E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe man at the center of the alleged al-Qaida terror plot to bring down a passenger airliner headed to the United States was a double agent cooperating with the U.S. NBC's Pete Williams reports.
Updated at 8:01 a.m. ET -- An insider who worked with the United States and an allied security service to thwart an al-Qaida bomb plot hatched in Yemen was the man picked to carry out the suicide attack on a U.S.-bound airliner, U.S. and Yemeni officials tell NBC News.
An unidentified Yemeni government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the supposed suicide bomber was working for Western intelligence “from day one.”
The insider also provided information that allowed the U.S. to launch a Predator drone strike that killed the group’s operations chief, senior U.S. officials told NBC News earlier Tuesday.
"It was managed so that it was not a threat," said one senior Obama administration official, who like the others spoke on condition of anonymity. “We were confident that we had inside control over any plot that might have been associated with this device.
“The device never got near an airplane. To our knowledge, it never got near an airplane or airport.”
The bomb -- a refined version of an “underwear bomb” used in two previous failed terror plots -- was driven out of Yemen by the insider into Saudi Arabia. It is now in the hands of U.S. bomb experts at the FBI labs in Quantico, Va., where experts have been examining it for a week, the officials said. The infiltrator also is safely out of Yemen.
Michael Leiter, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, talks to TODAY's Ann Curry about the dangers of revealing too much information about how the U.S. and its allies foiled the alleged al-Qaida plot to bomb a passenger airliner.
The officials also said that a successful Predator attack that killed Fahd al-Quso over the weekend was related to the plot and was a “part of a 1-2 blow against Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP),” the north African affiliate of the al-Qaida terrorist network. Al Quso, described as director of external operations at AQAP, was “involved (in the bomb plot) in an intimate fashion,” said the senior administration official.
The officials declined to identify the allied security service involved in penetrating the plot, but multiple U.S. sources told NBC News that British intelligence was "heavily involved" in shutting down the plot. Separately, a senior U.S. counterterrorism official said that multiple friendly security services were involved in the operation.
The plot, which U.S. officials described Monday as a plan to detonate aboard a U.S.-bound jetliner a refined version of the “underwear bomb” that failed to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day 2009. That device, worn by convicted bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, did not detonate.
John Brennan, President Obama's chief counterterrorism adviser, talks to TODAY's Ann Curry about al-Qaida's failed plan to bomb an airliner headed to the U.S. and says the would-be bomber is "no longer a threat to the American public."
The bomb aboard Northwest Flight 253 was the second failure of such a device. Four months prior, a suicide bomber attempted to kill Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdul Azizbin, director of Saudi Arabia’s counterterrorism program, at his palace in Jeddah. The bomber died in the attack, but the prince only suffered burns to one hand.
Related stories
Lawmakers vow investigation of bomb plot leak
Clinton: Terrorists seek 'more perverse,' 'terrible' ways to kill innocents
The new bomb had a more refined detonation mechanism and was "totally non-metallic," which officials told NBC News would have made it more difficult to detect by traditional security screening processes.
The senior administration official would not comment on whether the would-be bomber, who is believed to be a Yemeni national, was in custody, but did say, “We do not believe the intended user of the device poses a threat."
The official also disputed reports indicating that al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula sought to detonate the bomb around the anniversary of al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden’s death, saying, “They hoped it would be carried out this month, but (there is) nothing from our insight that it was to coincide with anniversary or in retaliation for OBL’s death.”
Former head of the TSA, Kip Hawley, tells NBC's Brian Williams that the screening procedures at U.S. airports force al-Qaida to use bombs that are less effective
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Cops shoot mom, knife-wielding son in New York City
- Video: Mom recalls rescue from car dangling off bridge
- Lawyer testifies heiress meant payments as gifts to Edwards
- Addicted to your cellphone? Nomophobia on the rise
- Juror's 'experiment' threatens Polo Club founder's conviction
- FBI: Bodies identified as missing mother, daughter
- Guess the most porn-crazy city in America
Leave a Comment:
One main goal is to get to it before it becomes necessary to put your hands down the terrorist's pants.
Hello folks, thank goodness it wasn't a suppository bomb, you know how the TSA had to change their procedures to account for the shoe bomber!
Who really wants to get into Heaven via a massive kick in the nutz?
And do the gals on the other side really appreciate castration via Semtex?
Inquiring minds don't really want to know.
The rectal bomb already was tried in Saudi Arabia. The human pelvic girdle does a reasonable quench on the explosion, sending it in the wrong directions to be of much use.
