President Obama Says Suspect Tied to al Qaeda

Only a matter of time before Americans begin a backlash against the petty and dangerous Republican criticism of the president while he handles this crisis with professionalism and intelligence.

Obama says “So, as president, I’ve made it a priority to strengthen our partnership with the Yemeni government — ” Translation, I will give Yemen more money.

We also know that one of the two al Qaeda planners for that failed Christmas attack was in a Rehab for terrorists program during 2007, which was the brain child of Bush and Cheney.
We Remember that both Cheney and Bush were on TV in 2007 claiming that the Detanees they were releasing at that time were “Not terrorists.” A statement that now is proven to be a Lie.
Yet if that Al Qaeda planner were still in prison there would had been No attack on Christmas.

well put Jake..obama BLAMES al qaeda- DUH! with BO there ALWAYS has to be a demon, a culprit, no matter what the issue. in this case, he ‘analyzed’ meituclously the intel report, ,no doubt using that worthless ivy league education of his, to discover what we have known all along. he is only throwing his much admired muslim brothers under the bus to save his only spineless butt. YOU are the prob barry

“We know that he traveled to Yemen, a country grappling with crushing poverty and deadly insurgencies.
===========
Hm.
Why is he mentioning poverty here?

When is Obama going to admit that the guy thta committed murder at Fort Hood is a terrorist?

Republicans are sooo funny. They just love to ignore the fact that it was them who put the two mastermind planners in a position to plan that failed attack in the first place when they were released from Guatanimo in 2007.

Maybe in time he will link Ft. Hood to al Qaeda as well. Even a blind squirrel . . .

Good for Obama. He has finally backed off his “an isolated extremist” language and recognized that the guy was part of a larger terrorist plot orchestrated by al Qaeda. Unless you recognize the problem, you can’t solve it. Now he needs to woodshed (or fire) those within his administration who aren’t with the program.

Matt, aren’t Republicans American? Really do you think that Democrats are any different? For the past few years Democrats railed Republicans due to the origin on an idea. The Democrats were the party of “No”, now the coin has flipped.
BTW – I agree with everything Mick said.

This revelation must have came from the alleged Homeland Security secretary Napolitano. In God We Trust but not this gang of reprobates.

Republicans are sooo funny. They just love to ignore the fact that it was them who put the two mastermind planners in a position to plan that failed attack in the first place when they were released from Guatanimo in 2007.
Posted by: Angie | Jan 2, 2010 10:03:35 AM
______________________
And who were the ones pressuring Bush and Cheney to release all the gitmo prisoners? Thats right the left wing nuts and MSM that refuses to see them as what they are. Dangerous nutjobs. I doubt Bush or Cheney would have released them if it wasn’t for the constant bleating of the sheep on the left.

Angie:”Why did Bush and Cheney Promote to High Ranking Officer the Fort Hood shooter Hassan when his file had warnings of his Anti-American and Pro-Terrorism views?”. The fact is Hassan was not a high ranking officer in Walter Reed hospital in DC. He was a practicing psychologist, with nobody report to him. He has no access to weapons, so he had to spend money to buy a high power pistol from a gun store in Texas to carry out the massacre.

Hey folks, blaming stuff on people from before is really getting old. Blaming Bush is more convenient than fact, and it ain’t working no more. If these guys keep trying to blame others for stuff that happens on their watch, nothing will ever get done. Nest thing you know Obama will blame George Washington for us having a country in the first place. Time to fish or cut bait.

Wow! This guy Obama is finally catching on! Amazing!

Hey Obama! Fort Hood killer is also a terrorist.

Wow, it only took the Man-child in Chief a week to figure this out? Hmmm, apparently not the genius he is cracked up to be….
On the grading himself of a “solid B+” should maybe lower the security grade of this pathetic administration to a “solid F-”….

Obama is just now accepting the fact that it was Al-Qaeda? Wow! The terrorist told him, Al-Qaeda took responsibility but Obama is just now realizing it. The intelligent president doesn’t have a clue.
————
CW, and all others bashing President Obama for ‘just now’ catching on: President Obama waited until the statements of a terrorist and a terroristic organization could be confirmed.

Yemen, name rings a bell. Doesn’t Yemen have a long history of human trafficking? Doesn’t that history continue today?

President is finally able to connect the dots only after getting the answer from his adminstration and his liberal democrats. I guess this puppet president is not allowed to say a word unless it’s approved by the Liberals who have a tight leash on him on what to say only after he is given permission.

Better late than never. So I applaud this.
He was rightfully criticized by those who care about our country. Those who want to defend him no matter what his failures ,can go right ahead with their heads in the sand. You disqualify yourselves from serious discussion, by your purely idealogical support of the president.

Well, Obama plays pass the buck again, and he would have a lot more problems if he didn’t have Al-Qaeda to blame…again and again.
Bottom line is Obama’s administration got caught literally with their shorts down and they are the ones to blame and nobody else.
Just like 911, the government knew when and where and did nothing.
Obama is just a continuation of more of the same idiotic policies.

Does nobody notice? The President is prejudicing the right of an accused to a fair trial, one of the consequences of using the civilian courts.

We knew that. The young mans father and he admitted it on the news. If this isn’t a wake up call and it is time to stop being politically correct but honest. He was a muslim extremist and yes it does hurt the good muslim community but it is what it is. A terror act in the name of a religion.

“Instead of succumbing to partisanship” ya right… LOOK in the Mirror BO…… and I noticed you put quite a few partisan SLAMS in your little teleprompter speech here… BO is so full of partisan crap….

Sure are a lot of people here who just KNEW it was al Qaeda and expected the president to say so before checking facts and finding out how.

Sure are a lot of people here who just KNEW it was al Qaeda and expected the president to say so before checking facts and finding out how.
Posted by: keredte | Jan 2, 2010 11:46:02 AM
Jake had this article on Dec. 28th:
Political Punch: Obama Administration Calls BS on Al Qaeda Claim
December 28, 2009 3:27 PM
*************
Napolitano AND Gibbs Dec 27th: The system worked. They used the same verbage, so this talking point probably came from the WH.
Dec 28 from Obama: “Isolated Incident”
Obama on Dec 28th: “Isolated Incident”
He DENIED it was al Queda before he “checked the facts.”

as a Turkish journalist i agree mr. president’s all comments about blame El-kaide. also El-kaide killed my own people too. (el-kaide’s november 2003 İSTANBUL-TURKEY explosion). they killed so many innocent turkish peoples in this attack. they are not friend with islamic peoples. because they are killing muslim peoples too.

