s when I said, ‘Well, if there’s no way that you can estimate — measure — the extent of the increased risk, then why are you making the move in the first place?’” [Top level gang bangers carry out drug deals and murders all day long while housed in Supermax prisons so tell me again, exactly why is Obama is making the move to close down the prison at GITMO and move these terrorists onto American soil?…ed]
FAILED plane bomber Umar Abdulmutallab has bragged to FBI agents that there are more young men plotting to launch attacks on the West. The 23-year-old Nigerian has told security chiefs of a sinister network in Yemen who are ready and waiting to strike. The reports come after The Sun revealed that cops fear that 25 British-born Muslims are plotting to bomb Western airliners. The fanatics, in five groups, are now training at secret terror camps in Yemen. It was there London-educated Abdulmutallab prepared for his Christmas Day bid to blow up a US jet. The British extremists in Yemen are in their early 20s and from Bradford, Luton and Leytonstone, East London. They are due to return to the UK early in 2010 and will then await internet instructions from al-Qaeda on when to strike. [Well isn’t this a cheery thought. Ya know, instead of inconveniencing millions of airplane passengers and millions of people who do not fit the profile of a terrorist bomber how about we start inconveniencing and begin encroaching on the “rights” of the people who belong to the group of whacks on this planet hell bent on killing innocent Americans. Like muslims?…ed]
Report: Dutch traveler profiting from heroism on jet
The Dutch tourist who helped stop the alleged terrorist plot is profiting off his heroism, according to the media outlet Gawker. Jasper Schuringa, who burned his hands while taking down Flight 253’s would-be terrorist, has taken in at least $18,000 for two cell phone pictures and interviews with CNN and the New York Post, according to Foster Kamer of Gawker. Schuringa, who sought the help of an Israeli handler to arrange the media appearances, according to the Web site, said Saturday he heard a pop, saw smoke and climbed over seats to stop a man from trying to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight in Detroit. “I didn’t think. I just went over there to try to save the plane,” Schuringa said on CNN. As passengers on Flight 253 screamed “fire, fire” on Friday, Schuringa said he figured the suspect was “trying to blow up the plane.” [Let the pro terrorist smears from the lamestream media begin. Al Gore has made millions off his bogus global warming scam so if this man makes a few thousands bucks off saving an airplane full of human beings then good for him…ed]
Jasper Schuringa Yanked Flaming Syringe Out of Abdulmutallab’s Pants
The Dutch hero credited with halting a suicide bomber’s attempt to blow up a plane loaded with Christmas travelers said today the syringe the bomber was holding was on fire and was stuck deep into the bomber’s pants. “I really had to pull it out of his hands because he kind of resisted. And it was also kind of stuck in his underwear,” Jasper Schuringa told “Good Morning America” today. Fresh details emerged today about the terror attack aboard Northwest Flight 253 on Christmas day, largely from “GMA’s” interview with Schuringa, the passenger who leaped over plane seats to subdue alleged bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. “When I came to the seats he was holding … the object which was on fire and smoke was coming out of it,” Schuringa said. “I really had to rip the whole object out of his pants.” [Maybe Delta Airlines could send this guy a few bucks for perhaps saving them from having to buy a new airplane?…ed]
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Sen. Dodd, D-Conn., slashed aviation security funding for pet constituency
Now that our attention is focused on airline security measures thanks to the failed airline attack on Christmas Day, it’s worth mentioning that one Senator took money away from aviation security to line the pockets of constituency that supported his presidential campaign in a big way. Back in July, Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., proposed an amendment reducing aviation security appropriations by $4.5 million in favor of firefighter grants — a notoriously inneffective program. In fact, the money was specifically “for screening operations and the amount for explosives detection systems.” The amendment was also sponsored by Sen. Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen. Carper, D-Del., but Dodd deserves to be singled out here because the firefighters union is a pet constituency of his. In 2007 he campaigned all through Iowa with the firefighters union. It was one of the few distinguishable features of Dodd’s ill-fated presidential bid. [Bad timing for Chris Dodd on this news getting out considering his worthless ass is up for reelection next year…ed]
Sarkozy cool on relationship with Obama
Nicolas Sarkozy, the most pro-American president of France for half a century, has gone cold on Barack Obama, the most popular American leader in France in generations. A year ago Mr Sarkozy was engaged in a tussle among European leaders anxious to be the first to secure a meeting with the freshly elected Mr Obama. Mr Sarkozy described Mr Obama as “my friend” after meeting him just once as a senator. But the French president has since clashed with his US counterpart on a series of issues, raising the question of whether Mr Sarkozy is reverting to the more Gaullist, anti-American posture of his predecessor, Jacques Chirac. [The slobbering love affair Europe had with the no name, no talent, know nothing nobody Barack Hussein Obama is coming to an end over there almost as quickly as it is over here…ed]