Not true Sean - we all need to be very vigilant the next time we someone suspiciously bending over. Just when you think you're about to be mooned, KABOOM!
They've apparently even gone so far as to experiment with surgically implanted bombs placed within the belly of the suicidal delivery "mule" and sewn back up.
The imposition of tedious delays on all the rest of us every time we want to board a plane is not an effective way to combat this. The more we conitnue to live in fear, the more they are winning. Good intelligence, as was applied extremely effectively in this case (Hoo-ah! CIA!!), on the ground in the middle east and through profiling and direct face to face interviewing at airports (which is how the Isrealis do it) is the way to eliminate these threats while still preserving our own liberty.
As I believe Ben Franklin once said, "Anyone who would sacrifice liberty for security deserves neither."
Why in the world did those CIA morons disclose that an 'insider' ratted on the bombers? With Al Qaeda, you never even disclose that there was a source, much less, an insider. Now, Al Qaeda will kill everyone who knew about the device - and their families. They care nothing about human life. No one will take such a chance again. Great job of cutting off your sources...
I've had a bomb accidentally go off in my underwear before, and therefore speak from experience when I say that we should do everything in our power to prevent this sort of thing from ever happening again.
Well done! And proof positive that you do not have to invade a country and wage a decade long war to fight terrorism that originates there!
LOL Aviator!
Can anyone else picture that? I shouldn't be laughing, but I am!
How about they just put out the word of a planned attack which puts everyone on alert, increases airport security, causes us to spend millions of dollars more of equipment, and slows passenger travel. Cost to them $5 in items from CVS plus an old pair of underwear and $20 in cell phone minutes, cost to us billions of dollars. Mission accomplished.
I'm waiting for the boob bomb. A two part explosive hidden in breast implants.
What knockers!
@ Sane Central
It's funny, and I have the perfect comment, but Tyler would suspend me if I write it!!!!
ha ha
Its a sophisticated new Genetically engineered FOLM (fruit of the loom) diarrhea bomb.... meaning it runs through the genes... A real silent but explosive killer...
Sane Control, yeah, Dolly Parton gets to TSA security and they have to clear out a 20 mile radius for explosive carry potential if the Puffer machine goes off........
I am pretty sure they figured it out when the person didn't return and the bomb wasn't delivered.
Even terrorists can put two and two together.
I wouldn't want to be known as the insider of an underwear bomb plot.
Hello Aviator and Sane, now that's too funny! LOL!
Don't you remember in the early daze of the evil doers, we were told there would be misinformation, made up stories, blah blah-ultimately Georgie Porgie was found to be lying to us about the Mushroom Cloud thingy. So, I just keep waking up each day, wipe my butt, look outside, if no evil doers, I go about my business and not believe the Fables out of D.C. .
The Insider !!!!
I guess we have finally found one of those elusive "peaceful" muslims.
Prediction - Tonight, Sean Hannity will once again and as always wax idiotically that, "The reason the underwear bomb plot was thwarted is because of the security policies that the Bush/Cheney administration implemented".
GovHater
I think Hannity will say Mitt Romney personally uncovered the plot and ordered the drone strike too.
MikeyMike
They were just following the written instructions... "okay, now put it in your ass"...
Forget to mention the hundreds of lives saved because of those security costs?
Don't worry the military and intelligence agencies will still protect you despite your complaining about their work.
Mr Jones... Where in that statement did I "complain" about the military or CIA's work or even the costs of security???? Can you point that out specifically. Great job selectively reading what you want into comments!
My statement was that the terrorists for a few dollars have managed to cost us much much more, especially over time. Thus even though they failed they have accomplished their mission.
I personally think that the military and intelligence agencies have done infinitely more at protecting our air travel than the TSA.
Attention travellers: next security step.....body cavity searches! Coming soon to an airport near you!
PS....has anyone thought of "Fruit of the BOOM"....
I don't know, between the CIA and the FBI, its like watching DUMB AND DUMBER!!!
Who are these sources who speak on the condition of anonimity? Seems they should be tracked and charged with treason. Why do we want to heighten their awareness of our methods?
So really the war on terror is still on-going. The terrorists are slowly bankrupting those they hate.
As long as the US has a cozy relationship with Israel, there will be no peace between the US and the Arab World. Imagine when the Israeli troops roll through the Gaza firing US weaponry indiscriminately--how should the Arab world feel? If we kept our nose out of the business of the balance of the world we wouldn't continue to have a target on our backs.
