FBI Knew About One Of The San Bernardino Terrorists In Advance But Allowed Her To Roam Free In America

Tweet from Reuters' Twitter page indicates the FBI had terrorists under surveillance, who were in telephonic communication with, Tashfeen Malik, who is one of the terrorists from the San Bernardino terrorist attack that occurred on December 2, 2015 at a disability center, killing 14 and wounding 20

The FBI has again let a radicalized person communicating with terrorists roam free in America, to terrible results, leading to the deaths of innocent people. Previously, the FBI watched as Nidal Hasan became radicalized in email exchanges with a terrorist cleric. Hasan then murdered innocent people at the Fort Hood military base in Texas. The FBI also had advance information on terrorists Anwar Al Awlaki and Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab (among others), but engaged in negligent conduct that allowed them to commit acts of terrorism.

Tashfeen Malik

Press reports on Reuters today reveals, the FBI was aware of one of the shooters in the San Bernardino terrorist attack, prior to the massacre occurring, as having communicated with terrorists. Tashfeen Malik, the 29-year-old wife of fellow terrorist Sayed Farook, was in America on a marriage visa and actively communicating with terrorists in her native Pakistan, over the phone. Malik has been linked to Pakistan's most notorious cleric, Maulana Aziz of the Red Mosque. On the day of the terrorist attack, Malik pledged her allegiance to ISIS on her Facebook page.

Maulana Aziz (left) and Syed Farook (right)

Farook met Malik when he spent many months in Pakistan. It is now also believed he received terrorist training while there. Over the past several years, in reading U.S. and international legal indictments by western governments, to write articles for this column on news events, the charging documents in terrorism cases reveal the criminals leaving their home nation in the west, going to the Middle East for many months, then returning to commit acts of jihad. There exists a pattern of behavior in this regard.

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14 Dead And 17 Wounded In Shooting By 3 Jihadis At A California Disability Center

Anwar Awlaki Eclipsing Osama On The Terror Front

Anwar Awlaki

Due to the Fort Hood shooting last year, which left 13 U.S. soldiers dead on said army base, at the hands of an irate Islamic fundamentalist, Nidal Malik Hasan, the American public became familiar with the name of Muslim cleric, Anwar Awlaki.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab

Weeks later, Awlaki's name cropped up again, due to a 2009 Christmas Day bombing attempt, on an airliner landing in Detroit, Michigan. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old man from a wealthy African family, was beguiled by Awlaki's internet messages of Jihad and threw his freedom away, attempting to blow up 273 people, including himself.

Sharif Mobley

In the arrest of American Muslim extremist, Sharif Mobley, Awlaki's his name was mentioned once again, as he had mentored the young New Jersey native, who delved into a life of terrorism.

Zachary Adam Chesser

This week, authorities arrested Muslim convert, Zachary Adam Chesser, the blogger who ran the pro-jihad website, RevolutionMuslim, which is unabashedly stocked with threats of violence and death against Westerners, particularly Christians and Jews. Islam states anyone that is not a Muslim is to be killed (beheaded).

South Park

Chesser, previously threatened the Jewish creators of the television cartoon, South Park, for showing an image of Mohammad, which is forbidden in Islam. Comedy Central, the network that airs "South Park" eventually pulled the episode in question, not wanting any causalities, for following the Constitution, in exercising their legal right to free speech.

Months after Chesser threatened the creators of South Park, he was arrested this week for attempting to join an Al Qaeda linked terrorist cell that murdered dozens of people. And once again Awlaki's name surfaced as a mentor to Chesser.

Osama Bin Laden

Why is this cleric taking such a prominent role in terrorism and mentoring so many people that go on to wage acts of Jihad against the West. He is steadily eclipsing Osama as the world's primary terrorist figure. He has become their new poster boy. Each new act of terrorism aimed at the West is proving it.

FBI Director, Robert S. Mueller and U.S. President Barack Obama

The question is, how did he fly under the radar of law enforcement for so long and what does the Obama Administration intend to do about what escaped his predecessor's government. No one has been able to apprehend Awlaki. A recent air strike on his alleged home proved unfruitful.

Obama's Top Intelligence Official Quits

U.S. President Barack Obama

Four star Navy admiral and America's chief intelligence officer, Dennis C. Blair, has tendered his resignation to U.S. President Barack Obama. He is vacating his post as Director of National Intelligence, effective today. Blair oversaw the FBI and CIA.