What an idiot!! This is his typical well I have to say something statement. Hope and change folks, hope and change.

The political fight over what went wrong is in full force, with high-profile Republicans like former Vice President…Cheney accusing Mr. Obama of not taking the terrorist threat seriously enough…
In his weekly address, the president urged unity.

It is truly sad that a majority of the American people were fooled by the Hope and Change message. It offered hope but has delivered only despair and corruption. It has created Change but not the type the people expected.
He has no clue what he is doing or how to protect this country. He is a great speaker from a teleprompter delivering words written for him to speak. He is a terrible spontaneous speaker creating gaffes and rambling worse that Clinton. At least Clinton had a clue about what he was doing and why. Obama only seems to be following the lead of someone (question is who). We are in deep trouble in this nation until the voters have an opportunity to turn out those leading the current debacle.

Let;s face it, Obama can’t handle the job. He conned people into voting for him with his promise of “change and hope”. He has no experience running anything. Why would anyone think he can a country? Ridiculous!

This President views unity only in terms of agreement with him. Obama, Pelosi, and Reid had no intention of unity in governing. We have the numbers and we are going to ram whatever we want through Congress and let the poor taxpayers eat cake if they can find it.
The Stimulus package was not a stimulus but an earmarks bill with all types of goodies for their friends. If the benefits trickle into the economy great but it bought them lots of “friends” in their base and contributions from lobbyists that benefited from the earmarks. No different in the omnibus bill passed before Christmas.
There has been no transparency, no critical review of earmarks, nothing of substance for the good of the country.
The Stimulus bill was not even read by those voting on it because it was so important it be passed now even though most of the spending would not occur until 2010 (passed in Feb 2009). The Health care bill had to be passed before Christmas but the vast majority of any benefits will not be seen until 2013 though the taxes start in 2010.
Anyone who continues to support this bunch does not have an ounce of common sense.

After 9/11, that awakened us all — Bush – 7 years – NO succesful attacks on our soil —- Obama – 11 months – TWO succesful attacks (if not for a faulty fuse)on our soil. —- You libs always wanted to blame Bush (the buck stops there) for everything — now you can’t blame underlings when terror acts happen under Obama — what goes around, comes around!!

NEWS FLASH!! The Republicans are the least fit to lead and the least qualified to criticize! They screwed everything up and they have been sabotaging efforts to fix their screw-ups! In other words, the Republicans don’t want Democrats fixing their problems because it will confirm what we all know: Republicans are guilty of mismanagement, incompetence, corruption and stupidity. They need to shut their lying, slandering, corrupt mouths and get out of the way of progress. The behavior that strikes directly at the American people: Republicans have been sabotaging our economic recovery for political gain. The party of “NO” continues its lies, sabotage and treason. Let’s take even more power away from them in 2010! There’s some that need to be thrown in jail too….

Obama lives in another world he and his staff are not in touch with world we live in. Their collective actions cost lives of Americans. Holder and the rest of Obama staff are nothing short of a disaster for all Americans.
The question is can we Americans survive 3 more years of Obama and his stupidity?
He has been all talk and has not kept his promises with the voters, we were all lied too.

Angie.The Fort Hood terrorist was promoter during Obama’s presidency. He was also allowed to attend Homeland Security meetings. Get a clue!!!

Anyone who continues to support this bunch does not have an ounce of common sense.
Posted by: Allen, ND | Jan 2, 2010 12:30:19 PM
—
That’s how the vast majority of Americans… and Europeans.. and Aussies.. and others… feel about the vast majority of misguided GOP (and Bush and power/wealth/deregulation status quo)defenders. Seriously. Not one iota of common sense, because as Dionne puts it, its not all that unlikely that “the past 10 years will be seen as a time when the United States badly lost its way by using our military power carelessly, misunderstanding the real challenges to our long-term security, and pursuing domestic policies that constrained our options for the future while needlessly threatening our prosperity.”

“Hey Obama! Fort Hood killer is also a terrorist.”
Posted by: CW | Jan 2, 2010 10:46:33 AM
___________
Actually since we are at war with the Islamic extremists, and Nidal Malik Hasan being a Major in the Army who took up the Islamic extremists’ cause and then shot and killed 13–all but one active duty personnel–he is a TRAITOR. I am still waiting for President Obama or even Attorney General Eric Holder to add TREASON to the list of the charges against Major Hasan.

David Brooks:
“Human institutions are always going to miss crucial clues because the information in the universe is infinite and events do not conform to algorithmic regularity.
Resilient societies have a level-headed understanding of the risks inherent in this kind of warfare.
But, of course, this is not how the country has reacted over the past week. There have been outraged calls for Secretary Janet Napolitano of the Department of Homeland Security to resign, as if changing the leader of the bureaucracy would fix the flaws inherent in the bureaucracy. There have been demands for systemic reform — for more protocols, more layers and more review systems.
Much of the criticism has been contemptuous and hysterical…”

All obama has to do is apologize once again and it will make it all better.

Links bomber to terror group first time? hmmm
In contrast to Republicans who never admitted that in 2007 they released two of the planners for the failed jet liner attack.
In contrast to Republicans never admitting that if they did not release those two planners, then the Christmas attack would never of happened in the first place.
In contrast to Republicans like Cheney making statements that the detanees they released in 2007 were not terrorists. A statement that was recorded on the news media on TV.
In contrast to the Republicans never admitting that their mistakes when they were in power, is now reeking havoc over us, the American people.

NEWS FLASH!! More fake Republican outrage coming to a blog near you!!

“THE SYSTEM WORKED”! What a crock full of CYA coming out of Obama! Does anybody believe anything he says? Did he say he was going to start treating this like a war and stop reading Miranda rights to murdering terrorists and giving the million dollar lawyers? Did he say he was going to scrap plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on Circus trial in NYC? Did he say he would stop persecuting the heroes who kept us safe after 9/11? Did he say he would order and end to the travesty with those Navy Seals facing Court Martial because a murdering terrorists says they hit him? Did he announce he would stop planning on spending billions to bring hundreds of murdering terrorist to the heartland of the U.S.? Obama has personally pulled apart the security systems put in place after 9/11. Does anybody feel safe?

