US

Report: Al-Qaida Bomber Was CIA Informant

Report: Al Qaida Bomber Was CIA Informant

(AP)The CIA had al-Qaida fooled from the beginning.

Last month, U.S. intelligence learned that al-Qaida’s Yemen branch hoped to launch a spectacular attack using a new, nearly undetectable bomb aboard an airliner bound for America, officials say.

But the man the terrorists were counting on to carry out the attack was actually working for the CIA and Saudi intelligence, U.S. and Yemeni officials told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The dramatic sting operation thwarted the attack before it had a chance to succeed.

It was the latest misfire for al-Qaida, which has repeatedly come close to detonating a bomb aboard an airliner. For the United State, it was a victory that delivered the bomb intact to U.S. intelligence.

The officials spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the operation. The cooperation of the would-be bomber was first reported Tuesday evening by The Los Angeles Times.

The FBI is still analyzing the explosive, which was intended to be concealed in a passenger’s underwear. Officials said it was an upgrade over the bomb that failed to detonate on board an airplane over Detroit on Christmas 2009. This new bomb contained no metal and used a chemical – lead azide – that was to be a detonator in a nearly successful 2010 plot to attack cargo planes, officials said.

Security procedures at U.S. airports remained unchanged Tuesday, a reflection of both the U.S. confidence in its security systems and a recognition that the government can’t realistically expect travelers to endure much more. Increased costs and delays to airlines and shipping companies could have a global economic impact, too.

“I would not expect any real changes for the traveling public,” said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich. “There is a concern that overseas security doesn’t match ours. That’s an ongoing challenge.”

While airline checks in the United States mean passing through an onerous, sometimes embarrassing series of pat-downs and body scans, procedures overseas can be a mixed bag. The U.S. cannot force other countries to permanently adopt the expensive and intrusive measures that have become common in American airports over the past decade.

The Transportation Security Administration sent advice to some international air carriers and airports about security measures that might stave off an attack from a hidden explosive. It’s the same advice the U.S. has issued before, but there was a thought that it might get new attention in light of the foiled plot.

The U.S. has worked for years to try to improve security for U.S.-bound flights originating at international airports. And many countries agree that security needs to be better. But while plots such as the Christmas attack have spurred changes, some security gaps that have been closed in the U.S. remain open overseas.

Officials believe that body scanners, for instance, probably would have detected this latest attempt by al-Qaida to bring down a jetliner. Such scanners allow screeners to see objects hidden beneath a passenger’s clothes.

But while scanners are in place in airports nationwide, their use is scattershot overseas. Even in security-conscious Europe, the European Union has not required full-body imaging machines for all airports, though a number of major airports in Paris, London, Frankfurt and elsewhere use them.

All passengers on U.S.-bound flights are checked against terrorist watch lists and law enforcement databases.

In some countries, U.S. officials are stationed in airports to offer advice on security matters. In some cases, though, the U.S. is limited to hoping that other countries follow the security advice from the Transportation Security Administration.

“Even if our technology is good enough to spot it, the technology is still in human hands and we are inherently fallible,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a member of the House Intelligence Committee. “And overseas, we have varying degrees of security depending on where the flight originates.”

Al-Qaida has repeatedly tried to take advantage of those overseas gaps. The Christmas 2009 bombing originated in Amsterdam, where the bomber did not receive a full-body scan. And in 2010, terrorists smuggled bombs onto cargo jets, which receive less scrutiny than passenger planes.

In both those instances, the bombs were made by al-Qaida’s master bomb maker in Yemen, Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri. Officials believe this latest bomb was the handiwork of al-Asiri or one of his students.

In the meantime, Americans traveled Tuesday with little apparent concern.

“We were nervous – for a minute,” said Nan Gartner, a retiree on her way to Italy from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. “But then we thought, we aren’t going anywhere near Yemen, so we’re OK.”

Comments (65)

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  • polnick
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 6:50am

    Bomb explosions are costing taxpayers trillions to prevent, informants not tanks or planes have been the first line of defense. The best informants are Saudi`s they penetrate the deepest.

    Report Post » polnick  
    • The_Almighty_Creestof
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:13am

      Um,…the Saudi’s ARE terrorists.