Good thing it wasn't a butt plug. Airports would start checking butts.
So in other words the CIA created the threat.
Mike
Getting outspent on weapons by your opponent isn't exactly a recipe for success. I'd prefer that they bring a cheap pocketknife to the gunfight. Osama made the same argument you made, "Look we made the infidels spend billions to fight us!" I think he was just trying to increase morale for his ragtag army who've been getting their butts handed to them for quite some time.
Saying that the terrorists accomplished their mission because we've increased security costs, implies at the very least that perhaps we shouldn't spend so much money, time, and effort going after them, because that's what they really wanted in the first place. Think about that for a sec, do you really think they want more money for more drones and more manpower to come after them?
This is great news and maybe some were overlooking some aspects of it. A bomb just went off in the Al Qiada network. They now know they can be penetrated. These guys will really be looking over their shoulders now and will probably end up killing some of their own who seem suspicious.
Undoubtedly, one of their Muslim "brothers" turned on them. Unlike what many would prefer to believe, all Muslims are not terrorists nor are all Muslims sympathize with these guys. We owe a debt of gratitude to this person who was obviously very brave to put himself in the middle of these guys. This guy will be high on AL Qiada's hit list.
The fact that we managed to get someone on the inside strongly suggests the tide has turned significantly. The impact on Al Qiada is far bigger than just a failed plot. A failed plot is some guy who accidentally blows himself up on the way to the airport. This on the other hand, is big. And they know it.
People need to realize what I'm sure Al Qiada has realized, and that is that all the drone strike success and other interruptions to their efforts are not just because we now have some super secret satellites that can read DNA from space, it is because we are getting inside information. Inside information from those who have no use for these people. It is their own people who are turning on them. This is an extreme example of this and we need to understand that this is what is occurring.
We have seen this develop in other traditional wars when countrymen who could not tolerate the political goals and the tactics of their leaders, have turned on them. I am sure this was a difficult decision and very risky for those who did it. But these were people who were "brothers" under the same flag and the ideology was political in nature. This case is maybe even more significant, because it involves a common religion. And it is a religion that puts fellow believers on a higher plain of common brotherhood. I am sure it is not very easy to turn on these guys from that perspective. They have to see beyond some of their religious beliefs and see these people as evil doers who are actually blaspheming their religion. What we have seen occurring in recent days are examples of what we have been asking for. People of Muslim faith who are seeing the evil in what these terrorist groups do under the name of religion. It is one thing to turn your back on these guys, but it's another thing altogether to turn them in.
This is big news, probably bigger than many are realizing. We didn't just foil a plot by catching a bad guy, we did it because somebody they though was a bad guy too, turn out to be a good guy. And besides spoiling a plot, it cost them a top leader too.
Jones... Again where did I complain about the work of the military or CIA?
Saying that an enemy accomplished a mission is just that, an accomplishment of a mission. It is not saying they are winning the war. Only a fool in a war would not take note of when an enemy succeeds in something.
A significant (not the only) factor in the collapse of the USSR was economic failure brought on by the arms race and cold war. Bin Laden was not stupid. He and his cronies were knowledgeable of history and how to win wars on a shoe-string budget, our CIA trained them very well. Just like the Taliban know that if they drag out Afghanistan long enough and make it financially/emotionally painful enough we will leave and they will see that as winning.
If we do not take note of our spending then we could easily fall as did the Soviet Union. That in NO WAY implies that we shouldn't go after them, spend effort or time to defeat them, or even spend money on that cause. Again, you add something not said in the original comment. However, spending our entire GDP on that goal will not win us the war on terror but will lead to the opposite. Our generals realize this and have stated that the economic condition of the US is our greatest military threat.
Intel work and drone attacks are very cost effective and kudos to the guys who nailed another terrorist but only a small portion of the amount spent on the war on terror went into that part of it. A huge amount of what we're spending, especially state side provides little more than an illusion of safety. You should read through some of the things homeland security has spent money on, dig even a little and you might be surprised at some of the waste. Like 10's of thousands of dollars to buy deep water diving equipment to protect fishing spots from terrorists that are in the middle of nowhere or a million to shred and replace stationary so it has the new logos.
So in that they've caused us to spend billions on a war that costs them less than a million, yes they accomplished something. How we move forward to win the war is up to us, but it'll never be won with just money.