Domestically, Obama inherited an economic catastrophe. Dealing with the wreckage required a large expenditure of public funds that increased a deficit already bloated by the previous president’s decision to fight two wars and to cut taxes at the same time. Bush’s defenders, preferring to focus attention away from this earlier period of irresponsibility, act as if the world began on Jan. 20, 2009, by way of saddling Obama with the blame for everything that now ails us. But the previous eight years cannot be wished away.”
Posted by: progressive mama | Jan 2, 2010 12:13:52 PM
**********
The Dems were voting during the last 8 years. They controlled both the house and the senate the last 2. Obama voted present 130 times in the Illinois Senate and didn’t vote at all NUMEROUS times in the US Senate. Is this why he wants to claim no responsibility?
He said he wanted bi-partisanship, yet when the Republican’s wanted to discuss the stimulus, his comment was, “I won.”
Stimulus bill that “had to be passed immediately otherwise a crisis would become a catastrophe”: Less than 1/3 of the money has been spent. The majority of the money will be spent next year (election year). Billions in earmarks.
Defense bill: 4.6 Billion in earmarks. Obama specifically stated that if this bill had earmarks, he would veto it. He did not. How many air marshalls would this pay for? But we are paying for museums in the defense budget.
Healthcare reform: Bipartisan? No, it a Democratic bribery laden bill that does NOTHING to FIX the rising costs.
The DEMS are spending money not to fix irresponsibility, but because “THEY CAN”.

progressive mama – Obama didn’t “inherit” squat!!
There are over 500 politicians in Washington screwing us over today, and he was one of them prior to being the HNIC.
Inherit? BS!!!

Ann – Just to irritate you a bit more… every time this MORON travels, his motor pool – yeah, his entire MOTORCADE – are delivered by the U.S. Air Force prior to his arrival!! And then flown back to Washington.
After all, it wouldn’t look good for “da boss” to be standing in line at Alamo!! Not that he’d actually have a valid credit card in his pocket anyway.
But hey, he’s “one of us,” huh? LOL!!!

NEWS FLASH!! The Republicans are the least fit to lead and the least qualified to criticize! They screwed everything up and they have been sabotaging efforts to fix their screw-ups! In other words, the Republicans don’t want Democrats fixing their problems because it will confirm what we all know: Republicans are guilty of mismanagement, incompetence, corruption and stupidity. They need to shut their lying, slandering, corrupt mouths and get out of the way of progress. The behavior that strikes directly at the American people: Republicans have been sabotaging our economic recovery for political gain. The party of “NO” continues its lies, sabotage and treason. Let’s take even more power away from them in 2010! There’s some that need to be thrown in jail too….

emands that political leaders ensure that we can live in womb-like Absolute Safety are delusional and destructive.
=========
Strawman.
Greenwald is free to make whatever arguments he’d like about the balance of liberties/privacy and safety. Pretending people are ridiculous for wanting competence in the agencies tasked with executing the safety mechanisms is a poor substitute for good arguments.
It was this administration, after all, who decided the solution was going to be telling us the system worked plus taking away pillows and bathroom breaks in the last hour of a flight.
Why is balking at that such an absurd, childish response? I think it’s very reasonable.

Plus, the “absolute safety!” criticism sounds absurd coming from people who want the government intervening/regulating almost every other aspect of our lives.

Posted by: Laughin__ALL_The_Way | Jan 2, 2010 1:15:22 PM
See my post @ 1:10:59 PM. My view is if you’re going to point fingers, be willing to step up. If you’re just a partisan, admit that too.
I think Dionne is right that he inherited the mess. If my uncle ran a family business and I worked for that business, and then inherited it upon his death per my wishes– and if the business were a mess, I would have inherited the mess– whether or not I’d worked for the business, and whether or not it was my wish to take over. Its a silly argument those on the right make. Its just about blanket denial and an unwillingness to look at our problems square on. Better to find scapegoats and shout NOOOOOO! Better to paint Obama as petty and the blamethrower, when there are infamously more blamethrowers tied to the opposition.

Plus, the “absolute safety!” criticism sounds absurd coming from people who want the government intervening/regulating almost every other aspect of our lives.
Posted by: MayBee | Jan 2, 2010 1:29:18 PM
Says you in regards to “the people.” I see the Republican party as the interventionist party– and the big spending party. (Didn’t Reagan triple the deficit– and, um, what did Bush the Younger do to it again?) I actually don’t think all government spending is bad; in Reagan’s case it helped with the recession– but the elected officials on the right talk out of both sides of their mouth about it very, very consistently and have throughout most of my lifetime.
The absolute safety argument makes perfect sense to me— I see it. It actually makes my skin crawl a little its so juvenile… and hypocritical for some.

progressive mama – how did we jump to government spending under Reagan?
I’m talking about womb-wanting absolute safety Republicans being set up as a strawman argument by the womb-wanting healthcare/mortgage protection/credit card protection/college for all progressives.
You may see people who want absolute safety. Of course, because there are any number of people who want any given thing in this country.
Most people who I’ve seen want a balance of safety and freedom, but also want competence from those who we’ve put in charge of whatever safety mechanisms we’ve chosen.
Mistakes will happen, but let’s not pretend when they are made they should just be ignored.

Every President takes this country with its full (now 230 or so) years of history. There is no such thing as a clean slate when you take the job. There are few “new” problems in the country or in the world that come up during any President’s tenure. Sometimes we know what landmines have been set, and sometimes they are something that surprise us.
It isn’t that anybody thinks Obama had a brand spanking new country when he took the oath on January 20, 2009. It is simply that he needs to learn to deal with it and take ownership. Other Presidents have.