Earlier in the week, a report from the Senate Intelligence Committee, outlining "points of failure" sharply criticized his handling of terror suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Blair blamed the government's failure on, "Institutional and technological barriers remain that prevent seamless sharing of information."

In the past, the Judiciary Report has written about the lack of cohesion between federal agencies such as the FBI and ATF. The FBI even stonewalls local police departments, using them when expedient, but frequently referring to them in private as "plebeians" they can keep in the dark.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Dennis C. Blair

The report also stated they are "not organized to adequately to fulfill its missions." For years the Judiciary Report written about the avoidable disorganization plaguing federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI. The inability to properly embrace technology has been another trouble spot for the FBI, who still have not created and implemented a working computer system.

As it stands, terrorists have embraced technology more than these federal law enforcement agencies have, which means national security is in jeopardy and the government is playing at a significant disadvantage.

"Larry King Better Interrogator Than The FBI"

Ouch!

McConnell: Larry King is "better" than FBI at interrogating terrorists

Congressional representative, Mitch McConnell, slammed the FBI's interrogative skills or lack thereof, by stating famed talk show host, Larry King, would do a better job and question suspects someone longer.

It's FBI headquarters' poor leadership skills and blunders that has the world believing they are incompetent and incapable of doing a good job.

Larry King Better Than Feds at Interrogation: McConnell

Senate's top Republican blasts Obama on terror

Posted Feb 4, 10 8:16 PM CST - (Newser) – ...“He was given a 50-minute interrogation, probably Larry King has interrogated people longer and better than that,” McConnell told Fox News today. “After which he was assigned a lawyer who told him to shut up. That is not the way to deal with someone in the war on terror.”

http://www.newser.com

Government Squabbling Over Classified Information

U.S. President Barack Obama and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller

The U.S. government is currently squabbling over the release of classified information regarding terrorist, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Some Republicans are angered information was released by the Obama Administration and FBI Director, Robert S. Mueller, proclaiming Abdulmutallab has been cooperating with the U.S. government.

The world didn't have to know the U.S. government allegedly flipped Abdulmutallab. All the government had to do was appropriately act on the alleged intel.

I was amazed when said information was released and still believe pieces of the story are missing. Additionally, how can the government try people in court for releasing national security secrets, when they are essentially doing the same.

Furthermore, why do you guys in government argue so much. It's been over 8 years since the first major terrorist attack on this nation. The government should have gotten a lawful system down pat by now.

Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder

Yet what do we see - the wrong interrogators going in first, squabbles over Miranda rights and officials unadvisedly disclosing classified information before the suspect is even tried, all for political points.

Not only has it endangered his family, who have not been accused of any crime at this point, it could spark a retaliatory attack on Americans, with terrorists deeming you corrupted their boy.

As stated previously, it is wise detaining terrorists immediately and cutting off their communication with the outside world for a few days, in order to interrogate them. It is also appropriate that terrorists be tried on American soil, but as stated previously, in remote locations to protect innocent civilians from harm (also know as "the middle of nowhere").

It's not the greatest idea that the criminal justice system applied to civilians, be used to try terrorists. Terrorism is a serious crime. It is not a white collar offense. A military judicial system on U.S. shores, accountable to Congress and the American people, would be appropriate, as is a special, austere, isolated terrorist prison.

Terrorists also should not be tortured. No one should. It's a violation of the Geneva Conventions, which America and many other nations signed. However, repeatedly interrogating them, yelling at them and exposing them to loud music, as a form of punishment until they talk, is acceptable.

White House: Kit Bond Owes WH, Law Enforcement an Apology

February 04, 2010 1:44 PM - White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Thursday afternoon said that the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., owes people in the White House and in law enforcement an apology for alleging in a recent letter that the administration -- for political reasons -- leaked information it shouldn't have shared about Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab.

Bond, Gibbs said, "owes an apology to the professionals in the law enforcement community and those that work in this building...who work each and every day to keep the American people safe and would never ever, ever knowingly release or unknowingly release classified information that could endanger an operation or an interrogation."

Earlier today, Bond wrote to President Obama that on Monday afternoon, the leadership of the Senate Intelligence Committee as told by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that Abdulmutallab has been willing "to provide critical information" in recent days...

http://blogs.abcnews.com

FBI Claims Terrorist Intelligence Methods Are Working

Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder

The Obama Administration and its FBI and DOJ have come under fire again, from other American federal agencies and Congressional Republicans, for their handling of foreign terrorist suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

Many still contend the FBI were not the best choice to interrogate him, he should not have been read Miranda Rights as he is an "enemy combatant" and should be sent to the U.S. prison, Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

The most qualified team should have interrogated him and according to expertise and government rank, it is not the FBI. However, the FBI claims they gained useful intel from Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

I find it hard to believe a radicalized young man that went as far as he did is just spilling his guts, especially when he knows he is not likely to see freedom again. I don't believe the account being given in the press. Several pieces of this story are missing.

