House Republicans Assail White House Briefing on Christmas Day Bomber
EmailABC News' Huma Khan reports: Republican House members today panned the White House for “hastily” arranging a briefing between reporters and senior administration officials Tuesday to share details about the alleged Christmas day bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab, before lawmakers were notified. Senior administration officials told reporters that Abdulmuttalab began sharing intelligence with authorities last Thursday, after some of his family members were dispatched by the FBI from Nigeria to get him to start cooperating. In a hearing with Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair, Republicans on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence questioned the timing of the disclosure and accused the White House of “political cover.” “I do find it an interesting strategy that we hastily call a briefing to let America and our friends and our enemies in the Middle East know that he’s now singing like a canary,” said Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. “I can’t think of a reason why that would happen other than political cover,” charged Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas. Blair said he would not comment on the “internal processes” for this investigation and does not want to “go into the political side of it,” but he did say he was surprised by the “combination of reality and politics” in this issue. “I just can’t control all of the politics,” Blair said. “I just wanted to protect the country.” Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, suggested that the White House’s decision to hold the briefing may have been prompted by a leak, and that administration officials “wanted to mitigate the damage.” — Huma Khan UPDATE: White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said today the intent of the briefing Tuesday evening was to let Americans "know that we're doing everything possible to keep the American people safe." “I would just say that before there was criticism from Republicans that what we were doing wasn't working. Now that people find out that what we're doing is working, they're criticizing the fact that we're saying that what's working is working," Burton told reporters. "Look, nothing came out last night that compromises any of the investigations or any of the interrogations that are currently ongoing. We feel like we pursued the correct course in interrogating Abdulmuttalab. And through that course, we've gotten quite a bit of information that's been helpful both to the United States and some of our foreign partners in keeping the American people safe.” Burton added that “it’s Washington” and "there’s a lot of politics that gets played.”
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CYA much??
“The family was “instrumental in gaining Mr. Abdulmuttalab’s cooperation,” said the senior administration official. The information Abdulmuttalab is sharing has been described by other officials as fresh and actionable.”
Wait a minute, you clowns. You just told us a couple of days ago that he told us EVERYTHING we would ever need to know in his 50 minute log interrogation on Christmas day.
Posted by: Obama, You LIE, again! | February 3, 2010, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
Oh no, the White House briefing wasn’t for political reasons at all. The one glimmer of hope in this is that Obama is finally listening a little bit to the American public.
Posted by: Bob | February 3, 2010, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
I want more details on the so-called “well dressed man” who supposedly convinced the airline to let the suspect on the plane without a passport or US Visa. Also some info on the guy who supposedly was filming the “underwear bomber” throughout the flight. Also on the other person taken away once the flight was landed. Also about the contact between the family and the government prior, and after, the incident.
The whole story seems very odd and the information coming from the government seems to change as facts, or witnesses, come out. Why don’t they release the airport surveillence tapes, manifests, etc?
Posted by: Ed | February 3, 2010, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
You want to know more about “well dressed man” in airport? Well then you have to find out the clown who invented that completely false story. Abdulmuttalab had valid passport and valid visa, so he did not need any “help” to get into the plane “without passport” at all.
Posted by: Alex | February 3, 2010, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
were letting everyone including Al quada know he is talking. Either he isn’t and they are lying or he is and they are idiots for telling everyone. I was believing he clammed up when he was mirandized. Most polls showed the american people were upset about it. use it to gain some advantage but dont tell everyone you have it. Just shut up and start detaining these people if they are here!
Posted by: fmi200 | February 3, 2010, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
Republicans… “Questioned the timing of the disclosure”…”questioned the timing of the disclosure”… how pathetic and petty and irrational is the “party of cynicism and NO” going to get? But I guess it is OK that they rip on the administration with their conspiracy theories, impossible to prove innuendos and openly hurt our nation by saying that this administration is “weak on terror”. When are you morons that listen to these bunch of losers going to wake up and demand better?
Posted by: CND FOX | February 3, 2010, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
I thought it was a ploy to get the President to sign another trillion dollar bill by Democrats. And the press could praise him for saving the world (again).
Posted by: Karl Marx | February 3, 2010, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
A competent government would never publicize the findings of an ongoing terror plot investigation. Especially one related to active operations throughout the Middle-east. Pure politics. This administration has hit rock bottom.