I’m talking about womb-wanting absolute safety Republicans being set up as a strawman argument by the womb-wanting healthcare/mortgage protection/credit card protection/college for all progressives.
—
I’m talking of the hypocrisy of that, right there. What did Reagan spend all that money on? The unrealistic womb-wanting of absolute safety via a monster-sized defense complex while not dealing with the more realistic aspects of setting up a reasonable safety net for citizens.
Greenwald: “The citizenry has been trained to expect that our Powerful Daddies and Mommies in government will — in that most cringe-inducing, child-like formulation — Keep Us Safe. Whenever the Government fails to do so, the reaction — just as we saw this week — is an ugly combination of petulant, adolescent rage and increasingly unhinged cries that More Be Done to ensure that nothing bad in the world ever happens. Demands that genuinely inept government officials be held accountable are necessary and wise, but demands that political leaders ensure that we can live in womb-like Absolute Safety are delusional and destructive….A citizenry drowning in fear and fixated on Safety to the exclusion of other competing values can only be degraded and depraved.”

what “experience” does YOUR party’s moron in the White House have?
_____________________________________
More cheap name calling. Juvenile.

tierra – Sorry, what “experience” does YOUR party’s bobble-headed, finger-puppet in the White House have?
Better?
I know, it’s MUCH easier to call me juvenile than it is to try and list his “accomplishments.”

I just think Greenwald has the wrong people pegged on who is *really* demanding that.
Posted by: MayBee | Jan 2, 2010 2:11:27 PM
And I think there are some on both sides of the aisle, in two different ways, though more on the right (of course)– and I think those Greenwald mentions absolutely exist, were on display to some extent this past week and often get overlooked by conservatives when they accuse and make various claims, some of which I consider extreme and hypocritical to the extreme.
Worth mentioning the article in my opinion– I saw that he linked to Brooks and I actually liked both columns. I like to read various views.

Worth mentioning the article in my opinion– I saw that he linked to Brooks and I actually liked both columns. I like to read various views.
=======
As do I, but Brooks and Greenwald is not such a wide variety.
And of course, as I said, you can find someone, somewhere, spouting any position you want to see. Of course the people Greenwald refers to exist, but setting up a whole argument against them as if it is and argument for what *he* wants is nothing more than a victory over strawmen. It is certainly no defense for the poor showing we saw all around on the Detroit bomber.

OBAMA SAYS
“We know that he traveled to Yemen, a country grappling with crushing poverty and deadly insurgencies. It appears that he joined an affiliate of al Qaeda, and that this group, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, trained him, equipped him with those explosives and directed him to attack that plane headed for America,”
It’s amazing the extent this moron goes to try to justify why terrorist are terrorist. Who cares where terrorist grow up. How they grow up. Nothing justifies killing innocent people. And him being in nigeria means nothing. This man was living a comfortable life. His family is well to do. This is nothing about him being poor.
God, i truly hate this president

another gem from the idiot
“As we go forward, let us remember this: Our adversaries are those who would attack our country, not our fellow Americans, not each other,” he said. “Let’s never forget what has always carried us through times of trial, including those attacks eight Septembers ago.”
It was your adminstration that published a guide calling militia members, neo conservatives, pro life gun owners radicals…
So, now that you’re in the hot seat. Don’t try to deflect the criticsm by demanding we all unite. Just do your damn job and keep the country safe…

whatsgoingonhere? saya ***(Lots of BS snipped for space limited) Obama might think he is doing the right thing for America but he has never ran anything in his life, what in the hell made you people think he could run our country? ***
LOL Geee I guess the same thing that made you and your buddies think that a person that ran EVERY business his daddy ever set him up with into the ground could run a country. Who was that you ask? GWB. And what’s with you’re instant “you have to turn it around in a year or you own it” BS? It took 8 years to screw the economy to hell but Obama has to fix it on 6 months? LOL You’re too funny and either not too bright or a hypocrite.

ALEX H says ****
First: “the system worked!”
Then: “an ISOLATED terrorist”
Now the truth – at least part of it – comes out.
It’s called “GROSS INCOMPETENCE AND FAILURE TO PROTECT AMERICA!” ****
LOL first these quotes weren’t made by the same person. second did you say the same when Richard Reid (aka the shoe bomber) failed to down his plane/target or are you just another finger pointing hypocrite? And seriously how do you consider one person out of 100′s of millions slipping through security a “GROSS INCOMPETENCE AND FAILURE TO PROTECT AMERICA!”?

bp, you are true to form are you not. I would think that after 1 year there should be some some improvement in some area. You cant deny that Obama has never run anything in his life and it shows! Oh and since your reading skills are not up to par, I never said he had to fix anything in 6 months. I said he has been in office for 1 year and he needs to man up and accpet responibility for his actions or lack there of. You are to funny in your blind devotion of this lack luster president and you and other believers on this site are laughable! By the way how can you assume to know I supported Bush? Just because someone doesnt think Obama is doing a good job doesn’t mean they supporte Bush. There were many things Bush did that I didn’t agree with. I can admit that. You Obama worshipers can not/will not do the same. You do know what happens when you assume don’t you?

There were many things Bush did that I didn’t agree with. I can admit that. You Obama worshipers can not/will not do the same.
Posted by: whatsgoingonhere? |
It is extremely rare for someone to post here and defend Obama in terms of his accomplishments. In poker that’s call a tell.

Lori and Kurt Haskell were eyewitnesses aboard the underwear bomber flight to Detroit..
here is their account..funny that their story HAS not changed,while the governments version of events has changed no less than 3 times already..and as they say..
a lie must be backed up by another lie must be backed up by another lie and on and on..you know ..the 9-11 stuff..
Ever since I got off of Flight 253 I have been repeating what I saw in US Customs. Specifically, 1 hour after we left the plane, bomb sniffing dogs arrived. Up to this point, all of the passengers on Flight 253 stood in a small area in an evacuated luggage claim area of an airport terminal. During this time period, all of the passengers had their carry on bags with them. When the bomb sniffing dogs arrived, 1 dog found something in a carry on bag of a 30 ish Indian man. This is not the so called “Sharp Dressed” man. I will refer to this man as “The man in orange”. The man in orange, who stood some 20ft away from me the entire time until he was taken away, was immediately taken away to be searched and interrogated in a nearby room. At this time he was not handcuffed. When he emerged from the room, he was then handcuffed and taken away. At this time an FBI agent came up to the rest of the passengers and said the following (approximate quote) “You all are being moved to another area because this area is not safe. I am sure many of you saw what just happened (Referring to the man in orange) and are smart enough to read between the lines and figure it out.” We were then marched out of the baggage claim area and into a long hallway. This entire time period and until we left customs, no person that wasn’t a law enforcement personnel or a passenger on our flight was allowed anywhere on our floor of the terminal (or possibly the entire terminal) The FBI was so concerned during this time, that we were not allowed to use the bathroom unless we went alone with an FBI agent, we were not allowed to eat or drink, or text or call anyone. I have been repeating this same story over the last 5 days. The FBI has, since we landed, insisted that only one man was arrested for the airliner attack (contradicting my account). However, several of my fellow passengers have come over the past few days, backed up my claim, and put pressure on FBI/Customs to tell the truth. Early today, I heard from two different reporters that a federal agency (FBI or Customs) was now admitting that another man has been held (and will be held indefinitely) since our flight landed for “immigration reasons.” Notice that this man was “being held” and not “arrested”, which was a cute semantic ploy by the FBI to stretch the truth and not lie.

