Nigerian Passenger Linked to Al Qaeda Fails to Bomb Airplane: Lesson?
Posted: Friday, December 25, 2009
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
It would have been the worst Christmas disaster in recent memory. On December 25, 2009, a Nigerian passenger identified as Abdul Mudallab ignited an explosive device on Northwest Flight 253, which departed Amsterdam for Detroit, Michigan. One report says a passenger on the plane jumped the 23-year-old suspect and brought him down in a headlock before the bomb could go off. Some passengers reported seeing smoke and fire. The suspect, who suffered second-degree burns, was taken for treatment at the University of Michigan Medical Center at Ann Arbor. Several others on the plane were reportedly hurt in the scuffle.
Despite the suspect's connections to the terrorist network, Rep. King said Mudallab was not on any no-flight list, a watch-list that should feature those with links to known terrorist groups. Another failure in intelligence?
Much of the facts surrounding this incident are yet to be known or verified, but we can begin to conclude once again that serious flaws and weaknesses remain in the methods by free nations to effectively combat global terrorism.
For starters, our bent on using extensive and expensive military solutions have done little to prevent guys like Richard Reid (the shoe bomber) and now Abdul Mudallab. It was a passenger on Northwest Flight 253 that saved the day and the lives of the 278 passengers on that plane. Additional war-on-terror military spending played no role whatsoever.
This incident reminds us once again that any "victory" over Al Qaeda must be sought in using less military might. The vast resources that are presently being pumped into fielding tens of thousands of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan must be diverted to funding collaborative intelligence efforts between and among nations.
The United States should take the lead in working with other nations to agree on uniform methods of searching air travelers. For example, if America and Nigeria and the Netherlands had the same stringent security search procedure, then Abdul Mudallab would have been searched down to his socks in Nigeria and in Amsterdam the same way travelers are searched at airports in the United States before boarding international flights. And if that had been done, Mudallab would have easily been caught before boarding the plane in Nigeria or Amsterdam. The cute little interview done at the Amsterdam airport was obviously not enough to keep the bad guy off the plane.
Currently the bad guys have the advantage: They are singing from the same sheet of music while their target nations cannot agree on something as simple as how to search passengers before they board an airplane.
With the foiling of what would have been a very tragic Christmas impacting at least 278 families, it becomes clear that the greatest Christmas present for 2009 is this airline bombing that never happened. Rep. Peter King called it "lucky", but this was no lottery win. It was something so much greater than mere luck. At least let's credit and celebrate the passenger heroes that overpowered Abdul.
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)As a Nigerian I was surprised to hear that Nigerain was involved in attempt to bomb an airline.Honestly these is a complete madness infact this guy is the most terrible ideot I have ever seen in my life .His just a crazy ideot who allowed himself to be used by irresponsible ideots who have no regards and respect for humanity.arrrrrrg this guy disgust mePlease log in to respond to this comment.I understand your sentiments, Olawale. I have some Nigerian friends, who are excellent persons. A Jihadist or terrorist can be of any nationality from any place on earth. In fact, just days ago, five Americans were arrested in Pakistan for links to Al Qaeda. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
I hereby summon the immediate attention of the Nigerian High commisioner to London to critically investigate these so called Nigerian who has brought the Name of the country into disrepute with his non sense links with terrorists.Each time I hear the news its disgust me and irritates me how someone would want to kill many people in other to communicates his messages.Thats absolute non sense and a complete brainwashing.I want to use these oppurtunity to appeal to all Nigerains youths most especially to disregards violents `lectures and run away from preachers of hate.These recent behaviour is not acceptable at all and should not happen any more .Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks, Olawale, for your input. You come across as lover of life, like most normal humans. It's a shame that some preachers use religion to vent hatred and violence in the name of God; unfortunately this twisted use of religion has been around for centuries. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
