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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.
Just days before the news broke about the CIA's takedown of a plot involving a sophisticated new underwear bomb, al-Qaida’s affiliate in Yemen publicly boasted that it had vastly expanded and improved its capabilities for making such devices.
That boast -- contained in a largely overlooked passage of Inspire, the online propaganda organ of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) -- has fueled concerns that there may be other versions of the seized device and more bomb makers assembling them, according to U.S. security officials and members of Congress who have been briefed on the case.
"They have a team of engineers, scientists and doctors. It's a little spooky," said Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, a member of the Homeland Security Committee who was briefed this week on the intelligence operation that U.S. officials say thwarted an AQAP plot to bomb a U.S.-bound airliner. "In my view, it’s very likely they have produced more of these."
One hint at the expansion of AQAP's bomb-making capabilities can be found in passages in an article entitled "Wining on the Ground," found on the 57th page of the latest 59-page edition of Inspire, released by AQAP last weekend.
In 2009, AQAP had only a "very modest and small laboratory in a rural area" to make bombs, the author of the article –identified as Yahya Ibrahim -- wrote.
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.
That was the year AQAP dispatched a suicide bomber to use a chemical underwear bomb to attempt to assassinate Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdul Azizbin, director of Saudi Arabia’s counterterrorism program, and later deployed another operative from Nigeria to try to blow up a U.S. airliner bound for Detroit. Neither device detonated properly, though the bomber in the first attack was killed.
But now, after obtaining “a large deal of chemicals from military laboratories" in a key city in southern Yemen -- "the modest lab has transformed into a modern one," the Inspire article stated.
"Hence, no wearisome measures are taken anymore to obtain the needed large amount of chemicals for explosives," it said. "Also, the operations now do not lack money as before."
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This was not the first time AQAP has signaled that its bomb-making capabilities may be greater than U.S. officials have suggested.
In an issue of Inspire in late 2010, the group appeared to mock comments by U.S. officials focusing on the critical role of its top bomb-maker, Ibrahim Hassan Asiri -- who has been widely credited with designing the underwear bombs.
"Isn't it funny how America thinks AQAP has only one major bomb maker?" an article stated.
Gregory Johnsen, a highly respected Yemen scholar who specializes in AQAP at Princeton University, said the propaganda outlet’s statements are likely true.
"We have to assume that there is not only one bomb-maker," he said. "It makes sense that he (Asiri) is somebody who has taught others" about making such bombs.
Johnsen said that the expansion of AQAP's bomb-making operations would be just one example of the dramatic gains the group has made in the past few years. As a result of the internal chaos in Yemen, and its shrewd exploitation of civilian casualties caused by U.S. air strikes, AQAP has made major advances, Johnsen said.
By U.S. intelligence estimates, the number of AQAP fighters has tripled to more than 1,000. It has also seized swaths of territory in southern Yemen, where it runs its own court system, deploys police officers and provides electricity to some towns, Johnsen said.
U.S. intelligence officials say they have no specific information indicating that other improvised explosive devices (IEDs) similar to the one that was turned over by a CIA informant last month have been produced and possibly spirited out of Yemen.
But John Brennan, President Barack Obama's chief counterterrorism adviser, said Tuesday in an interview with PBS that U.S. officials are taking additional measures "to prevent any other type of IED similarly constructed from getting through security procedures."
At the same time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued new "guidance" calling for enhanced security at foreign airports, including additional pat-downs and random searches, as well as other steps aimed at detecting such bombs.
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And the US terror group known as the TSA will probe us deeper and scan us more thoroughly than ever.
wildcatwest,
i would rather be probed then get on a plane where there was a bomb. Just try what I do. When I go through the line I get a nice erection for them. When they see the bulge in my pants they have to check it out right? I get a kick out of it anyway, the wife says I'm sick.
take a Viagra before heading to the airport...
wildcatwest:
Do not agree with it, then do NOT take a commercial flight. It is a simple concept.
truthhurts402:
No, probably just a liberal Democrat.
Shocking, I thought this administration said we were safer from terrorists since a lot of the "head honchos" were deployed and the terrorists now have a limited number of fighters. Nah, an un-named, undisclosed, anonymous Senior White House official wouldn't have said that.