WHAT BAMA needs is more people in his corner like[cold cash] jefferson.

NEWS FLASH!! The Republicans are the least fit to lead and the least qualified to criticize! They screwed everything up and they have been sabotaging efforts to fix their screw-ups! In other words, the Republicans don’t want Democrats fixing their problems because it will confirm what we all know: Republicans are guilty of mismanagement, incompetence, corruption and stupidity. They need to shut their lying, slandering, corrupt mouths and get out of the way of progress. The behavior that strikes directly at the American people: Republicans have been sabotaging our economic recovery for political gain. The party of “NO” continues its lies, sabotage and treason. Let’s take even more power away from them in 2010! There’s some that need to be thrown in jail too….

Sentinel1946, you might as well start preparing right now. By the time that this November’s election comes around the American electorate will remember it was the Republicans who were in the majority during President Clinton’s last SIX years–and the authors of the last 2 budget surpluses.

NEWS FLASH!! If there is a dishonest person in the Democratic Party, you can at least pick him/her out of the crowd. On the other hand, the entire Republican Party is corrupt! Grab any Republican at random out of a crowd – and he/she is corrupt! You can even do it blindfolded!!

“The system worked.”
I know that the ‘system’ is an epic failure, allowing a Nigerian to board a trans Atlantic flight even though he;
1) Paid in cash
2) had no luggage
3) Did I mention he’s Nigerian?
4) His own Father had reported him to HLS.
To tell me there were failures is to tell me the sky is blue, and that the sun came up today.
Has anyone in the Administration acknowledged that a tragedy was averted only through the incompetence of the bomber, and a quick thinking passenger?
Do they realize that their security procedures still can end up with a blown up plane and lots of dead people?
What I want to know Mr President is WHY Janet Napotolino still has a job. What I want to know, Mr President, is WHY you still have confidence in her.
I want to know what you going to do to make air travel safe again.
Enjoying shaved ice isn’t getting it done.
We desperately need a leader.
We are at Epic Fail right now.

For the other 49 states to pay all of Nebraska`s new Medicaid participants is completly wrong. This is absolutely unconstitutional. The entire health care bill is unconstitutional. Locking up citizens for failing to buy a health care plan? In a recession? News Flash – Today`s Democrats are Socialists boardering on Communists and they must be defeated!

Al Hilal worked for the Political Security Organization (PSO), which is an intelligence agency that reports directly to President Saleh (of Yemen). The PSO operated an official government “deportation” operation, in which veteran mujahedeen were relocated. The U.S. government says al Hilal has admitted that he was tasked with keeping tabs on al Qaeda operatives for Saleh’s government. The U.S. government also charges, however, that al Hilal was really an al Qaeda member who used his position of authority to assist his fellow terrorists.
During one wiretap session, recorded before the 9/11 attacks, they captured a conversation between al Hilal and a senior Egyptian al Qaeda member. The contents are chilling.
“Well, I am studying airplanes! If it is God’s will, I hope to bring you a window or a piece of a plane next time I see you. .  .  . We are focusing on the air alone. .  .  . It is something terrifying, something that moves from south to north and from east to west: the man who devised the program is a lunatic, but he is a genius. It will leave them stunned. .  .  . We can fight any force using candles and planes. They will not be able to halt us, not even with their heaviest weapons. We just have to strike at them, and hold our heads high. Remember, the danger at the airports. If it comes off, it will be reported in all the world’s papers. The Americans have come into Europe to weaken us, but our target is now the sky.”
———-
In other words, don’t trust Yemen. Any money or training given them will eventually be used to help terrorists.

Absuletely, this is tragedy for American and specially our troops. The president of USA has collected his mind; after, 250 warriors lost their life for just two months of Oct. Nov at Afghanistan, innocent American of 253 were almost killed by underware Terrorist at Christmas eve, 13 American soldiers in Hood Ft, Tx passed away thanks to Muslim-American Terror, and 7 CIA Agents including the mom whom had 3 daughters were killed by bomber Terrorist. AMERICAN CONGRESS AND SENATES SHOULD PREPARE TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT WHO TOTALLY FAILED TO PROTECT CITIZENS AS WELL AS TO SAVE JOBS 3.5 MILLION EVEN THOUGH HE’S SPEND $787,000,000,000.00. I DON’T TRUST OBAMA ang HIS ADMIN. AS A PRESIDENT OF USA ANY MORE.

So obama knew about the underwear technique in October and a possible attack on Christmas Day but did nothing about it. Incompentence.

What else is new, Barry? Now you can continue your executive order designating me as being your pet political whipping boy in perpetuity. You are no different than George W. Bush or Bill Clinton. You’re all birds of a feather.
Yo Barry, you had better tell Hill and Bill and Dubya that I will NEVER let it go.What was done to me at Harbor/UCLA and elsewhere is going to get spread with more ferocity as time goes on. Frank Rosenthal filed for divorce on 9/11 of 1980. Eleven days later, Jimmy Carter was at North High in Torrance–Johnny Chung, Hillary Clinton—the same day the Iran/Iraq war broke out. I have the documents to prove it.

It was a government inside-job conspiracy created by obambidenpelosireidnapalitanoemmanuel.
To make us behave. To threaten us.
See how silly that all sounds, 8 and a half years after 9/11?
See how calm IMPOTUS was, never flinching, never stopping his golf game, or was he reading to the girls?
See how silly that sounds, 8 and a half years after 9/11?
See how little, if anything, has changed in 8 and a half years since 9/11? Until Americans once again wake up to the fact that we are at War, yes, mr obama, there IS indeed a War going on, we will continually be under attack. Unfortunately, 8 and a half years later, it IS from within.