The Judiciary Report is of the belief, it is okay to try and convict terrorists on U.S. soil, provided it is done in a remote region of the country, away from civilians. However, the more qualified interrogators should get the ball rolling first.

As for reading Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab his Miranda rights, that is dependent on the type of trial he is to face. If the government is going to try him under the U.S. criminal system that civilian lawbreakers face, then it is a matter of law. If he is tried on U.S. soil under the military system for criminals, that's another story.

Side Bar: Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's dad must be so disappointed, as he's had a distinguished career and paid good money to send his son to prestigious schools in Nigeria and London, only for him to take this devastating route. It's another reason people should avoid becoming radicalized terrorists - the hurt and disappointment it causes one's family.

Holder: I made decision to charge terror suspect

Wednesday, February 3, 2010; 3:52 PM

WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday he made the decision to charge the Christmas Day terror suspect in civilian court rather than the military system, with no objection from all the other relevant departments of the government.

In a letter to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, the attorney general wrote that the FBI told its partners in the intelligence community on Christmas Day and again the next day that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab would be charged criminally.

Holder's letter was the latest volley in a vigorous counterattack by the Obama administration to Republican charges that the arrest and FBI interrogation of the Detroit suspect was a mistake that cost a chance to learn key information.

The letter followed less than 24 hours after senior administration officials disclosed that the suspect had resumed talking to U.S. interrogators last week after breaking off his discussions the day of his arrest...

FBI Director Robert Mueller testified Tuesday that FBI agents questioned Abdulmutallab until he entered surgery, and that the suspect was not advised of his Miranda right to remain silent until after he emerged from surgery. A federal law enforcement official, requesting anonymity to discuss an ongoing case, said the suspect made clear upon emerging from surgery he was going to stop talking and then was given his Miranda warning.

"Neither advising Abdulmutallab of his Miranda rights nor granting him access to counsel prevents us from obtaining intelligence from him," wrote Holder "On the contrary, history shows that the federal justice system is an extremely effective tool for gathering intelligence."...

http://www.washingtonpost.com

McCain: "Eric Holder Has Obviously Botched This One Very, Very Badly"

John McCain Slams Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder

Senator John McCain, ranking member of the U.S. Arms Committee, slammed President Obama's Attorney General, Eric Holder, for botching the handling of terror suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder

The Judiciary Report is also of the opinion, Holder is not doing a good job. One has to question the Administration's agenda, with the litany of poor choices the Justice Department and FBI have made.

FBI Botched Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab Bomb Case

Dennis C. Blair

Director of National Intelligence, Dennis C. Blair, slammed the FBI, headed up by Robert S. Mueller, for botching the arrest of terror suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

Robert S. Mueller

Among Blair's claims against the FBI, are the suspect, "Should have been questioned by the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group, or HIG."

Blair: FBI mishandled bomb case

Testimony reveals rift over criminal vs. terrorist treatment

Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair on Wednesday criticized the decision by FBI agents last month to question the Christmas Day airline bombing suspect as a criminal and not interrogate him as a terrorist.

Mr. Blair, in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, revealed a previously undisclosed disagreement among the Obama administration's top officials over the handling of the Nigerian who is accused of attempting to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253.

The intelligence chief said Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab should have been questioned by the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group, or HIG, a special panel established by President Obama....

http://washingtontimes.com

FBI Director Robert Mueller comes under fire on terrorist arrest

January 21, 2010 - 12:18pm - From "Intel chief concedes errors in Christmas bomb case" on FederalNewsRadio.com:

"Many Republicans insist that major terror suspects such as [accused Christmas bomber] Abdulmutallab should be tried in military courts because civilian courts do not have the capacity to handle such high-profile cases.

"'It's crystal clear to me that somebody in the Department of Justice prematurely decided that they should treat this as a normal criminal case,' Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said after the hearing. 'Obviously no care and time was spent on this one, it was just, "Boom!" a decision made quickly - way too quickly in my view.'…

http://www.federalnewsradio.com

FBI Has Computer Equipment But No Hard Drive

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller

Today, on its website, the FBI has once again bragged that is has "cutting edge" technology via "sleeping computers" that calculate crime related data, while analysts are away on vacation.