Wait a minute, maybe I was thinking what the DHS said about our borders: "Our borders are more secure now than ever before". Nah, nah, nah.
Homer: You thus believe that the Bill of Rights is negotiable to the whims of the Central gov't. You must a fascist Republican.
Hey Homer,
Why do you need to be subjected to radiation that actually bubbles your DNA? Why do you need to be poked in the privates? A bunch of punks have already exposed the whole thing as a joke. Any real sophisitcated terrorist could beat those things. They are taking away your freedom to fly, and risking your health over a bogeyman. ANother question for you? Why is it that terrorists seem to only have a thing for going on planes? If I was a terrorist I could think of a lot more effective and better ways of creating terror than places where they are looking for me. Why try boarding a plane when you can just get in the vicinity of the runway and shoot it down, etc. The fact of the matter is they want you to stay home and not see that the world around us is not so different and the people actually want the same things as we do.
Thanks guys. Having a crappy day and scrolled right down to the comments hoping for a little laugh.
truthhurts: yes, you're sick but funny!!!!
@wildcatwest
The imaginary "TSA terror" is a response to the real Muslim terror. However, a much better response would be to ban all Muslims to come to USA. Then we would get rid of both Muslim and TSA terror.
Talkin under wear bombs....feed a baby sqaush and beans from the jar...........yeah...you ladies know what I am talking about.......the few times I changed diapers on my kids...........we are talking total terror!
Ivannnnnnn...what about McVeigh and the kooks the other day wanting to blow up the bridge...then there is the good ol KKK, still around...then there is the Ryan plan.......
Give Janet Napolitano head of Homeland Security do the job.
Let her check the underwear---"it's a dirty job, and someone's got to do it".
She has a lot of time on her hands.
Sheeeesh, this Administration was so QUICK to release the information about the "double agent" and let the World know he gave the "underwear" to Westerners. This was nothing more than a political move.
The administration should have been "tight" lipped about everything until such time the "modern" facility for making the things were found and BLOWN UP along with the workers inside the building.
We have a bunch of amateurs working in this administration, and it starts at the top.
This story is like something from a "B" flick". What's up with the "I think this" and "I believe they are doing this" in a news article? For God sake, we're talking about the CIA, not Maxwell Smart. How on earth could any covert action have really taken place with such careless behavior afterward? I never know if I am watching the three stooges or just being treated like one.
Ken-848629,
You are soooooo right on!
First, you beat me to the Maxwell Smart remark. Now I'm left with things like:
(1) 1 Adam 12, 1 Adam 12, come in. We think there may be somebody up to no good somewhere. Go check it out.
and
(2) Car 54, where are you?
Telling my age now.
Inspector 12: "It doesn't go boom unless I say it goes boom."
They may have made more underwear bombs... ya think! Sure, they only made one!
Just so we are clear. Getting on the plane and staying on it while it is in the air subjects your DNA to a 100 times more bubbly effect than the radar scanning security devices. Just to be clear.
starsailing, you had a great point up until you attempted to equate a national fiscal budget plan to an act of terrorism. I would also point out in that note that actually having a national fiscal budget plan is way better than not having one OR stating you have one and not having it. The "Buffet Rule" is a gimmick, not a national budget plan. We should treat it as such. Increasing the federal revenue by 7 billion a year will not cover a 1.4 trillion dollar deficit. And that is assuming that the 7 billion is completely applied to the 1.4 trillion dollar deficit and not to things like college loan forgiveness, mortgage forecloser buyouts, national health care, or Afghanistan security grant.
Just another SCARE story to keep us cattle all in line..... WHAT A FARCE.....
Leave your underwear at the gate before boarding.
Just shows you what little regard the mainstream whore media has for the intellect of the average american. Its already come out that just like all the other fake terrorist plots "foiled" by the US Government this undie bomber was also a CIA asset and was supplied the bomb that was "kept" from being used against it's own citizens. See how safe you are America! This blatant propoganda piece should definitely ease the concerns of the all the doubters out there who feel doubvious about supporting a trillion dollar tax sucking fraud that's left their constitution in tatters.