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:39pm

      ..Andyet annother tactic cover blown to give our enemies the latest, and keep our intelligence behind everyone else….annother impeachable offence which E.Holder won’t do anything about!

      Report Post »  
    • Busybea007
      Posted on May 13, 2012 at 9:50am

      Great when this administration puts this all out – our soldiers, CIA, etc risk their lives so this
      President can sit in his office and “brag” about their accomplishments and blows their “cover”-
      not only increasing the danger to those patriots – but damaging the entire program. I don’t believe Obama is that stupid – so what is his game???? Whose side is he really on???

      Report Post »  
  • quete
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 6:19am

    I knew right away this was a bomber made up by the CIA and the FBI.

    Report Post »  
  • suz
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:16am

    am i missing something here? this story is utterly ridiculous. silly that they released the story late; silly that they released the story incomplete; silly that they released the story later w/a detail that says it’s not really a story at all.

    what is this white house up to now?

    Report Post » suz  
  • munacra
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:35am

    Why has this information been released? Why do we KNOW this? This should have been kept a secret so this undercover mission could have kept on keeping on? I personally believe this was released by someone within the OBLAMA ADMIN to show how OBAMA is tough on terror during a cammpaign year. So let’s see, secretly releasing known al queda / taliban sympathizers from GITMO to appease those arab clowns in AFGHANISTAN and revealing SECRETS about infiltrators within al queda. What a bunch of DOOMASSES…..

    Report Post » munacra  
    • wynnsjammer
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 5:32am

      Munacra, I couldn’t agree with you more. Within a few weeks or months Obama will be looking for praise on this particular incident also. What many people don‘t realize is that Obama isn’t running the “Military” the “CIA or the ”FBI”. But yet he continues to constantly take credit as though he is in the front lines himself. No matter who is elected in November, the Military and the CIA will still do there job without any help from Obama. I’m not a Romney fan, but I will make sure I vote in 2012 to replace the poor excuse we have for a “President”.

      Just think we have a good CIA, Military and FBI, now all we need is a President who can get the USA back on it’s feet again in more ways than one. I wish this President would leave these type of findings under raps and try to control his “Out Of Control” ego a bit more. There is no reason the public needs to know about this. Think of how many others we could have captured if the Left Wing Media could control themselves a bit more but they can’t. They have become absolutely useless on what they produce as far as news goes. I’m predicting we will see the last of Obama and his nonsense in 2013 and all the people that the “Polls” aren’t taking into account will show up to vote come election day. I think all this poll taking is erratic anyway and the Republican/Conservative party will be “Triumph” in November.

      Report Post »  
    • babylonvi
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:18pm

      Hey, Munacra, don’t you get it? This whole thing is a scam to: 1. Help TSA image now that they are taking heat for sexually assaulting the public and 2. To make Obama look like he is keeping everyone safe. I thought it was a CIA scam from the beginning but not that they say the BOMBER was a CIA plant from the beginning, It is obvious I was correct. WAG the DOG. I predict a MUCH bigger event is planned by the administration for just before elections.

      Report Post » babylonvi  
  • Thevoice
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:22am

    More related stories today…O… I get it now..We will forever pick through the Muslim hay stack for the bad guy…Ok really sounds like a good plan. And in the mean time our military gets turned into a universal aid logistics company. and Obama and his commies accept conditions from the Muslim brotherhood that they are good guys and our friends…Yea just marvelous,.,,Yea that plan will work ..real well….There you go Ron Paul supporters…Barrack Obama should be your man…

    Report Post » Thevoice  
  • snrar
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:48am

    Wow thats just great CIA tell the world that he was a double agent , Now they will be even harder to crack . Oh I forgot the War on Terror is over !

    Report Post »  
  • OperationNorthwoods
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:20am

    More staged propaganda for the war on the Constitution.

    Report Post » OperationNorthwoods  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 11:56pm

    Imagine we are in the worst situation we could be in with this administration and then know we are in a worse.
    Sad news is and has been for many years is that you can weed the garden but the weeds always come back….you just have to keep weeding and wait for God to bring the sunshine and rain down on the beauty to behold.

    Report Post »  
  • Wringeaux
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 9:55pm

    Why did the spooks release this information ?

    Report Post » Wringeaux  
  • shaneburgess
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 9:47pm

    Most of our terrorists are in bed with the government. The underwear bomber was helped to get on his flight without a passport by our government. They set these attacks up to get more power.

    Report Post » shaneburgess  
  • mayihelpyou
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 9:27pm

    To put it in perspective….
    the Obama administration, using the CIA, got an “informant” to convince “al queada” to construct a “new” bomb which was “undetectable” and then the “informant” boarded a plane “unbeknownst” to security officials; then they “thwarted” the “terror” episode.
    I think that about covers it.
    Didn’t the Obama administration declare the war on terror over?
    They are the epitome of ineptitude. This is the greatest farce since Hillary Clinton was made Secretary of State.
    The joke on America continues….end it in November.

    Report Post »  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:48pm

    The bomber might have not known his contacts was CIA. Much like the Cleavland bomb plot. They did not know that they got the “bomb” from FBI and had FBI contacts just fellow OWS radicals. So did this bomber know his contacts was CIA or just fellow ALQ members in another cell.

    Report Post » TJexcite  
  • TRILO
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:41pm

    The more I hear about this story the more I do not believe it. Unfortunately, the sheeple are stupid enough to believe this cr@p that comes from a government full of liars and criminals.

    Report Post » TRILO  
    • riseandshine
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:00pm

      It seems the government’s policy anymore is to lie whenever possible. They see no gain to be had for telling the truth. I’d rather err on the side of skepticism. That isn’t tinfoil….it‘s just the way to go as far as I’m concerned.

      Report Post » riseandshine  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:27pm

    David Petraeus and obama must be removed from power before it’s too late.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • therealconservative
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:03pm

    To the Wrong Paul “FOLLOWER”, this means we were able to infultrate Al-Qaida.

    Report Post » therealconservative  
    • Razlord
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:17pm

      bs…the al cia da was created when the russians invaded afghan.
      remember binny…he was funded by the us govt to fight the russians.

      funny how easy we forget…

      Report Post »  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:53pm

      Another fiasco, great!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • EndTheFedNOW
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 10:04pm

      Hey REAL Conservative!

      The government created Al Qaida. The government uses people like you who are half awake and ask no questions to keep them in power. You just keep voting for the same establishment garbage. So go ahead and sit in your high tower and look down on us fake conservatives who want limited governmet sound money and a foreign policy that makes sense. We need a trillion dollar budget cut in one year. Mittens aint going to do that. There is only ONE conservative in the race. But you are so blinded by your ways.

      Report Post » EndTheFedNOW  
    • EndTheFedNOW
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 10:04pm

      Hey REAL Conservative!

      The government created Al Qaida. The government uses people like you who are half awake and ask no questions to keep them in power. You just keep voting for the same establishment garbage. So go ahead and sit in your high tower and look down on us fake conservatives who want limited governmet sound money and a foreign policy that makes sense. We need a trillion dollar budget cut in one year. Mittens aint going to do that. There is only ONE conservative in the race. But you are so blinded by your ways

      Report Post » EndTheFedNOW  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:51pm

    Al Quida training manual …………When in restroom.
    remove diaper
    place diaper in bathroom sink bowl
    turn on water
    wait for explosion
    return to seat
    expect many virgins for service to Allah

    Report Post »  
  • recoveringneocon
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:47pm

    I thought this was general knowledge

    Report Post » recoveringneocon  
    • 1casawizard
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:01pm

      Could you explain that general knowledge for me just a little bit? thanks.

      Report Post » 1casawizard  
  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:42pm

    So why the false flag? What could be gained by the gov.? My opinion……….
    FEAR WITH MORE CRACKDOWN.

    Check the comments for yesterday when the story first appeared.. Most of us thought this was a false flag.

    The CIA, gov. mafia, is a sham. The thugs are used as mafia. No morals and totally corrupt.

    “The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home”
    James Madison
    ” If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.”
    James Madison
    “It is truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real, or pretended, from abroad.” James Madison
    .

    Report Post »  
  • Exrepublisheep
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:40pm

    It’s sad really that any success by our government brings you people out in force to complain about it. I’m glad I have stock in Rolaids!

    Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:12pm

      Sheep-
      It might be because of the non-stop lies the government has been spewing for the last 100 or so years. Both world wars were entered into with lies, same with Vietnam, and others. They can’t seem to tell the truth, it is like poison to them. Look how many variations of the Bin Laden raid we were fed within just a few days of the raid, all by the people who supposedly watched it go down on TV…When they do something right, they still screw it up trying to lie about it. And that is without the media stepping in to make things worse. Put down your gallon sized kool-aid mug and honestly ask yourself “do I think the government would lie to me?”

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
  • Individualism
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:36pm

    9/11 hijackers were cia trained and so was osama bin laden

    Report Post » Individualism  
    • MAULEMALL
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:43pm

      ronpawl quit the republican party and stabbed Ronald Reagan in the back…

      http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ron_Paul%27s_1987_Resignation_Letter_to_the_RNC

      Report Post » MAULEMALL  
    • one.dakine.howlie
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:47pm

      Well I hope people are starting to see how our government has been fabricating fear for the last 20 years and that there’s actually a more sinister plot going on in the world than just rag-heads blowing themselves up.

      Report Post »  
    • therealconservative
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:57pm

      Wrong Paul also supports open borders.

      “The one thing I have resisted and condemned: I do not believe that barbed-wire fences and guns on our border will solve any of our problems,”

      Report Post » therealconservative  
    • Razlord
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:12pm

      he supports enforced borders …
      quit your bs.

      Report Post »  
    • Razlord
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:15pm

      as far as the rnc…flush em all.
      this is not about the dam party…it is about the country .

      the parties are nothing but a 2 headed snake.

      no dam difference.

      Report Post »  
    • EndTheFedNOW
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:59pm

      Lol stab in the back? I think that was Rex 84. Reagan was USED. He was a patriot. but when george bush and the CIA figured that out, well they tried to kill him. The Bush family is and was very close friends with the Hinkley family. As reported by the Denver post. Go look it up. If you dont know what Rex 84 is you dont know jack.

      Report Post » EndTheFedNOW  
    • PoliticiansRCrooks
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:08am

      therealconservative – And you call yourself a true conservative. Hmmm Weird.

      Report Post » PoliticiansRCrooks  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:19pm

    So Obama is covering his tail now for the simple fact we lucked out; that simple.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • johnVMFA122
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:26pm

      Actually, Airforce one is being fueled as we speak for a world tour to take credit for stopping another terror attack. A memo was also readied that would blame the Tea Party for the attack, if it had been successful. ;-)

      Report Post »  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:38pm

      Bull Poop….
      “dramatic sting operation thwarted the attack before it had a chance to succeed”
      If he was the CIA’s guy all along, it would not have had any chance of succeeding, eh? So now they blow cover all over the news instead of taking down the whole cell. Good call.

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
    • CatB
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:00am

      Yes .. why blow his cover .. and doesn’t this put other operatives in danger … Just so Obama can take another victory LAP! We are so scr*wed!

      Report Post »  
  • gretsch62
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:18pm

    Let me see if I can figure this one out,,,,we don’t have enough Al Qaeda bombers so the CIA has to “train their own”? I can see the advantage , we’ll always have one readily available when the liar in chief want to “spike the football” again for campaign advantage! Is it November yet?

    Report Post » gretsch62  
  • barber2
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:18pm

    One wonders what the next campaign distraction the Obama Re-election team will feed to the media . More Secret Service ? Joe Biden ? The Gitmo trial mess ? Hmmmmm…

    Report Post »  
  • teamarcheson
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:08pm

    Obama has castrated the CIA

    This is just another Fast and Furious operation. Obama wants another plane bombing so he can declare Marshal Law. The CIA did not detect Eric Holder sending weapons to his Drug Cartel friends. The CIA did not detect the Russian Spy Girls in Columbia. The CIA is going to allow Russian Airborne Troops to infiltrate its super secret facility in Colorado.

    Report Post »  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:40pm

      Ditto. He went after the CIA from day one. The FBI, on the other hand, was already in the tank for Obama. That‘s why they didn’t vet that commie POS.

      Report Post »  
  • Sirfoldallot
    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:07pm

    So, we didn’t also vet our now Pesident, thats how we roll now.

    Report Post » Sirfoldallot  
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