All good and fine, but at the end of the day, what good is it to have said equipment, yet fail to interpret simple intelligence data you had in your possession that could have prevented the September 11th terrorist attacks, the Fort Hood massacre and the Detroit Christmas Day bombing attempt, which was diffused by a civilian passenger on vacation.

The agency has an annual $8 billion dollar budget...and no real results, mostly death and failure, paid for in blood by innocent civilians and 13 Army personnel.

I.G. Confirms FBI Broke The Law

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller

The U.S. Inspector General confirmed today in his 306 page report, the FBI has broken the law in illegally collecting telephone records in a manner not allowed via existing tools, such as "exigent letters" by inventing fake emergencies that did not exist.

The FBI lied today stating they violated the privacy of many innocent Americans to prevent acts of terrorism, but as the world knows, Fort Hood happened, as did the attempted bombing of a Christmas Day NWA flight in Detroit, which left a few passengers with second and third degree burns. The only thing the FBI has prevented is people from having privacy.

FBI Invoked ‘Emergencies’ To Gather U.S. Phone Records

According to the Post, among those who raised concerns internally was FBI Special Agent Bassem Youssef, supervisor of the communications analysis unit that dealt with the records. Youssef brought the matter to the attention of his superiors in 2005, after he received complaints from phone companies about the FBI’s failure to provide documentation showing the searches were legal, the newspaper said.

Youssef earlier had “fallen out of favor with FBI management” because he filed a whistleblower claim alleging he had been denied promotion and retaliated against because of his ethnicity, the Post reported.

http://www.mainjustice.com

International Cooperation At Low Levels For U.S. Gov

U.S. President Barack Obama

Last week it was revealed, a number of international cities/countries have not modified security at their airports, in response to a formal request from the U.S. government, due to the attempted Christmas Day airline bombing in America.

Yemen, a major player on the terrorism front, also decreed there are, "Limits to its military cooperation with the United States." Their deputy prime minister for security and defense stated, "We cannot accept any foreign troops on Yemeni territory" deeming it will "strengthen Al Qaeda."

Former President George W. Bush and his Vice President, Dick Cheney, did a massive amount of damage in the area of international relations and now many in the global community are not willing to stick their necks out, as a result of those bridges that were burned.

If Obama is seen following in Bush's footsteps in any manner, in the area political policy, it shall only serve to worsen international ties. Among those choices...more troops to Afghanistan.

Yemen says there are limits to its military cooperation with United States

Friday, January 8, 2010 - SANAA, YEMEN -- In its strongest language yet, Yemen's government declared Thursday that there are limits to its military cooperation with the United States, warning that any direct U.S. action in this impoverished Middle Eastern nation could bolster the popularity of Islamist militants.

"If there is direct intervention by the United States, it will strengthen al-Qaeda," warned Rashad al-Alimi, Yemen's deputy prime minister for security and defense. "We cannot accept any foreign troops on Yemeni territory."

The statement underscored the rising concern among Yemen's leadership about a domestic backlash that could politically weaken the government and foment more instability. In recent days, top Yemeni officials have publicly played down their growing ties to Washington, fearing that they will be perceived by their opponents as weak and beholden to the United States...

http://www.washingtonpost.com

Britain And Yemen Bounce Blame For Terrorist

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown

The British government and that of Yemen, have been bouncing blame for the radicalization of terrorist suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who tried to blow up a full airliner of people on Christmas Day, as the aircraft landed in Detroit, Michigan in America.

The British government is stating Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab became radicalized in Yemen in 2008, after he was kicked out of Britain. While the Yemen government is stating he, "Joined Al Qaeda in London."

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Yemen And The Terrorist Front

Yemen official minimizes nation's link to jetliner bombing suspect

Reporting from Sana, Yemen - A senior Yemeni official downplayed his nation's connection to the Nigerian Islamic militant suspected of trying to bomb a Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines flight on Christmas Day, saying the man became an Al Qaeda militant in Britain, even though he met with a radical cleric in Yemen shortly before allegedly undertaking his alleged mission.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab joined Osama bin Laden's group while living in Britain from 2005 to '08, Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister Rashad Alimi told reporters Thursday in Sana, the capital. "The information we have is that Umar Farouk joined Al Qaeda in London," he said.

At some point, the onetime engineering student and the son of a wealthy Nigerian banker set off alarm bells in Britain, which didn't allow him to reenter the country. "But Yemen didn't get that intelligence," Alimi said.