Sandtrich,
I don't think you can blame Israel for Al Qaeda. We have a longstanding presence in the Middle East because of our interest in OIL. Al Qaeda doesn't like our being there, period. And if Israel disbanded their armed forces tomorrow and we never sold them another thing, we would still be in the Middle East. We count Saudi Arabia as an ally, or haven't been reading the news?
For those of you at home who are keeping score :
Deaths on U.S. soil due to islamic terrrorists during Bush administration 5,0000
Daths on U.S. soil during Obama administration - 13
Forget the news--try history. Eisenhower had the CIA overthrow a democratically elected government in Iran and installed the Shah, starting a history of US intervention in the Arab World. As for Saudi Arabia being and "important ally," the 9-11 hijackers were Saudis. In our myopic world, we only see and know what we are told. READ
This is the type of information you wait for: Accurate intelligence that proactively seeks out threats to our security and stops them.
Way to go - and to infiltrate Al Qaeda, amazing.
Now let's see how partisan politics will bash the President and take credit.
God we're good.
Twharting this plot was a great job, however, releasing this information by un-named, un-disclosed, Senior U. S. officials does nothing more than ALERT the al-Qaida terrorists to strengthen their attempts to find this "insider" thereby putting him/her in immediate danger.
Another great job in releasing a "heads up" to the terrorists.
Yes, the CIA folks are good but this administration and it's leaks are doing nothing more than endangering our "insiders" whether they remain in the country or have been quietly removed.
I'm sure al-Qaida would have figured out who the insider was anyway.
Great work, Mr. Bond!
@ Ido
I wouldn't be surprised if this was part of a misinformation operation designed to sow paranoia amongst Al-Qaeda. Either that or their informant was exposed by the operation and this information isn't sensitive anymore. It is a plausible scenario after all. This would have probably been hard to stop without some kind of human intelligence within their ranks.
I concur wholeheartedly with your comment, here, Ido......why must the US ALWAYS resort to the "chest thumping"and the playground syndrome of "look at me, aren't I fabulous?" As my father always said, "Shoot, shovel and shut up!"
So, now where does this "insider" need to bury himself to get away from the jihadists that will surely be on the look out for him and the next 100 generations of his family?!
The informant is out of the country. Yes, releasing this intel (informant), will make the AQAP constantly look over their shoulder. It will also sow distrust, among the terrorists ranks.
We do everything for a reason. Stay tuned.
But who is to say " That it was not a plant of misinformation by our own government " ????????
bob
Ido, I agree the less Obama and Biden know the better job the CIA, FBI, NSA, etc can do....
Politicians have ruined many an operation!
Ido, do you think the CIA is that stupid?? The CIA most likely has him secured, "leaked" this info to the media in an attempt to get them to kill each other to find the rat!!!
Oh crap, what have I done?? I let the true plan be known, stupid double agents.........
Aren"t these the very same people that the President says "we are not at war with..."?
Robert - NO, what he said was "Islam is not the enemy of the United States".
Unfortunately, The United States IS the enemy of Islam.
Two entirely differant things, with bad results for us.
This country has to wake up.
It's a shame Obama is so inexperienced when it comes to foreign policy and national defense. Our country is so unsafe because of him!!! ... Oh... Wait.
So you think they are standing there clueless when the person never returned and the bomb was never delivered?
I am pretty confident that they didn't need a heads up from anyone.
Ido, the "terrorist" WAS the insider. That's how they caught this operation before it even went down.
Roadkill and Seven2Seven....
You guys are correct. I don't know why the others aren't getting that.
Huh? You really don't know what's going on do you? The first thing you need to do before trying to wrap your head around this chess game is to figure out who the terrorists really are. Don't fret, there are plenty of people in the same boat. So many I'm surprised you guys haven't sunk already! LOL! But seriously, you people are f*cking morons, with an emphasis on f*cking morons.
Nice panties!!! Terrorits are now cross dressers :-) TSA will surely continue their reactive policies and will start checking underwear......Most certainly they will be pervs and steer towards the younger travelersunless they find a hot grandma.
Hey, here's an idea......search Arabs, maybe one of them is a terrorist!!! Them and any ACLU member who thinks this somehow destroys our freedom!!!
Anyone catch the burqua wearing US lawyer in the Guantanemo trial wanting the US to capitulate to their demands of clothing? Maybe search her.....for a brain!!!
The person on the CIA payroll could not have returned so releasing this info sows distrust among those who devise these plans especially after the head operator was targeted and killed. Better to let them know the CIA reach could be anywhere rather than a loyal operative simply failing.
Silence! I keel you
Hey lookit me! I'ma halapeenyo... on a steek!
Yes, we can all quote Jeff Dunham. Try coming up with an original thought, you powder blue Prius drivers! ;)
"He has gases. Saddam’s mustard gas was nothing compared to a Walter fart !"
Who needs underwear bombers. We have Walter!
THIS IS A BIGGER PLOT BY AL QAEDA to humiliate the CIA and the US government by making them bend over and examine some idiot's three-day old unwashed underpants and have it covered by the world's press.
Somewhere in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, a jihaddi is collecting his hundred dollar bet that his smelly drawers would be able to make it into the FBI and CIA offices.
Now that's @!$%#ing funny!
Quit fooling around fighting cowards who hide behind women and children...... Line these wannabe trendy Jihads up against the wall and strap their bomb-underpants on them and detonate!
Who cares about natural law or Constitutional law, right?
Fascist.
Where is General Patton when we need him? I wish we had somebody in power that has a pair. Why don't we start our own terrorist attacks on them? I say let's use drones to take out one mosque a day until they surrender and stop this crap. And of course let's tell them in advance what we plan to do. Maybe the rest of the muslim world will start to police their own. Isn't it about time?
Taking out Mosques is considered a war crime; it is against the Law of Armed Conflict and would constitute a LOAC violation. Unless of course the enemy was using the mosque as a fortified position. Then we would have to get Legal involved to ensure that it is a legal hit...THEN and ONLY THEN will we attack the mosque, but only as a last resort and most likely using the least amount of force so as to not damage or destroy the mosque...We would only bomb the mosque if there were no other way to remove the threat...Nine times out of ten, we would surround the mosque and starve them out...
No biggie, we've committed war crimes before!
@ Seven
Ignoring the moral issue of using terrorism to advance a goal don't you see how completely illogical your suggestion is? First you are generalizing all Muslims as extremists. Secondly if such a 'plan' were taken out you would galvanize world opinion against the US, losing allies and creating more terrorists in the process. Obviously this would be very counterproductive.
Hey seven.. by policing their own.. would you mean like "an insider".. a muslim infiltrating al qaeda and foiling this plot? Your so full of hate you cant even understand what this article was about.
You're correct, but we didn't attack the mosque's even when they were shooting at us from them. I suggest we start embalming the dead with pigs blood and a burial shrouds made of bacon.
Seven,,, that was funny. You hooked them all!
Hey fedupwithidiots,
I don't think he was kidding. His user name reflects his IQ. You should be fed up with this guy.
fedup....thanks, at least you were intelligent enough to "get it"! On another note, in a war where your enemy is not playing by the rules i.e. "rules of war" ,the surest way to lose is to keep following the rules of war. The best defense is a strong offense. When you are under attack by an entity who is not playing by the rules, you do not have to "play" either. If someone attacks you with a knife and you kill them with an Uzi, that is just their fault for bringing a knife to gun fight!
And Dave, when someone posts an opinion on a forum, if you have nothing intelligent to say about the aforementioned opinion; attacking the moderator personally only shows your ignorance.
@ Seven
so you were joking, but you still support the same underlying position. That makes sense...
underwear bomb would caues a massive skidmark
They could call it "agent brown"
Why or why it it necessary to tell the world everything we do when it comes to terrorism, better to keep the enemy guessing rather than let them know we had an insider, hope any others we have are not found out. Sometimes the public's right to know is not in the best interest of the country's safety.
How do you know we tell the world everything? Are you privy to everything?
They have to tell the whole world, to scare you. As long as the U.S. dumberment keeps you scared, the longer it can continue fighting......the invisible enemy. The longer it can control the fear, the longer the profits continue to rise. This is all propaganda to the highest degree.
People should try taking a peek behind the veil to understand, but I suppose there can be some truth in keeping the people stupid, even screwing people up at the elementary school levels. Keep people dumb so they are better able to be controlled.
@ brother
Here we go with the "we the sheeple" crap. These wars have been extraordinarily expensive to the US government and our economy. What imaginary world do you live in where war is conductive to "higher profits"? Even when considering the defense industry, an industry that arguably profits from global instability, the offset costs to other sectors of the economy are greatly negative as a whole. In other words war is bad for profits.