The word you are trying to use is "dubious." Yeppers, there is just no overestimating the stupidity of the average American - and you are sad proof of that! You are an ineffectual (look it up) angry little loser, jealous of the work real men do to protect you every day. Just stay on the sidelines and whine, biatch - I'm no fan of the CIA but at least they WORK for a living and SERVE someone. (And I doubt you have ever read the Constitution - most of you whiny little d-bags haven't and can't read for context in any case.)
Hey Bruce, Nice inflated self image.
The Bill of Rights thus "serves" to protect the citizenry from the thuggish whims of the gov't police forces.
Hey Bruce, I work for a living and I think the whole thing is a big fraud. Am I a loser because of it? Most of these things have been false flag types with the bomber being a FBI or CIA asset. They want us to be in constant fear, that we need these clowns that you defend to protect us. Where were these clowns on 9/11/2001? Oh yeah, Cheney had NORAD and all air national guard units stood down. THe FBI field office in Minneapolis wasn't allowed to pursue those guys taking flying lessons up there, and told to let DC take care of it. Need to take a flight? No problem, you have thechoice of getting fondled, groped, poked, or get a nice healthy dose of radiation, which according to Popular Mechanics actually makes bubbles on your DNA. How wonderful!!
"- We have outdone plans for infiltration in terrorist groups. Today more than 40% of those groups consist entirely of our agents."
Bruce...yuo like the CIA because they work and serve someone...ya...classic signs of a slave labor mentality, just glad the master lets him live...
when you get your cranium out of your rectal orifice, you may see just how damned corrupt and full of back stabbing lies, our government is.
Talk about people that have their collective heads buried in the sand. There is no threat from anyone, anywhere! With the brain power that you have is the reason that someone can do exactly what was done on 9/11. I can just see joe stupid standing on the sidewalk thinking "how can someone do something like that to America?".
It amazes me that people can still think we are not a target of terrorism.
cbawl, shcan, robert bruce and dou - just how prepared was the US on 9/11/2001 or 12/7/1941? Of course it just couldn't happen to America; not with a bunch of dumb-a$$e$ like you four!
The other Richard is correct.
In the cases that there have not been a CIA or FBI assest or agent involved, those cases would be what is consider a successful terrorist attempt.
Take the first underware bomber as an example. The guy managed to get on a plane from outside the US, right that plane all the way to the US territory near Detriot, MI, and ignite a device that was designed to blow up the plane. Yes, it is the case the device did not actually detonate, but only burnt the bombers shorties. But the fact is that if the device actually worked, we would have had 150+ civilians dead and scattered all over Toledo, Lake Erie, or Detriot instead of a court case to watch on TV. It was a successful terrorist attempt on the US. One that we did not have a CIA or FBI assest/agent involved.
Than there is the Time Square car bomb plot. It was a success too. The bomb was ignited and the bomber ran away. Lucky, someone saw the event and called in authorites to check out the car. But that would have meant the First Responders could have died. And I would not be surprised that many of them knew that was a possibility as they went running into that car to investigate. But no CIA or FBI assest/agent was involved prior to the bomber triggering that device so we are all fine, right?
If and when they find another underwear or shoe bomber please escort him to an isolated part of the airfield and make sure it detonates.
yeah, but don't do it too fast; give them time to think about it while you get behind the blast screen.
Coming soon: Underwear Bomb 2.2 ... beta testing.
denver bill 2
Is that the model that comes pre-loaded with number two?
Oh johnwithabbunchofnumbers: Cracked me up!
yesssss1
I just wonder how many "sure I will blow my A$$ up for this cause" jokes will be on late night shows and Bill Maher this week.... :)
speaking of which..., in a related article the terrorist were looking into plastic surgery to implant explosives.
"Yes Achmed, you stick it up your ass. Hold the detonator in your left hand, so you can signal the flight attendant for a drink before you blow up."
Achmed the Dead Terrorist- "I Drink- Then I blow up my underwear and 'I KILL YOU!'"
Gotta love Jeff Dunham!
No problem. New TSA rule. Please remove your shoes and everything else you are wearing. Fly neked.
Wakeup...I saw that plastic surgery implant explosion on photo the other day, it was a photo of Kenny Rogers!
Fruit of the BOOM!!!