Posted by: lindz1989 | February 3, 2010, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
This may be good in some way but its to late. Obama will not listen to the American people and Pelosi and Reid have caused a tremendous strain on the economy. The damage is done and the Dems will suffer for it in novemebr. Example Illinois. More republicans turned out for the primary than Dems. Its the sign for the downfall of socialist want to be dictator Obama
Posted by: Jim Rod | February 3, 2010, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
The Obama critics are swarming, and unfortunately many people by into it. The repubs nearly destroyed this country in 8 years, made a lot of enemies and now they actually are trying to get us to believe they can do better. My memory recalls, the Bush administration claimed that they received good intelligence information from interrogation by water boarding (torture). Obama admn said they got a lot of information (without torture). Information w/o torture is far more reliable. What’s your point?
Posted by: sjsfl | February 3, 2010, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Again the Obama administration is in CYA mode. Let see how long it takes them to drag up a villain here. There is also a delightful bit of irony here for all the Bush blamers ( yes I believe Bush was a Bozo) Now Obama is using implied threats of terror to try and shore up his position. It looks like Barrack Obama is the only man on the planet who can make Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck appear reasoned and logical.
Posted by: Rick | February 3, 2010, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
As I read through all of these posts on blogs day after day, I have to wonder if the Obama excusers ever followed current events prior to this election. The Dems were the party of NO when they didn’t control the House. They refused to cooperate after the second House election in the first term. They still lost seats. In comes Pelosi, grandma with a chain saw, and the rhetoric turned dark and bloody. If nothing else, vote Republican to get rid of her. Can you imagine if she was president? She’s third in line. I often pray for Obama’s safety. For the good of the nation, for the good man I believe he is–even though I strongly disagree with him, but more frightening, look at the bench….
Posted by: pam | February 3, 2010, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
After the Republicans were spilling the beans that the terrorist wasn’t talking, the administration had to tell them he was. The most important thing is to keep the terrorists off balance. It does not matter what the Republicans think or say, they are going to be negative.
The reality is that it is our intelligence agencies that are doing the questioning, not President Obama.
Posted by: msgijoe | February 3, 2010, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
“I do find it an interesting strategy that we hastily call a briefing to let America and our friends and our enemies in the Middle East know that he’s now singing like a canary,” said Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee.”
That would be the same Pete Hoekstra who used the attempting bombing as a fundraising ploy.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 3, 2010, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm
“As I read through all of these posts on blogs day after day, I have to wonder if the Obama excusers ever followed current events prior to this election. The Dems were the party of NO when they didn’t control the House”
I seem to remember the GOP trying to dismantle the filibuster entirely because they were angry they couldn’t ram thru their legislation.
Of course, the GOPers of the 110th Congress DOUBLED the record for filibusters and the current GOPers are on pace to beat that record.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 3, 2010, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm
The American public is stupid enough to put the Republicans back in power. They need another crack at destroying the economy and staring more senseless wars.
It was okay to try Richard Reed ( along with over 300 other suspects) in court and read him his Miranda rights, but that was Bush doing it. Good help us when they are back in power.
Posted by: Simon | February 3, 2010, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
I swear that the best day any big mouth politician can have is the day that their party falls into the minority and the opposite party gets into the white house.. it’s like being the underdog at the ballpark.. you’ve got nothing to lose.. just start throwing crazy pitches and swing wildly at anything coming your way..
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | February 3, 2010, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
If you really want to stop terrorist I have the answer.
1. Stop all flights to and from the Middle East.
2. Do not allow entry to United States if anyone is coming from any Middle East Country by another Route.
3. Stop buying Oil or anything else from these countries.
4. Stop selling anything to these countries.
5. Freeze all bank accounts.
Believe me we can survive without their oil regardless of the crap the oil companies say, they so in bed with these thugs.
Do all of the above until these countries step up and rid themselves of these people. How long? Until they and their people are ready to join the human race.
You see they have no problem; they even have schools who teach anti American crap to the young. The Saudis backdoor finance these terror groups. The line Washington gives us it’s just a handful of bad guys. Too many years have gone by this trash have sponsors from these countries so called friends. They protect them, provide training areas and more. Until we make it their problem it will always be ours. You see they have end of idiots who will die for nothing.
The only thing lacking is the guts to do it and greed. They made it our problem, its time to make it theirs.
Posted by: A citizen | February 3, 2010, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
How dare you get information from someone without torturing them first. He has been mirandized and you cant do that. You dems are making us look bad. How dare you.
Posted by: tendergroins | February 3, 2010, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
Since they have nothing else to offer in
the way of solutions what else would anyone expect ?? Poor sports and sore losers every one.
Posted by: YOMAMA | February 3, 2010, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
“Of course, the GOPers of the 110th Congress DOUBLED the record for filibusters and the current GOPers are on pace to beat that record.”