Tell that to the stockholders of Halliburton and Blackwater and McDonnell Douglas and every other company within the massive military industrial complex that has benefited financially from the humongous government welfare program known as war. Over a trillion dollars of US taxpayer monies has been spent on these two middle east wars alone. Do you think that just evaporated? Some of it might as well have, the way they were virtually paving the streets with cash in effort to "buy" cooperation from the local warlords over there, but tons more went into the pockets of defense contractors from the top of the chain all the way to the bottom.
What world? This world. Get real.
@MikeyMike
My point was that the US government isn't going to sacrifice tax revenue, sacrifice lives, sacrifice the economy as a whole just to rake in profits for the defense industry. That's overstating the influence of defense industry lobbyists and is cynical to the point of absurdity. Since the government is the one making the decision whether or not to go to war and it is financially/economically adversely affected by going to war. Hence why I said:
I certainly hope the informant is well compensated and protected for the risk he took.
@MikeyMike- A vast majority of the cost of both wars was spent on America. All those paychecks provided hundreds of thousands of jobs right here in the States. For every vehicle that gets blown up and the crew survives we can thank Defense Contractors. The best stuff is expensive, and if we are going to be sent someplace on behalf of the Nation, at least give us the best equipment and training that is available.
I'd much rather tax payers money on American companies that are providing jobs here in the USA than continue dumping money on 99 more weeks of unemployment benefits.
Absolutely true. When I was speaking of paving the streets of the middle east in cash that was mostly sarcasm. I also mentioned the government's "welfare program", by this I am referring to corporate welfare for the defense contractors. Interesting isn't it, that 500 billion in defense spending gets approved every year, year after year, and no one hardly bats an eye, especially not those senators with large defense contracting companies in their home states, but if the president proposes spending more money on infrastructure projects or education as a way of both stimulating the economy and providing for the strengthening of America's future productivity, it's a 'waste' of taxpayer dollars.
Once a bomb proof troop transport truck has been built, at... let's say a cost of $300,000 (I dunno about this, I'm just guessing) and the bills get paid for it's delivery, (a process which certainly pumps some money into the local economy of wherever it gets built), what further increase in economic activity, jobs and wealth does that troop transport generate? None. It gets shipped over seas, does it's job carrying our boys around and when all is said done it will be left there for scrap. They won't even bother to bring it home. It ain't worth it.
But take that same $300,000 and invest it in teachers' salaries instead and every penny of it will be magnified many times over by the increased knowledge, skills and productivity of the students that that teacher works with. Now multiply this a thousand times.
Our president understands this, but it's too bad that half of congress is too intrenched in their battle against him to let this type of real change happen for the betterment of our country.
Todd - I don't have the info on this, but are you suuuure all of our war machines and gadgets are made in the USA? I wouldn't be surprised if all our humvees were made in mexico...
What is the point of making up a plot if you aren't going to tell anyone about it? Ever wondered how amazing it is that the US keeps discovering "plots" on significant dates and anniversaries? The only part the CIA missed this time was bit about how badly Al Qaeda feared Obama and his war on terror and that they were all but finished (until at least the next time we need to waive the bogeyman).
Good work they got him before his shorts went off, but ...
Please; don't ban my BVD's
I'm suprised that the terrorists hadn't tried this kind of bomb before. Non-metallic conductors have been around for a long time...one of my preamps uses volume pots that are made of a conductive plastic, and it's 80's vintage.
Cr#*ola, I accidentally hit the like button. They HAVE tried it before, twice. You'd know that if you'd read the article.
We have an insider that gives us information about our enemies and the administration is leaking its existence to the media. Damn good plan.
Maybe you missed this part: "The infiltrator also is safely out of Yemen."
Terry's point is still valid.
Not really, spies have a 'shelf life' in the field. One can only double cross so many times before the bad guys put 2 and 2 together. It is similar to an undercover narcotics bust - the people who got busted will figure out that 'Fred' didn't.
sadmoronsvote2
So you think it is a good idea to let the world know that we have/had infiltrators in Yemen and how we conducted the operation? And yes I did read where the operative was safely out of Yemen. It is one thing to suspect something, and quite another to come right out and verify that we have had or continue to have operatives embedded in Yemen. This leak will make our enemies more cautious and may compromise future activities. Had we kept our mouths shut, our enemies may become over confident and allowed us to more easily infiltrate in the future.
Terry, that's funny. If you are interested, take a quick read of traditional psychological warfare tactics (now declassified, widely available) used to disrupt insulated radical groups. One of the most effective ways to disrupt an inherently paranoid group is to prove that you can infiltrate it. They become paralyzed by paranoia and much less able to conduct coordinated missions. What I find most funny about your post is that you seem to assume that this news bulletin is the first time terrorist organizations considered the possibility of infiltrators and that the current operative just strolled into his level of cover.
