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: (9 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 meI 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~
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 .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~
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!"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~
"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?"As of this moment there is still no proof this man is tied to Al-Qaeda."Correct. The man only claims he has links to Al Qaeda. That, in and of itself, does not constitute a link to Al Qaeda.
Kenny, I remember how my whole thinking about our own nationalistic propaganda changed after 9-11. Remember how it used to be the Chinese and the Soviets who were the enemies of mankind? We are really a nation used to swallowing our own government's persistent lies. I am still convinced that the attacks on the World Trade Center are an inside job. Although the evidence is overwhelmingly compelling, everyone seems to buy into the Bin Ladin theory. Bin Ladin, just like this strange guy, merely makes a claim and suddenly it becomes a fact of history because he makes the truth simple and convenient.
Look at the World Trade Center collapse, again and again. Those towers didn't collapse from the top down. They collapsed from the bottom up.There should remain a grain of cynicism in each of us, but extreme cynicism could lead to relaxing in the couch and sipping coffee under the roof of a burning house, just because "we've heard it all before". The same danger that awaits the extremely gullible may consume the cynic on the other extreme. I want to leave room to hear the alarm just in case it's really true even if it's just one time out of hundred. ~mogama~You're right about not relaxing. I'm not cynical about Al Qaeda. I am cynical about 9-11. I think your words are eerily prophetic: "The same danger awaits the extremely gullible." I would love to write about what we know and what we don't know about the 9-11 tragedy.Good writing, Mogama"There should remain a grain of cynicism in each of us, but extreme cynicism could lead to relaxing in the couch and sipping coffee under the roof of a burning house, just because "we've heard it all before".*** There's a big difference between extreme cynicism and common sense my friend! Stop believing what the government tells you and do some research. There is plenty of information on the internet, so there's no excuse for ignorance. Try YouTube's free videos: Zeitgeist, Zeitgeist II, 9/11 Truth Rising, Terror Storm, America: Freedom to Fascism, The Obama Deception, Endgame; Blueprint for Global Enslavement, for starters!
But don't take my word for it. You do the research and decide for yourself!Yes Greg I agree! 9/11 was definitely an inside job! I have watched so many videos and tapes, and I have not yet seen one politician or defense personal go on live television and explain to us in detail why there were no military planes in the vicinity of the the towers after the first one was hit. Still Bush has not explained why he stayed at the elementary school to listen to children read after he was informed of the attacks. No one has yet explained why such a swift clean-up of the towers in their aftermath without extensive investigation by skilled architects and explosives experts. Still no explanation for the phantom plane that went down in Pennsylvania where no plane or bodies were ever found. And it goes on and on. Americans are so full of themselves they still believe their lying government is working in their best interest. .......FOOLS!!!Stay informed Greg. We need ya!!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~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.
Your article brings to mind the old saying it only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole barrel.
Mogama, are you sure about this link to Al Qaeda? As of today, December 26, all we know is that this suspect makes a claim for himself that he is connected to Al Qaeda. I haven't heard any authoritative source actually substantiate that claim. It may turn out to be so, but shouldn't you wait for that confirmation before stating it as fact?
Once again, I implore you to please provide your sources for your statements.No, Greg, except for the title of this article, there is nothing in the body of this article that states the suspect's linkage to Al Qaeda as fact. I quoted someone as citing the link, but I did not state the link as fact: "According to Representative Peter King (Republican of New York), Mudallah told federal investigators he has links to Al Qaeda..." But thanks for keeping me on my toes. ~mogama~The name Al Qaeda does not appear in the criminal complaint. The suspect is formally charged with trying to blow up a jet airliner.NPR reports that the suspect claimed to have got the high explosives from a bomb expert in Yemen.The father of the suspect claims the man was a religious extremist, and even warned U.S. authorities last year out of fear the suspect would do something.It is possible the man had a connection to Al Qaeda, especially in light of the type of chemicals this man possessed, and some training involved in smuggling and mixing the chemicals. Authorities are still trying to find out if the suspect's Al Qaeda connections claim is true.Well, Gregory, if the guy has no links to Al Qaeda, then my UK source and I will just have to eat our crabs behind closed doors! Still, as I responded to an earlier reader, an extremist's connection to Al Qaeda need not be formal; it can merely be an ideological meeting of the minds, not necessarily in a card-carrying capacity. Such a tie may be similar to how some people often claim or assume connection to a religious group whose meetings they may have never attended. Thanks as always for your bold comment. ~mogama~He probably does have links. The more we find out about this fellow, the more connected he seems. Apparently he is from a well-to-do family. I also agree with your definition of link, that it can be informal, a state of mind, a one-time meeting, a shared sentiment. Yes, in fact, I agree with you 100%.Gregory agrees with me 100%... I take that as my Christmas present and New Year's gift all bundled up in one lovely package. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, my friend; you always make the conversation lively. ~mogama~But who is giving us the information? Our government and the controlled media? They can take any story they want and turn it into an Us vs Them event, and the public will fall for it every time. You know the government I'm speaking of, No? The same government that told us the Germans torpedoed The Lusitania precipitating WWI. The same government that allowed the Japanese to bomb Pearl Harbor. The same government that said the Vietnamese bombed our ships in the Gulf of Tonkin starting the Vietnam war. The same government that used eugenics on their own citizens. The same government that has done nothing in the wake of 9/11 and who claim Bin Laden was responsible, but we never even hear his name mentioned anymore. The same government that used the lie "Weapons of Mass Destruction" as a reason for war with Iraq. The same government who's President won the Nobel Peace Prize and month's later sends 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan. How gullible are you people?Keep in mind this supposed "bomber's" father is a banker. Who controls America? Yep, the Federal Reserve Bank! Isn't it funny how that works out?
The suspect is a complete mess to his nation, genaration andhis Islam he claims to be faithful to. [Oluyinka Olusegun from Lagos, Nigeria]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~
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.Indeed, Richard, you have observed right. Thanks for your comment. ~mogama~
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.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~
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