Alimi's comments were the most detailed public explanation so far by government officials of Abdulmutallab's connection to Yemen...

http://www.latimes.com

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab Pleads Not Guilty

"Video: Accused Airline Bomber Pleads Not Guilty"

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Al-Qaeda affiliated man, accused of attempting to blow up a Christmas Day flight landing in Detroit, Michigan in America, has pled not guilty. LOL is he serious - with nearly 300 witnesses against him, he may as well starting Googling the prison they are going to send him to.

Obama Takes Blame For FBI And CIA Failures

"Video: Obama Ordering Changes After Anti-terror Foul-up"

In an internationally televised speech today, U.S. President Barack Obama, accepted the blame for the FBI and CIA's intelligence failures, which led to a radicalized 23-year-old Muslim that received Al Qaeda training, attempting to blow up an airliner landing in Detroit, Michigan in America on Christmas Day.

U.S. President Barack Obama

Obama has vowed changes and as much as the Judiciary Report would like to believe these changes will properly take effect, one knows better. There are "powers that be" that have been embedded in Congress, the FBI, CIA and NSA for years, who constantly resist certain types of change. It will be a battle getting teach item implemented.

President Obama: Security failure 'my responsibility'

1/7/10 4:59 PM EST - President Barack Obama on Thursday accepted responsibility for intelligence shortcomings that led to a failed Christmas Day bombing plot on a Detroit-bound airliner, saying, “Ultimately, the buck stops with me.

“As president, I have a solemn responsibility to protect our nation and our people, and when the system fails, it is my responsibility,” Obama said.

Obama said an intelligence review found that the U.S. government had the information needed to thwart the plot but failed to do so because of a series of compounding shortcomings, including that intelligence analysts didn’t focus heavily enough on information warning that al-Qaida in Yemen wanted to strike the United States.

“The U.S. government had the information scattered through the system to potentially uncover this plot and disrupt the attack. Rather than a failure to collect and share this intelligence, this was a failure to connect and understand the intelligence we already had,” Obama said at the White House...

http://www.politico.com

Obama's Intel Battle

President Obama

Obama is facing a law enforcement intel battle, in the wake of Fort Hood and the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a Detroit airplane. Numerous national security flaws have been revealed over the past two months, mainly at the FBI, headed up by Robert S. Mueller.

A few months ago, prior to these aforementioned incidents, President Obama commended Mueller during a press conference, which drew sharp criticism in the New York Times, due to said FBI Director's disgraceful track record of abject failure, based in criminal negligence and squandering hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money.

However, Obama took a massive risk in placing so much confidence in duplicitous, racist Mueller, who is known in legal circles for retaliating against minorities and foreigners, who dare to speak out in Congress, print or online, regarding his misconduct that violates the law. Mueller is an evil, vengeful man willing to misuse U.S. law to get at innocent people.

The fact of the matter is, Mueller is a Republican, who could care less if Obama, a Democrat, is not reelected in 2012. Actually, it is in fact the outcome he desires. Talk about a conflict of interest.

The Judiciary Report's words are proving true, via the October 21, 2009 in the article "New York Times Slams Obama Praise For FBI" published prior to Fort Hood and the attempted Detroit airplane bombing, regarding Obama's confidence in corrupt Mueller:

"Mr. Obama should be careful in his dealings with Mr. Mueller. He and others routinely provided former President George W. Bush with illegally obtained information and a very false sense of security, whilst engaging in wrongdoing and telling the world, 'Trust me, I'm the President.' Where did that get George W. Bush? He is now ensconced in the anus, excuse me, annals of world history as the worst president ever. When you stand with criminals, you will fall with them as well."

Britain Warned U.S. Gov About Detroit Bomber In 2008

U.S. President Barack Obama

A new report has surfaced revealing, in 2008 the British government did indeed warn its U.S. counterparts, about radicalized terrorist, Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, who attempted to blow up a NWA-Delta airlines flight on Christmas Day.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown

Once again, the federal government’s problem the Judiciary Report wrote about months before the bombing attempt, regarding their failure to cross reference information within U.S. law enforcement, meant vital information fell between the cracks and signs of potential trouble were missed.

U.S. President Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown

They government needs to rectify this on a national level, with the FBI, CIA, ATF and their fellow federal agencies, working as a cohesive unit, rather than a fragmented team, engaging in turf wars. Clearly, everyone is not on the same page.

There should be at least a minimal level of information shared between all national agencies, while assigning more sensitive information to higher tiers, only accessible by certain officials. Local and state police should be piped into the same system as well.