So obama knew about the underwear technique in October and a possible attack on Christmas Day but did nothing about it. Incompentence.
Posted by: Jenny | Jan 2, 2010 5:34:05 PM
**************************************
O.K. you really aren’t aware that Bush shelved a big intel report, as well as ignored a memo that planes were at risk, correct?

Until Americans once again wake up to the fact that we are at War, yes, mr obama, there IS indeed a War going on, we will continually be under attack
___________________________________
Duh, like nobody knows there have been terrorist attacks on America . .. or like nobody knows we’re at war in Afghanistan against al Qaeda and the Taliban, or that we’re drone bombing Pakistan . . . or employing strategic strikes against al Qaeda in Yemen . .. or any of that stuff . . .

Posted by: wheresmymoney | Jan 2, 2010 6:06:21 PM
Progressive mama I admire your attempts to provide the right wingers with a quick glimpse into what is being accomplished – after the completely collapsed country and economy left by the last administration.
I expect no converts amongst those parroting the right wing blogs, but fortunately they do not represent the mainstream of america.

I guess shame at bearing false witness just isn’t a Republican value anymore.
__________________________________
If the post of this blog is any indication, more like pride at bearing false witness.

Of course, being totally unreasonable may not be a vital concern to some.
Posted by: progressive mama | Jan 2, 2010 5:49:50 PM
**************
Do you think it was reasonable for the President of the United States to call this an isolated incident 3 days and (I would hope) many briefings later? Would you call it reasonable 3 days after the event that the Obama administration called BS on this being caused by al Quada? Do you think it was reasonable for Napolitano and Gibbs to say the system worked?

Might be but what most of us don’t like is how, when a man clearly trying to kill many, is given a lawyer, the best of care and will undoubtedly tie up the courts
__________________________________
Same treatment given the ‘shoe bomber’ by the Bush/Cheney crowd.
“Reid was immediately taken into custody after the incident. Three days later he was charged in U.S. federal court at Boston, Massachusetts in a criminal complaint with “interfering with the performance of duties of flight crew members by assault or intimidation”.
Were Bush and Cheney not ‘at war’ either? Then why are they now hating on Obama? Because it’s the only tactic the Republicans have.

Were Bush and Cheney not ‘at war’ either? Then why are they now hating on Obama? Because it’s the only tactic the Republicans have.
———–
Tierra, Again, not all Republicans think the same thing, share the exact same opinions, or even like each other.
I didn’t like the fact the Reid wasn’t shuffled off to Gitmo. And that is exactly where this cretin needs to go as well.
Terrorists are terrorist. I didn’t care what religion they claim, or what party is in power when any of them try to kill Americans.

So obama knew about the underwear technique in October and a possible attack on Christmas Day but did nothing about it. Incompentence.
Posted by: Jenny | Jan 2, 2010 5:34:05 PM
**************************************
O.K. you really aren’t aware that Bush shelved a big intel report, as well as ignored a memo that planes were at risk, correct?
======================================
So, 2 wrongs make a right?
Posted by: secondlook | Jan

Posted by: malcat | Jan 2, 2010 6:41:42 PM*************
Well said Malcat.
Progressive Mama, even though I may not agree with you, I always enjoy reading your posts. I also disagreed with many things in the Bush era (both sides still have to claim some responsibility because there was no supermajority), so it is always nice to read different viewpoints. When they are made in a non-combative tone.

Yes we don’t know what it will yield because it has yielded nothing. You did not mention one single foreign policy success in your list of embarrassingly light “accomplishments”.
____________________________________
We know what the previous (Republican) president was able to accomplish in his first year – a month long vacation in Texas followed by a return to Washington in September to get caught totally off guard by 9/11.
Perhaps your expectations are too high Foghorn.

We know what the previous (Republican) president was able to accomplish in his first year – *********tierra
Perhaps so malcat, but I’m talking about the hypocrisy from the Bush/Cheney and the Republican crowd . .. and the hating on Obama when he’s doing nothing they didn’t do already. ******tierra
So, tierra, is you only defense “they did it first?” Does that make it acceptable?

So, tierra, is you only defense “they did it first?”
__________________________________
It’s not a defense – it’s an attack. It’s an attack on the hypocrisy of the right wing and the Republicans so commonly displayed here on this blog.
The right wing attacks Obama for doing things they did . ..it’s called hypocrisy.

Posted by: progressive mama | Jan 2, 2010 7:17:09 PM********
Have a great evening mama. I don’t agree with your last post either. :) You can get any spin you want on the internet, but once again accomplishments can also be viewed as disasters. To date, I see no concrete accomplishments. Time will tell.

Same treatment given the ‘shoe bomber’ by the Bush/Cheney crowd.
“Reid was immediately taken into custody after the incident. Three days later he was charged in U.S. federal court at Boston, Massachusetts in a criminal complaint with “interfering with the performance of duties of flight crew members by assault or intimidation”.
And Bush/Cheny was wrong to do that. All of them should be sent to Gitmo and held till the war is over. And by over I mean a signed surrender document from the radicals.

tierra….So which end of the fishing pole are you on??????????????

It is time to end this nonsense comparison of Richard Reid to the Northwest bomber.Reid attempted to blow up a plane in December,2001-little more than 3 months after 9/11.Policies for terrorist detention were still fluid-it was incidents like the Reid attempt that led the Bush administration to re-evaluate how to detain and debrief terrorists.The DHS didn’t even exist at the time.In addition,the Reid attempt was a unique and new attempt to bring down a plane- a method never previously attempted.Actions were taken to prevent a repeat- thus, we have been taking our shoes off since.I don’t recall Reid’s father informing the American embassy that his son was a terrorist.I don’t recall that chatter was present saying that “the Briton” was going to bring down a plane.I don’t recall intellegence knowing Reid’s name before his attempt.I don’t recall our intellegence services being warned about a Christmas attempt to bring down a plane at the time of the Reid attempt.Lastly, I don’t recall having a similar event happening eight years before the Reid attempt to give warning to the Bush administration.Obama and his boys were asleep at the wheel on this one-they don’t have an excuse for being unprepared.

“Obama and his boys were asleep at the wheel on this one-they don’t have an excuse for being unprepared”
None of Obama’s chronic detractors has yet been able to offer a shred of evidence that security under Obama is any less stringent than it was under Bush–if he got on the plane now, he could have gotten on the plane then. There has been no downgrade of any kind. In fact security is so tight now that only the very crudest devices have any chance of making it through. If the databases have problems they should be improved but no system is going to 100% effective ever. If somebody manages to rob your home even though you have an extensive security system would I be justified in scoffing that you were asleep at the wheel? It’s a ridiculous metaphor.

Just to clarify…
Richard Reid’s attempted bombing of AA Flight 63 (Paris to Miami) occurred on Dec 22, 2001. On Jan 11, 2002, the first group of 20 detainees arrived at Guantanamo Bay’s Camp X-Ray.

Skip, did you read the post? When did Bush ever get a warning from a terrorist’s father?You have no proof that this episode would have happened under Bush. You have the history of no successful attacks from 2003 until the advent of the Obama administration as evidence that it never would have happened under Bush.

Unfortunately it’s one of those fundamental limitations that nobody ever really knows how strong something is until it breaks. No complex security system will ever be 100% effective ever. You are quite predictably trying to allege culpability for mere error.

“No complex security system willbe 100% effective ever”-except after 2003 under George Bush IT WAS.

Wonder why the White House adds audio enhancement to Mr. Obama’s public pronouncements.
Wonder why the networks accept audio enhancement in network feeds.
It wouldn’t be that hard to reverse the enhancements and present the Presidents voice raw, as spoken.
Wonder why the don’t do that….

WOW!!! Seems like many jump to conclusions quite quickly and then just attack, attack. ALERT- better to wait for results of investigation findings a little – proceed cautiously. Aiport security was immediately increaed. US security system immediately put on alert.
ALERT – 911 happened many years ago and was worst disaster US has had in long time. Why weren’t cross agency communication with each other rules established then??? Finding out rules are too loose now, is result of what didn’t happen in past. Argue as you will – rules quite poor. System is not fullly interfaced well for all section access of information. Not programmed to immediately pull up all available information on certain person in the full system for placement of full alerts.
I am Republican, but I will sure be first to blame Bush for not implementing, correcting this huge problem. No good computerized system can work if no automatic interfaced communication with other sections of US security system on a person. This should have been a perfected system – had since 2001 to do this. I hate to blame my party, but facts speak truth – had 7 years to get this done. We live in modern computer and technology system age. And I always try to be fair when I evaluate issues, not be blinded by partisan politics.
I am a college educated medical professional and work for a Health Care Group of doctors with fully computerized medical system. Each person who works for group, xray, lab, cat-scan, ER, hospital- all sections & all people employed, ECG, EEG, pharmacy, alert systems,etc, must communicate online in patient department documentation to provide excellent health care for patients. System is excellent.
No excuse US Security system was not put in place right after 2001. Updated as neeed. Our complete state of the art medical computerized system has been in place for about five years. And is updated/expanded all the time- almost monthly. Initially fragmented system started in 1998.
As a Republican I see President Obama should take the least blame . He has only been in office only one year. He wlked into a prior existing and established computerized system. My evaluation of him will be based on what he does to correct this computerized system now. And the departmental change, and communications requiremnt that are needed. And the start of keeping system updated/changed with new technology. Need good technical programmers to change and update. And personnel for continual evaluation of needed system changes, corrections, updates, etc. My medical systme has these people in attempts to provide excellent patient care. US National Security deserves nothing less.

I am Republican, but I will sure be first to blame Bush for not implementing, correcting this huge problem.
Posted by: Sharon | Jan 2, 2010 10:51:03 PM
_______________
Just out of curiosity, why are you a republican. What do you agree with the Republicans on?

“Man terrorizes San Francisco with SUV,kills one” -what the heck are you talking about?Is road rage terrorism?Are serial killers terrorists?”Gunman attack US Embassy in Syria”-the last time I looked Syria was not part of the U.S.homeland.Your stretch to try to excuse the Obama administation’s security failures is ludicrious.

Well tj, it sounds like Sharon doesn’t agree with the Republicans when they voted against more than $4 billion for “screening operations,” including $1.1 billion in funding for explosives detection systems, including $778 million for buying and installing the systems.
____________________________________
Sharon’s got a pretty good point . ..
“ALERT – 911 happened many years ago and was worst disaster US has had in long time. Why weren’t cross agency communication with each other rules established then??? Finding out rules are too loose now, is result of what didn’t happen in past. Argue as you will – rules quite poor. System is not fullly interfaced well for all section access of information. Not programmed to immediately pull up all available information on certain person in the full system for placement of full alerts.
“I am Republican, but I will sure be first to blame Bush for not implementing, correcting this huge problem. No good computerized system can work if no automatic interfaced communication with other sections of US security system on a person. This should have been a perfected system – had since 2001 to do this. I hate to blame my party, but facts speak truth – had 7 years to get this done. We live in modern computer and technology system age. And I always try to be fair when I evaluate issues, not be blinded by partisan politics.”

Skip,you just made the best rationale for the war in Iraq that I have seen.”Violent radicals could join the insurgents in Iraq…now that the war in Iraq may be winding down… terrorist activities will increase elsewhere”.Thousands of Al Qaeda terrorists went to Iraq,where they were destroyed.That war,although costly,kept the war on terror off our shores.That,and George Bush’s policies kept us from getting attacked successfully again after 2003.And they were 100% successful.

“Thousands of Al Qaeda terrorists went to Iraq,where they were destroyed.That war,although costly,kept the war on terror off our shores”
It’s a bottomless pit Nephron. You can’t ask American families to sacrifice their loved ones as sitting ducks in a foreign land indefinitely no matter how much you like the enemy body count. I’m sure Al Qaeda will not be attempting any landing in force here anytime soon.

Iraq brutally enlightened us that invading and occupying countries in not a cost effective way of fighting Al Qaeda in either blood or treasure. They move around; They replace all their losses. And while I’d love to believe we won in Iraq–don’t count your chickens. I’m not sure I’d give that government a week if we were to just completely pull out.

The U.S. is fighting two wars now because some government bureaucrats granted visas to a group of terrorists that trained in the U.S. to fly airlines into buildings using box cutters.

Has Real Clear removed the original Obama message about finally realizing that this terrorist was linked to Al Qaeda?
There were a lot of negative comments about Obama’s very late response.
Looks like they kept the same title and replaced it with a Tapper story with the same title.
Interesting.