So..the same source who divulged info about the new underwear bomb device also fingered targets for a drone strike. And this information was made public for... what reason????? Why would we want to give out ANY information about intelligence sources? Or, am I missing something?
Probably missing something. They release what they want when they want for reasons. Even if it's just political. Most leaks are intentional.
My point, you don't give away your advantage.
It was a " guided leak". We know the informer and no doubt they do to so he won't be doing this again any time soon. Now thay have to worry about screening their jihadists. Who can they trust? It also useful for them to know that there are multiple countries, intelligence agencies public and private, that are working against them. This puts a major kink in their style. It beats the hell out of occupying other countries and killing civilians. It's a new kind of war. Be flexible and focus on the players.
By the way, controlling what your adversary knows about you is a very old technique. You will find in The Art of War.
Siestasis
Leaking in this case is not giving away your advantage, it's just creating more.
Thanks for putting this on your front page.
We do everything for a reason. Stay tuned.
Well too late now, we'd better give this guy $5 million (we're a cheap country, face it) and a new identity, along with a condo in Ibiza. You take care of someone like that.
That's not a bad idea. Perhaps they should disclose how much they paid the guy, not just that they made the moves using HUMINT. A thriving informant business would develop. Remember the guy that turned himself in for $100?
I like the way you expanded on that. Yes, I do remember the igmo who turned himself in for $100, lol!
Ok, no more underwear on planes...this will be the next logical step in the effort to 'make us safe'...it won't be long before you'll be getting a full cavity search while heading to Disneyland...and some will cheer
lmao Yes, I think it's come to that.
More BS from the mainstream media. Every time you post an article like this you lose more credibility. The underwear bomber was another inside job.
As for the drones, we're supposed to take the word of the US government that only "terrorists" are being targeted and killed. But how can we be sure this is true? There is nobody left alive to refute the claim .. how convenient. How many innocents and children have been murdered?
Time to wake the f$%ck up and stop placing your faith in an out of control empire that goes around the globe committing crimes in the name of "democracy".
Hey Dave....how about posting the type of car you drive and your car license plate number.....I'll go ahead and forward all this info to the USAF and hopefully we'll get a chance to find out whether or not these drone strikes really are taking out civilians, along with our enemies...it's your chance to become famous.
Why don't you leave Dave. But keep looking up on your way out.
go back under yoru bridge troll
David, I bet you live in America, right? If you feel you can't stand WITH our soldiers, please feel free to stand in front of them. Tell us where to ship remains, I am sure you will want to choose another country.
Haskell and his wife, Lori, were aboard Flight 253 when Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly tried to destroy the plane. They say another man in a sharp dress suit tried to help Abdulmutallab board the plane without a passport in Amsterdam.
Who is the sharp dressed man in a suit,...and why was he helping the bomber on to the plane without a passport?
more here:
Maybe it was the guy on the grassy knoll.
I AM LOSING COUNT ON HOW MANY TERRORIST OUR PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN OUT , IN ONLY 36 MONTHS IN OFFICE !!!!!! ; man , if only a republican was in office , '' we would all be reminded daily of how reagan has been reincarnated !!!!!!!! BUT OF A TRUTHFUL FACT , '' AN ABRAHAM LINCOLN '' HAS BEEN REINCARNATED !!!!
He's killed almost as many as he has let out of prison to return to the battlefield. It's funny...I didn't see the community organizers name mentioned in the above article. I wonder if they had to pull him off the golf course again, right after he took a mulligan and have Petraeus bring him up to speed before he uttered..."duh...sounds good to me"
I haven't heard of one single terrorist that the Pres took out himself personally. Our military has been taking out terrorist on a daily basis long before your Pres started taking credit for it. Advances in Technology & weaponry in the last 15 yrs have played a much bigger role, but you can keep pumping him up if you want to. Take your socks off & it might be easier for you to count!
ceo,,,, they get out of prison, then get hit by a drone. Haven't you been reading? Less collateral damage. Duh!
Bian - that is about one of the most idiotic remarks a person can make....no s&%t genius the president does not kill people any more than Truman dropped the a-bomb. He is called the CIC, the guy who leads not fight, that is his freaquing job and yes he is to be credited with the action, success or failure.