Is that the fault of the GOP or of a tsunami of radical left proposals that a majority of Americans do not want? Thank God the GOP is finally stepping up and speaking out after years and years of taking punches like gentlemen. I wasn’t a Newt Gingrich fan, but at least he gave as good as he got.
Posted by: pam | February 3, 2010, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm
Yes cover your butts, dopey dems!
Posted by: jonny | February 3, 2010, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
What is bad in the title. And the lost party of just say no can have anything at all to say. What a waste, the GOP is a waste of time, and they are wasting ours.
Posted by: harley93 | February 3, 2010, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
Dont get your panties in a wad. Youve only got 7 more years to contend with the ruling admin. lmao —-If Bush can screw up like he did and get re-elected, anyone can. Talk about dopey.
Posted by: tendergroins | February 3, 2010, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm
I am sick to death of the party of “NO”. Why are we paying these people to do nothing? Negotiation is a skill and critical thinking is also one that obviously no one in the GOP has. They are expert of group “think” and don’t seem to have an individual thought among them. There is so much work to be done and they sit there like a bunch of beach whales. Obama was right, when they are only worried about their job security how can they be worried about the American people.
Posted by: Olivia | February 3, 2010, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
GOP = WATB
Posted by: Flash Override | February 3, 2010, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
Christmas Bomber was allowed into the US by US intelligence services, regardless of the possibility that he would kill US passengers!
Why isn’t the Post, NYT, and other MSM reporting this truth:
This was a spooky ploy, and NO media other than WSWS is saying boo about the truth behind the facade.
“A January 27 hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security established that US intelligence agencies stopped the State Department from revoking the US visa of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The Nigerian student, whom US officials suspected of being affiliated with the Yemeni terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, attempted to set off a bomb on Northwest Flight 253 into Detroit on Christmas Day. Revocation of Abdulmutallab’s visa would have prevented him from boarding the airplane.”
<
The MSM should be ashamed of not reporting this.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
This link is the complete link to WSWS report — sorry for previous shortened link.
"The revelation that US intelligence agencies made a deliberate decision to allow Abdulmutallab to board the commercial flight, without any special airport screening, has been buried in the media. As of this writing, nearly a week after the hearing, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times have published no articles on the subject. Nor have the broadcast or cable media reported on it."
"Under questioning by the committee chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Kennedy [State Dept Under Sect.] explained why the State Department might not revoke the US visa of a suspected terrorist: “We will revoke the visa of any individual who is a threat to the United States, but we do take one preliminary step. We ask our law enforcement and intelligence community partners, ‘Do you have eyes on this person and do you want us to let this person proceed under your surveillance so that you may potentially break a larger plot?’”
He added: “And one of the members [of the intelligence community]—and we’d be glad to give you that out of [open session]—in private—said, ‘Please, do not revoke this visa. We have eyes on this person. We are following this person who has the visa for the purpose of trying to roll up an entire network, not just stop one person.’”
Posted by: Alan MacDonald | February 4, 2010, 11:13 am 11:13 am
ah Jim Rod I can guarantee you that a republican is not going to win in Illinois. I live in chicago and I have not met one person here who is going to vote another slacker in the party of no to ruin this country with their ignorance and laziness. Mass. was a isolated incident cause the dem ran a bad campaign. Why would i ever vote for a republican again when it is so obvious they are just saying no and trying to score political points by criticizing everything he does. They look like a bunch of spoiled brats and I would even call them treasonous in their agenda of critisizing obama on defense. It is a fact he has killed more terrorists already then bush did and thats all i need to know. Remember the pirate abduction when the hit was called in by Obama himself. You probably don’t cause your attention spans are feebly short. I don’t need some grandpa telling me that government doesnt work when I went to public schools drive on highway roads take public transportation and use the mail system without any complaints all run by the government.
Posted by: brian | February 4, 2010, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
I am so disappointed in Senator Collins — and her rebuttal last Saturday — I really thought she was pretty fair minded. I guess I left the GOP when I should have 6 years ago — they certainly are not the party I started with some 40 years ago. Either that or I was fooled.
I don’t even think they would accept Ronald Reagan into their fold.
Posted by: Paulet | February 4, 2010, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
Alan MacDonald said:
“Christmas Bomber was allowed into the US by US intelligence services, regardless of the possibility that he would kill US passengers!
Why isn’t the Post, NYT, and other MSM reporting this truth:
This was a spooky ploy, and NO media other than WSWS is saying boo about the truth behind the facade.”
Alan: Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou! You are not alone in asking this question!
Posted by: Pab | February 7, 2010, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm