Saturday, December 26, 2009

The Shoe Bomber 2.0



Abdul Farouk Abdul Mutallab, 23, a Nigerian terrorist tried to ignite a powdery substance strapped to leg while landing on a Northwest flight to Detroit. Abdul Mutallab claims to have been directed by Al Qaeda to blow up a plane on American soil. Mutallab’s method is very similar to Shoe Bomber Richard Reid.

From ABC News
Federal officials and police are interviewing a Nigerian man, who allegedly tried to "explode" a powdery substance aboard a Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, injuring himself and two other passengers, law enforcement officials said.
The man said he was directed by al Qaeda to explode a small device in flight, over U.S. soil, ABC News has learned. Authorities have no corroboration of that information, and the credibility of the suspect's statements are being questioned, officials said.
The suspect was identified as Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, who according to federal documents is an engineering student at University College of London.
He was flying from Nigeria to the United States for a religious seminar, according to his entry visa, which was issued June 16, 2008 and was good until June 12, 2010.[MORE]
Once again the Pointy Object Police (TSA) has failed us. How did this guy have anything strapped to his leg and get on a plane? The question I really want to know is, did this guy use any of the information that the TSA accidentally posted on the Internet to evade security. If the media actually pursues this line of thought, we might get an idea just how much trouble we are in.


These terrorist attacks seem to be coming a little faster now that Bush is gone. I think Obama’s unwillingness to take a proactive stance against terror is giving Al Qaeda a green light to try something.


Via: ABC News

9 comments:

Osumashi Kinyobe said...

It is frightening for anyone traveling to know that an attack can be carried out due to the willingness of the terrorist, security failure and the unwillingness of the authorities to fight against it.

Clifton B said...

Osumashi:

I never did put a lot of faith into the TSA. I remember early on when they use to screen the crap out of little old ladies, I knew that they were not going to be effective.

This incident just proves it.

Osumashi Kinyobe said...

Insane.
When I traveled, I had to take off my shoes, unpack my computer, everything.
Air travel is quite a business. They had better shape up.

Clifton B said...

Osumashi:

The whole flying experience has degraded beyond belief. The last time I flew, I was with my 70 year old mother and she is on the watch list! Can you imagine a 70 year old black woman is a threat!

McJenny said...

The TSA needs to take lessons from those responsible for airline security in Israel. Those guys have it down and are NOT beyond profiling. We are entirely too PC lest we offend anyone. Frankly, I figure your 70 year old grandmother and others like her are the ones that should be offended.

Anonymous said...

The TSA us a nuisance, granted. But this fellow got on the plane at an airport at which there is not a single TSA agent to be found. Sorry, folks. Much as I despise the security theater that is the TSA, this is not one you can strap to their back.

What you CAN strap to their back is the ideas being floated to restrict possession of blankets and pillows for the last hour of a flight, and the lockdown of the restrooms for that hour.

Get used to it. These are government employees and once a government agency is in place, you can't get rid of it.

Clifton B said...

McJenny:

I too have no problem with the profiling thing. Even though now that they caught a Nigerian, that means certain blacks will get a closer look. Fine by me, I rather be alive than offended.

Clifton B said...

BigRedKodiak:

I had not heard that he did not go through TSA at any point, thanks for the heads up. That being said, I still want to know if he learned that info from the TSA info that was posted on the Net.

Yes the solution of taking away blankets and bathroom privileges is foolish in the extreme. If someone sneaks a bomb on board, the last thing that will stop them is lack of a blanket or bathroom.

Ben Simon said...

What do you mean by "unwillingness to take a proactive stance against terror"?

Just curious.

Thanks,
Ben

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