The big "O" would not be a patch on the elbow of Abe's suit, if you get my drift! You are trying to idolize a man that has accomplished next to nothing, within his own right, while in office, and has accomplished exactly nothing before receiving the Nobel Prize for doing "O". Nuff said!
WTF? A successful thwarting of a terrorist plot and so many comments bitching about it?
Good job, CIA and the rest of the anti-terrorism organizations.
Actually I'm a bit confused. What was the terrorist plot exactly? That is, the part that the CIA didn't come up with?
U Chicago, go back and read the article. The CIA didn't come up with the plot, AQAP did, and they trusted the "insider" to carry it out not knowing that he was working for western intelligence agencies. He ratted them out. Also, it's quite clear from the article that this was NOT solely the CIA's doing, it was a cooperative operation involving several "western security agencies," apparently primarily the British.
Yes. Bitching about it. WHO SAYS THIS COUNTRY CAN'T MANUFACTURE ANYTHING ANYMORE? We do a very good job of manufacturing our own enemies. First we kill the natural born leader of a people. Then we install someone actually more stupid than the rich people running this country. Then that idiots starts to think he's a god, like the wealthy people in North America who made him so. Then he decides to champion his people or some other cause (because he's an idiot), and then we have to kill him AND A FEW MILLIONS OTHERS from one end of the globe to another. That's the way the United States of America does business. Good job CIA!
I AM LOSING COUNT ON HOW MANY TERRORIST OUR PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN OUT , IN ONLY 36 MONTHS IN OFFICE !!!!!! ; man , if only a republican was in office , '' we would all be reminded daily of how reagan has been reincarnated !!!!!!!! BUT OF A TRUTHFUL FACT , '' AN ABRAHAM LINCOLN '' HAS BEEN REINCARNATED !!!!
You already posted that. Perhaps you should repeat it a few more times, ALL IN CAPS, with bad spacing , and a few more exclamation points for emphasis!!!!!!!
Too much info! We don't need to know this! Just do your jobs and keep your mouths shut! You know, it is called "Clandestine Operations" for a reason. Why bray this across the world like a donkey? The less info released to the public regarding this type of op, the better. Why let confirm for your enemy how you beat them? Let them wonder and suspect their own, instead of confirming that it was the guy who fled...
Leaks like this are done for a reason. Did you ever think this may be misinformation?
I realize that most posters on here thin they are smarter than the CIA, NSA, and other spy agencies, but think about it.
NB8; for one thing it's going to cause a lot of distrust and disruption within AQAP. If this guy, who they clearly had a lot of trust in ratted them out, they're going to be wondering who else is a "traitor" among their ranks, and that will hamper their efforts to put together another plot. It also sends a clear message that western intelligence is capable of getting inside their organization, something they probably never thought possible.
That is probably the only sensible post I've read about this incident. Congratulations~
I AM LOSING COUNT ON HOW MANY TERRORIST OUR PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN OUT , IN ONLY 36 MONTHS IN OFFICE !!!!!! ; man , if only a republican was in office , '' we would all be reminded daily of how reagan has been reincarnated !!!!!!!! BUT OF A TRUTHFUL FACT , '' AN ABRAHAM LINCOLN '' HAS BEEN REINCARNATED !!!!
D'oh!
I AM LOSING COUNT ON HOW MANY TERRORIST OUR PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN OUT , IN ONLY 36 MONTHS IN OFFICE !!!!!! ; man , if only a republican was in office , '' we would all be reminded daily of how reagan has been reincarnated !!!!!!!! BUT OF A TRUTHFUL FACT , '' AN ABRAHAM LINCOLN '' HAS BEEN REINCARNATED !!!!
I'm losing count on how many times you have posted these comments............and they're just as inane as the first time they were posted.
Too bad he can't figure out that the 'terrorists' wouldn't care about targeting the US if the CIA et al would stop messing with them constantly.
I'm sure the AQAP would have pinned the leak quickly even if we didn't report about the insider...why not let every other spoke of AQ know we have operatives in place that are giving us information...we will take care of them when they give us the goods and we will kill you...seems like a good deterant to me, as well as advertisement for future insider information from people thinking about turning on their AQ brothers.
Job well done!!!
this guy who gave the underwear bomb to the CIA and also gave information allowing a drone strike is a hero, if he were born in this country he could run for president, OH WAIT!! I guess he could
?
WTF?
diss; Assuming you're not joking, it's way past time to get over it. It's been proven and thoroughly documented that President Obama WAS born in the USA. Live with it.