I think America can be very proud that ordinary citizens are stepping up to confront and overcome terrorists whenever they appear. This particular indivual obviously wasn't the brightest bulb in the package, but to the hero who overcame him, "Well done!"Please log in to respond to this comment.And, Caroly, what I really like about these brave "ordinary citizens" is that they cost tax payers nothing! May be our leaders learn that we may not need battalions of soldiers on the battlefield to stop Al Qaeda and other Jihadist networks. We need a vigilant citizenry backed up by smart security that leans heavily on accurate intelligence gathering. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
"This incident reminds us once again that any “victory" over Al Qaeda must be sought in using less military might."*** As of this moment there is still no proof this man is tied to Al-Qaeda. I believe he is just a lost soul with mental problems. A wannabe terrorist.Another idiot gives our government more reason to restrict our liberties.We invade Iraq in search of "phantom" weapons of mass destruction and we're still present there, yet every other week Iran shoots off missles and we look the other away. Hmmm, I wonder if our phony policies contribute, or have anything to do with, "insurgents," terrorism, and disgruntled wackos boarding planes with explosives?Please log in to respond to this comment.Yes, Kenny, as yet there is no solid proof of an Al Qaeda connection to the suspect. And it may well be another big government lie, but until that is proven, then the news is what it is. However, let's keep in mind that someone's claim to belong to Al Qaeda may be an ideological brotherhood, not necessarily that of a card-carrying member. It's the same as one saying, "I'm a Baptist," but the person may have not attended a Baptist church in years. We're speaking of religious affinity here, and that's different from saying, "I'm a Marine." This is an important distinction: Al Qaeda is a religious movement, and as such, just about anyone who sympathizes with the group may claim to be an affiliate. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.Well, why is it we knew the names of all the "players" within 24 hours of 9/11, yet days after this guy was subdued we still know nothing about him? Isn't our security supposedly tighter now than before 9/11? If he is a terrorist, then what happened to government security? Do you think maybe we are not under any real threat? That it's all fabricated!This is an excuse for our Fascist government to send panic and fear throughout America so as to control us. They are systematically dismantling the middle class and undermining our constitution. They have killed the Kennedy's, King, Malcom, and anyone else who speaks against their injustice and secret societies, while guys like you close your eyes or turn the other way.
250,000 illegal Mexicans have crossed our borders, but no one finds that as an act of invasion, yet we concern ourselves more with an unknown failure of a man acting alone.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Your article brings to mind the old saying it only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole barrel.Please log in to respond to this comment.
The suspect is a complete mess to his nation, genaration andhis Islam he claims to be faithful to. [Oluyinka Olusegun from Lagos, Nigeria]Please log in to respond to this comment.As a Liberian (neighbor to Nigeria), I share your response, but let's keep in mind that anyone from any country can engage in terrorist acts. Just recently five Americans were arrested in Pakistan; they had gone there to join with terrorists or violent Jihadists. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
I think Mogama's point that anyone can claim religious (or political) affiliation is key here. Likewise, anyone who claims religious affiliation can claim to have influenced an individual. As he says, unlike the marines, religions don't keep a roster of members.Please log in to respond to this comment.Indeed, Richard, you have observed right. Thanks for your comment. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
Your summary of this entire mess is excellent and to the point. Many comments above have made interesting points. I was to react mostly to something in your article that has not been commented about and that is the security searches. Personally and strictly from my point of view, I do not want to be 1) strip searched, 2) x-rayed, 3) disrobed by people who have little training etc. All searches for safety and security should be standardized across the world with every country being on the same page. Period. I'm not flying anywhere now, that's for sure. Your article is excellent and I just wanted to add by 2 cents.Please log in to respond to this comment.I agree with you, The Old Gray Mare. I'm not that hot to want searchers to electronically behold my naked body on a scanner screen. As long as terrorists are human beings, I think good old fashion human intelligence remains our best weapon against the bad guys. But panic may win the day, causing us to trade more privacy for security, usually a bad trade. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
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