MI5 warned U.S. about Detroit airline bomber in 2008

Last updated at 8:25 AM on 05th January 2010 - Claims: Information on alleged bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was passed to UK spy agencies, Downing Street has said.

British intelligence agencies had given the United States information about the Detroit plane bomber long before his attempted attack, Downing Street claimed yesterday.

The name of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was included in a dossier of people believed to have made attempts to deal with known extremists that was shared with American intelligence in 2008, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said.

Abdulmultallab was listed as having tried to contact radical Islamists while studying in London but was not singled out as a particular risk because he was 'not radicalised until he left the UK in October 2008', the spokesman added...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

President Criticizes U.S. Intelligence Agencies

U.S. President Barack Obama

Today, President Barack Obama strongly criticized the F.B.I. and C.I.A.'s failure to "connect the dots" using existing intelligence information, in the attempted Christmas Day bombing of an airplane landing in Detroit. It has been reported, dozens of names have now been moved from the terrorist watch list to the no fly list, as it was revealed, terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was on the former, not the latter.

President Says U.S. Missed Key Bomb Clues

JANUARY 5, 2010, 9:51 P.M. ET - WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama, in his harshest remarks yet on the terrorism threat facing the nation, said U.S. intelligence agencies knew that al Qaeda in Yemen was targeting the U.S., but "failed to connect those dots" to thwart a Christmas Day bombing attempt.

The remarks capped a day in which the president, facing heat from Republicans over what they paint as a lackluster initial response, summoned most of his cabinet and security team to meetings on counterterrorism in an effort to show his administration's engagement on the issue...

http://online.wsj.com

Obama sharply criticizes intelligence failure in Christmas bombing attempt

Posted: 01/05/2010 06:50:40 PM PST - WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Tuesday that U.S. intelligence agencies could have prevented the attempt to bomb an airliner on Christmas Day, and used a grim and forceful White House statement to demand rapid improvements in efforts to protect Americans from attack.

"This was not a failure to collect intelligence," Obama said after meeting with senior national security and intelligence officials, "it was a failure to integrate and understand the intelligence that we already had. ....That's not acceptable, and I will not tolerate it."...

"Our intelligence community failed to connect those dots," the president said. "We have to do better, and we will do better, and we have to do it quickly. American lives are on the line."...

http://www.mercurynews.com

Obama Links Christmas Terror Plot To Al Qaeda

Video: Obama Links Bomb Plot, Al Qaeda

In U.S. President Barack Obama’s weekly speech to the nation, he linked the attempted Christmas Day bombing of an NWA-Delta flight, to the terrorist group Al Qaeda and one of their cells in Yemen.

It was the first time the Obama administration publicly made this connection. The President of Yemen has pledge his support to an American/British led task force on terrorism in the region.

Yemen president to work with U.S. to boost security

SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen's president met a top U.S. general on Saturday to discuss boosting military cooperation, after President Barack Obama tied al Qaeda's regional arm to the Christmas Day attempt to blow up a U.S. passenger jet.

Yemen also said it was tightening security along its coastline to prevent Islamist militants infiltrating from Somalia. However, a local Shi'ite rebel group said it was ready to talk peace with President Ali Abdullah Saleh once fighting in its conflict with the Sanaa government had stopped.

U.S. General David Petraeus met Saleh for talks focusing on strengthening security, military and economic cooperation, an official said. Petraeus, who heads the U.S. Central Command, also handed over a letter from Obama...

http://www.reuters.com

Ties Between Abdulmutallab And Awlaki Solidified

Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab as a teen

As the investigation into the attempted bombing of an NWA-Delta airplane on Christmas Day continues, sources are uncovering ties between failed suicide bomber, Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab and imam, Anwar al Awlaki, who also communicated with and influenced Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Malik Hasan.

Nidal Malik Hasan

People in Yemen have publicly claimed, Anwar al Awlaki, was not killed during a raid on Christmas Eve, but other Al Qaeda members were in the bombing.

Anwar al Awlaki (right) and journalist Abdulelah Hider Shaea (left) last month

Yemen And The Terrorist Front

School in Yemen terrorist Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab attended

Yemen has been in the news a lot lately, due to terrorist activity occurring in the region. It is a nation of 23,580,000 people located near Saudi Arabia in the Middle East.

The U.S. government recently gave the government of Yemen, $70,000,000 to aide in fighting terrorists occupying the country. Yemen's GDP is $55 billion derived mostly from oil.