Isn't that what they call it every time they procreate, an underwear bomb.
what!?, but the President's team of experts said that it was all safe... so you can Depends on it.
So much for "The War on Terror is over."
Let's hope they blow their Nuts off!
More fear mongering by the government and the media! If we get our military out of these peoples countries and back home they will leave us alone. RON PAUL 2012!
Ron Paul is a racist clown. Those of us in Texas who used to get his hateful little newsletter know exactly who he is, and you are angry because you are ignorant - ignorant of Ron Paul's true beliefs and too dumb to understand how this great big world works. Bush came to power because of the laziness and stupidity of people just like you, and you can't be bothered to learn enough to support anyone other than a lying little coward like Paul.
I don't remember US being in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, etc., before 9/11; I'm sure if we just left they would leave us alone... just like before. The only thing that we did to piss off the Muslims in Afghanistan was feed them and save them from the Russians. In retrospect we should have been helping the Russians...
@ Wake up2840
You do know that the US supported Osama Bin Laden and help those groups fight against Soviet, right? US has been involved in Middle East for long time. They did it from the shadow back then.
yes, I knew that; everyone that we support comes back to bite us in the butt. We should stop feeding, paying and arming Muslims.
Wake
Your logic is strained. We were not in Afghanistan, Yemen, etc. b4 9/11. Since we were not there but were attacked, we should not be there now.
Hope you can follow your illogic.
Ron Paul wants a pony.
We are not in Afghanistan because of terrorism.....LOYALTEXAN, you should know why we are there since all TX politicians are motivated by the same thing....GREED!
Our troops are protecting JP Morgan and other firms that are setting up gold mines and making millions off Afghani valuable minerals. Why do you think we are in the middle east and not Korea?
..........................................Always follow the money
Imagine if the female Jihadist starts monkeying around with a tampon bomb. How do you search for that?
very delicately...
I guess you pull the string.
and hope it doesn't blow up... or out.
The heightened security level goes to "RED" once as month.
back to the color code again..., make up your minds. (funny)
All you guys are too funny. Thanks for the great posts...lol
I think whoever would do something like that is nuts. I mean who would sphinter put a bomb in their pants?
1baddrott....that happened in Australia already, they just went down under.....
TSA will counter with THONGSCAN.
British busses and Spanish trains was bombed. Still there is no TSA style terrorism preventing passengers to ride over there. A single action like this on the focus of the problem, the terrorism, worth a millions of stupid screening and pat downs.
The TSA doesn't tell the public things because they would be too afraid to fly, costing billions in losses to the airlines.
Keep making fun of the TSA. You all are STUPID! btw, I don't fly....LOL!!!
What kind of sick minded basturdz set and plot to kill innocent people. Heathen.
Mass murder isn't just for heathens. Charlemagne took out paganism in German by beheading 15,000 tribal chieftains. Pretty gruesome. The Teutonic Knights did the same type of thing in what became Prussia and the Baltics.
Religious' War, it happens for thousands of years. In the past, crusaders burn the whole village, slaughter men/women/children alike. When Chrisitan managed to dominated Rome, the first thing they did was to burn everything from past religions and kill those who didn't convert.
Ya think?
I haven't read anything about flights leaving America; and blowing up planes; why are we the ones being harrassed then; our so smart leaders of our country!!!!!!!
... the 9/11 hijackers were living here in the US, and since we let Muslims come here freely... when the State Dept is using our tax dollars to bring them here... we should all expect attempts on domestic flights and those originating from the US.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mlxMndnlzw
they are working on Europe, and the US will be next.
"since we let Muslims come here freely..." Islam is a religion you idiot. Muslim does not mean foreigner. There are plenty of native born, American, lily white Muslims living here already. And just because they believe teachings of the Quran, (which by the way are no more violent than the teachings of the old testament) doesn't make them terrorist. Things were done differently 1400 years ago and for the time it was written and the practices at that time Sharia law was pretty tame. Old testament law only required 2 male witnesses 13 years or older and Sharia requires 5 adult male witnesses. Both require a court trial. And some of the stuff from the old testament that carried death sentences, like premarital sex and theft, don't carry death sentences in Sharia. And by the way not all Muslims want Sharia law as the legal law of the land.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64V09tTIjR4&feature=related
really!?... Peace? the people that chop off heads, arms, and legs..., stone people to death, and vow to kill everyone that isn't Muslim, that is Peaceful? I'm glad that "some" Muslims don't want Sharia Law..., I hope that the "some" will start speaking up. And you are trying to compare what they are doing today with the "Old Testament"..., really!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocU5x_03MDM
Well Linda..., this is what Liberals (like you) are supporting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlPmq_wUr9w&feature=related
so what kind of trial did Daniel Pearl get Linda?... How many Americans will get that same trail some day..., if we let Muslims take over? How many Muslim teen-aged daughters will be killed because they talked with a boy?