In the article, it states “Those failures will not be tolerated,” a senior administration official said.
_____
I had to stop for a minute and think…
Was he referring to:
1) the failure of this Administration to act on actionable information received, or
2) the failure of the bomber to actually set off the bomb?
With this Administration, their actions and inactions get more and more confusing every day.

Georgie Bushie – Where Bsh went wrong was not doing the same thing we did in Panama when Bush Sr. wanted to depose Manuel Noriega.
In 1989, we invaded Panama and removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the U.S.
Noriega was tried and convicted on 8 counts of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering in April 1992.
Done! Leave! Let Iraq figure out which direction they want to go. If they go the same direction, we’ll be back to take out THAT leader as well.
If we had done THAT, then the MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner was absolutely correct. We changed the mission in the middle of the mission, and now here we sit.

Laughin_All_The_Way:
LOL…. You’re demonstrating very little understanding of the geo-social situation in Iraq, and very little understanding of it’s relationship to Iran, nor it’s strategic importance in the middle east for the U.S.
(A) You can not compare Iraq (Islamic country) to Panama (Christian-Catholic country). Two totally different social dynamics involved.
(B) There are only 2 majority Shi’ite Muslim countries in the world: Iraq and Iran. All other Islamic countries are primarily Sunni. To leave Iraq, as easily as we did with “Catholic” Panama creates a power vacume that can easily be filled by an Iranian puppet government due to their (Iranian) religious Shi’ite influence in the region. What country is our number 1 enemy in the middle east right now?… Answer: Iran. So simply leaving Iraq, as you suggest, creates an even greater problem for us if Iran’s influence topples the current goverment and puts in a puppet Iranian government. Understand?
(C) Iraq has the second largest oil reserves in the middle east, second only to Saudi Arabia. To pull out of Iraq, as easily as you suggest, jeopardizes the availability of that second largest oil reserve to the rest of the world, if Iraq’s current government falls to an Iranian imposed government.
Now is it clearer for you?

Georgie Bushie Said: “Besides, where else can I find livid lunatics trying to twist facts to fit into their “liberal logic” at this hour? LOL!!
======================================
LOL… There’s only one right-whiner lunatic I know of that spends his/her time on this blog at whea hours of the morning in the U.S.A. Hmmm, I wonder who that can be?
By the way, where I’m at in the world it is now 10:43 AM, Sunday morning, and we’re about ready to go to mass over here…. see yah after church… LOL.

Just heard Mr. Brennan (the guy appointed to investigate the Undi-bomber lapses) on CNN. He is in full spin and cover-up mode. Seems like it was not the fault of the Obama administration after all. Who would have guessed!

“It’s hard for me to understand how Mr. Brennan can be a senior adviser to the president, and be a contractor to the government in the area in which he is an adviser. Conflict of interest?”
His (Brennan’s) firm also had a hand in the design and implementation of the systems that failed to “connect the dots”.
Yes, this is a blatant conflict of interest. Do you expect anything less from this administration?
Another day, more lies, more hypocrisy, more spin.

Georgie Bushie ….you know George Bush is no longer president. If you would like to go back to terrorist attacks, lets focus on attacks on American soil, staring in 1993, World trade center, Kenya, Khobar Towers, USS Cole, then the big one in 2001, world trade center again, that all happened or was planed under Clinton, the Pesident dwarf Clinton as far as being WEAK

Let’s get serious, Obama is no security expert (as has been no president since Eisenhower). A president is only as good as his advisers, and Obama has not done well in selecting advisers. At best he must recognize his “community organizer” limitations and relegate himself to choosing from a multiple choice offer.

“A president is only as good as his advisers, and Obama has not done well in selecting advisers.”
Remember last year when the MSM was spinning Obama’s lack of experience into “he’s doing a great job surrounding himself with experienced and respected advisors”?
Only the Obamanics and the uninformed fell for that one…

OMG
Hoekstra[?] just got totally nailed on This Week fear-mongering the attack for campaign contributions in Michigan in typical Republican fashion. He wiggled like the little snake he is under a boot, it was terribly entertaining.

“Hoekstra[?] just got totally nailed on This Week fear-mongering the attack for campaign contributions in Michigan in typical Republican fashion.”
More feigned outrage from the Left… Sounds similar to a John Kerry e-mail distributed in early December:
> Kerry wrote in an e-mail to Democratic donors that they had to “match the passion and activism of these new forces in the Republican Party” lest they lose their 60-vote supermajority in 2010.
“Think GOP obstruction is bad now?” asked Kerry. “Just imagine what Washington would look like if a bunch of new senators — inspired by Sarah Palin and the tea party crowd — took over.” <

“Because fear-mongering terrorism is the same as fear-mongering”
I don’t have time to enumerate all of the instances Obama used (economic) fear mongering in order to push the “stimulus” package, government takeover of significant sectors of several industries, and his re-distributionalist agenda in general.
Again, feigned outrage from the Left.

When this guy parties he parties. Closes beaches, private digs, golf. plays some hoops with an old friend. Oh wait, I need to make another speech? No problem. Love that.

Why don’t the leaders of Saudi Arabia or Yemen make a call for all peaceful Muslims to “fight” back against the violent sect of their religion? Why don’t they try to bring back their lost and brainwashed sons and daughters and let them know there is another way….? Muslims should go on terrorists blogs and start educating these violent murderers and try to bring them back.

I turn him off now. It’s all scriped. It always was.

“Considering many right-wingers mistakenly believe invading Iraq was somehow battling terrorism that could stand as the understatement of the century.”
You are diverting, Skip…but nice try given you are trying to defend Obama, which is a more difficult task every day he spends in office…

“Try being authentic for a change – the Republicans and the right are an embarrassment to the country.”
Another copy-and-paste response with zero substance…
Could this be considered a “personal attack” or a “smear”?

“Try being authentic for a change”
How about trying to have an original post that does not involve George Bush?

Tierra,
When the Republicans took control of both Houses of Congress in January 1995 the unemployment rate was 5.6%. When President Clinton left office in January 2001–with Republicans having the majority in both Houses of Congress–the unemployment rate was 4.2%.
When the Republicans relinquished control of both Houses of Congress in January 2007 the unemployment rate was 4.6%. When President Bush left office in January 2009–with the Democrats having the majority in both Houses of Congress–the unemployment rate was 7.6%.
Those are the FACTS! Wake up America! VOTE REPUBLICAN IN 2010!