Looking back on the president’s year of failure
President Barack Obama’s year of blunders is ending with the worst failure yet by the president and his team: An Islamist terrorist penetrated the United States and came very close to perpetrating the greatest mass casualty attack within the U.S. since 9/11. The president’s first year in office has been marked by a string of pratfalls. President Barack Obama’s massive stimulus didn’t work. His hasty takeover of GM didn’t restore confidence in the brand or faith in the company’s executive team or future. Obamacare has failed to persuade even 40 percent of the American people of its merits, and depends upon the enthusiasm of such brilliant lights as Barbara Boxer, Al Franken and Bernie Sanders to pass. The president’s rhetoric about restraining spending has been washed away in a flood of red ink far vaster than all that has gone before it. [Yada yada yada for those who have been paying attention and some more revelations for those who haven’t…ed]
Now, Michelle Obama too is sliding in the polls
She’s on vacation now in Hawaii, so what does she care? But as the first calendar year of the new White House regime draws to a close, First Lady Michelle Obama is experiencing the same drop in poll numbers as her husband. She’s not elected, of course, and not charged at least officially with making the tough executive decisions that come out of the Oval Office. As a result, first ladies have typically fared better in different public opinion polls than their more controversial husbands. And now even as the female Harvard lawyer in the family and the one with the famously buff arms, Mrs. O still remains somewhat more popular than her spouse. (Sarah Palin’s favorable poll ratings, btw, have risen steadily in recent months to the mid-40s. But although neither woman holds an elected office, that’s something entirely different.) A new Rasmussen Reports survey finds that 55% of Americans have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of Mrs. Obama. That’s down 7 points, or 11%, since November’s survey and it’s her lowest approval level since holding the Bible for her Democratic husband, Barack, to take the oath of office on that cold D.C day back on Jan. 20. [Never really could understand why anyone would run polling on the First Lady but her husband really is pissing off just about everybody soooooo…ed]
Blue Dog expects more centrist Dems to announce retirement before midterms
Political observers should expect more retirement announcements from centrist Democrats, according to Rep. Dan Boren (Okla.), himself a centrist Democrat. Boren, who is being targeted for defeat by Republicans in 2010, said that a tough road ahead in 2010 could spur more Democrats to opt out of tougher races next fall. “I think you’re probably going to see a few more [retirements], especially some of the older members who would rather leave on a high note,” Boren told The Oklahoman. Four Democrats in centrist- or Republican-leaning districts have already said they won’t run again in 2010: Reps. Brian Baird (Wash.), Bart Gordon (Tenn.), John Tanner (Tenn.) and Dennis Moore (Kan.). Rep. Parker Griffith (Ala.) also left the Democratic Party to become a Republican earlier this month. [For the record Boren says they’ll have to pry his house seat from his cold Okie hands before he would give it up but he is definitely spot on when he says his many of his fellow Dems are disgusted with their leadership and will be looking to bail come the 2010 midterms…ed]
The Death Of Moderate Democrats
Parker Griffith’s decision to step out of line and refuse to drink the Democratic Kool-Aid illustrates the Achilles’ Heel of the Democratic regime in Washington: The radical reign of Pelosi and Reid is held up by pillars of moderate and conservative Democrats who come from districts that regularly vote Republican. To survive in these red precincts, Democrats must act like Republicans, advocating a balanced budget, opposing big spending and fighting against socialized medicine. But, in Washington, Pelosi and Reid use their backing to bring a radical left leadership to Congress. Once it sufficed for a moderate Democrat merely to vote “no.” But American voters are onto their tricks and realize that a Democrat — any Democrat — will vote “yes” when his party leaders need it. The unanimous Senate Democratic support for Obamacare shows that there are really only two types of congresspeople: Democrats and Republicans. All other shadings and adjectives are mere decoration. [Dick Morris knows the Democrat slime game like no other. Pay attention please…ed]
As many as 20,000 town hall snoopers have assumed powers to enter people’s homes without a warrant and search for information, a survey revealed last night. The research details for the first time how a raft of intrusive laws has allowed council staff to barge into homes and businesses uninvited. The bureaucrats are benefiting from the 1,043 state powers of entry in primary and secondary legislation – more than 400 of which have been created by Labour. These include checking for fridges which do not have the correct eco-friendly energy rating, making sure a hedge is not too high and inspecting a property to ensure ‘illegal or unregulated hypnotism’ is not taking place. [This crap is happening to our English cousins right now because they became politically complacent. Think it can’t/won’t happen here soon enough?…ed]
Quote of the day.
These are the times that [TRULY!] try men’s souls.
-Thomas Paine, uttered over two and a quarter centuries ago
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