and how many daughters will be killed by an american boy or her own mother???
I'm just saying you can't judge a person based on which book they believe in. You need to know a person before you have any idea about their views and beliefs or how they interpret the teachings in their book. All christians don't follow the same rules, depends on their sect right? There are 4 schools of thought in sunni alone. and american muslims have just as full a spectrum of beliefs and practice as do christians or jews, from conservative to liberal. So hating on all muslims makes as much sense as hating on all black people or mexicans just cuz your city has gang violence. what about the oklahoma city bomber and the unibomber. if all muslims were evil terrorists don't you think the streets would be red with blood.
A study conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2010 and released January 2011[14][3] found that there are 1.62 billion Muslims around the world, accounting for roughly 1 in 4 people. With 2,595,000 living in the US. And Turkey is one of our biggest allies, with 98.6% muslim population why it is an ally if they are all evil.
There are extremist on every religions. If you think Christian extremist never cut off heads or do terrible things, you really live in ignorant so far.
LOL. I don't believe you. 911 the Toronto Hearings. oh and remember weapons of mass destruction.
what!?
The so-called Double Agent credited with uncovering this technology is actually a Triple Agent. The CIA has once again been distracted and duped. The real bombs look nothing like the one recovered. In essence we are looking for, and planning for,---- the wrong device.
now that wouldn't surprise me...
bob
WOW, did you get this exclusive news from the antenna attached to the propeller on your beanie cap?
You should share this with the CIA.
The B H Obama administration loves to "leak" out top secret information to make them smart. How stupid! The person(s) doing this should go in front of a firing squad.
bingo! they put US all at risk.
The leak was probably Michele Bachman who just became a Swiss citizen!
Yemen underwear bombs vs North Korean missiles - which is most likely to succeed?
maybe they will combine their technologies and come up with... the pocket rocket.
The NK Missiles will because the Yemen underwear are crap!
whats next female terrorists make thong bombs
whole new meaning to FRUIT OF THE LOOM,
New name = Boom of the Loom
I hear that the underwear is a real blast...
Of course, here's the irony: A Muslim who martyrs and gets 72 wives in the afterlife blows off his 'wife enjoyer' in this life - Perhaps it gives new meaning to you can't take it with you.
And everybody, believes this Bull Sh it? Talk about Gullible! These people just keep making bigger and bigger and bigger.Kind of like Pinnochio's nose, kept getting longer and longer and longer.Then there's guy who saw the fish.It was this Biiiiiiiiiiiiiig,no it was this Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig,no it was this Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig.
This Terrorist Crap keeps going on and on and on,and the more Bull Sh it they make up, the more Stupid it becomes!
The only underwear Exploding is the underwear in these Bull Sh it Artist's Pants! Unfricken Believable The TSA Nazis are going to have a blast with this one.Can't wait to see what this slime comes up with!
Yeah because muslims are so peaceful and moderate right?
You really have a hard time grasping things don't you?What a shame!
Make them all wear spandex!
Give people an enemy (real or of your own making) and you can take away all their rights and freedoms, they wont resist they'll gladly give them away and become cattle. Our government isn't stupid, if they weren't in on 9/11 they sure let it happen. It's the oldest trick in the book. And if you can get all your evidence from compounds in Gitmo you don't have to disclose how you got it, and it's true, it's real, cuz we said so. Experts agree, and the ones that don't have their careers wiped.
Wow Linda..., are you an area 51 kook as well? Do you see the little space men looking in your window at night?
I think Linda is actually Michelle Bachmann. That is some crap that I would expect her to say.