Quickie: Why Did CBS Scrub Story About Army Spy Planes Capturing the Times Square Bomber?

By GottaLaff

I've bumped this story up with an update. Title has been edited.

Original post:

How did they catch the New York bomb suspect? Today's Quickie:

Via Gawker:

They intercepted his call reserving a plane ticket to Dubai; authorities nabbed him. [WCBS]

We didn't hear a whole lot about that, did we? But we did get a critical earful about Miranda rights. But not a whole lot of kudos about how-- within what, 53.5 hours?-- they captured the bad guy.

That was today's Quickie. Was it good for you?

Gawker UPDATE:

Yesterday the above story was scrubbed. But why? Gawker had screen shots of related headlines. Today they report:

According to WCBS, they simply got caught up in the frenzy of breaking news and "inadvertently" put in an unconfirmed detail. There is a problem with this account: The detail about the Army Intelligence planes was featured prominently in the title of the originally article. Clearly, the line wasn't "inadvertently included"—it was put in and deliberately promoted. After all, it was the most eye-catching detail of the story.

More at the link.

Grounding of planes across Europe 'could lead to rise in temperatures'

Wow, talk about everything having an impact. The study is here.

Temperatures in Europe could rise as a result of planes being grounded across the continent, according to research.

A study conducted after commercial flights were grounded for three days following the September 11 terror attacks found the average daily temperature range in the U.S. rose markedly - exceeding the three-day periods before and after by 1.8c.

Scientists claimed this showed that clouds formed by the water vapour in the exhaust from jet planes have a small but significant effect on daily temperatures.


(snip)

The team behind the 2002 research, from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, compared the average daily high and low temperatures over North America from 11 to 14 September 2001, with climatic records from 1977 to 2000.

They matched the weather over those three days with similar weather in September over that period, and found that the difference in daily high and nightly low temperatures in the absence of planes' contrails was more than 1c greater.

The researchers said that in regions with crowded skies, the clouds formed by the planes' water vapour worked like cirrus clouds to prevent days from getting too hot and trapping the Earth's heat at night.

Michael Steele spent $1946.25 watching "half-naked ladies simulating oral sex on each other"

By GottaLaff

This is how Michael Steele rolls!

Presenting the face-- the chair-- of the RNC:

[...] Michael Steele considered buying a private plane, because he spends so much time flying to nightclubs and Hawaii, but he decided not to. Instead he found many other creative ways to waste money.

Once on the ground, FEC filings suggest, Steele travels in style. A February RNC trip to California, for example, included a $9,099 stop at the Beverly Hills Hotel, $6,596 dropped at the nearby Four Seasons, and $1,620.71 spent [update: the amount is actually $1,946.25] at Voyeur West Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers imitating lesbian sex.

Now, Voyeur is not really a "strip club" so much as a terrible-sounding nightclub with bottle service, long lines, Lindsay Lohan, and, yes, half-naked ladies simulating oral sex on each other.

Hey, whatever floats your... floaties. Or maybe he went invested because he needed someone, or something, to inflate them again.... on his party's dime.

Here are some commenters' reviews of the club, via Yelp:

[...] There are topless "dancers" acting out S&M scenes throughout the night on one of the side stages, there's a half-naked girl hanging from a net across the ceiling and at one point I walked to the bathroom and pretty much just stopped dead in my tracks to watch two girls simulating oral sex in a glass case.

Really understated elegance here.

Also, Lindsay Lohan was at our table at one point.

***

As good as it gets in terms of places to be in LA. I can say this place is full of nothing but incredily attractive women, rich guys, and celebrities. Voyeur is very very exclusive and unless your a 8 or above ladies or willing to get bottle service ( 2 bottles =$1,100) fellas, be prepared to be turned away. I think this is one of the hottest places that I've been to in my many years in LA. The half naked models and topless dancers alone is worth the price of admission.

***

The layout of the club is terrible, and decor is not that inspiring... but Naked chicks + live porn + celebs. What more could a girl ask for?? A+ in my book. Beware of the ladies hanging above you in nets - they whip the occasional unsuspecting drunkie. Scared the bejeezus out of me. Also beware if you're ugly you won't get in.

[Note: Edited for accuracy; some text removed]

Family values are alive and well in the Rushpublic party. So is hypocrisy.

And they fired David Frum for simply opining about that hip, good-looking, sexy, jet-setting party that Steele represents. Go figure.

Voyeur Club photo via Yelp

"Joe Stack is already a hero to the right-wing tea party movement"

By GottaLaff

The destruction of the IRS office in Austin, Texas, has made suicidal pilot Joe Stack a hero to right wing extremists in the "patriot" movement.

(Maxx Scholten/The Daily Texan/AP Photo)

Via the L.A. Times, two letters to the editor:

Re “Flight of fury,” Feb. 19

Joe Stack is already a hero to the right-wing "tea party" movement.

It is strange that the young man who was arrested on Christmas Day for his pitiful attempt to bring down a passenger plane was immediately labeled a terrorist. But now, listening to talk radio, the right-wing media are in spin mode and are proclaiming this loser a hero. These Kool-Aid merchants are saying that Stack speaks for the average American. But what would these same merchants say if he'd had a Muslim surname?

Stack may have had some legitimate complaints, but he went about it the wrong way. My prayers go out to his family and to the victims that were harmed.

****

In one stroke, Stack has shown how impossible it is to win a "war on terror."

The Tea Tantrumers never fail to demonstrate that their so-called "adherence" to the Constitution and American values is an industrial size pooper scooper of bull pucky.

Afternoon Distraction

Slightly NSFW.

Underwear bomber talking again... without waterboarding

By GottaLaff

Well, well, Alice Ghostley, er, Susan Collins... guess who's opening his big yap again? And he didn't even have to be waterboarded!

Accused Christmas Day bomber Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab has started talking federal agents again, intelligence officials told a congressional panel Tuesday, even though he has been read his Miranda rights.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein asked FBI Director Robert Mueller if Abdulmutallab’s interrogation was ongoing and if federal investigators were receiving new information from him.

“Yes,” Mueller replied.

What? Why... why... that's... constitutional!:

The revelation could deflate recent Republican attacks against the Obama administration’s decision to read Abdulmutallab his Miranda rights after he was treated for the burns he suffered when he tried to set off a bomb on Northwest Flight 243 on Christmas Day.

So much for Rushpublic talking points.

Video- O'Reilly on poll that shows Americans approve of Obama's attack response: "I don't believe that for a second"

Their own reality.

Underpants Bomber had round-trip ticket

By GottaLaff

All that ruckus and fuss-- and bad reporting. The guy had a round-trip ticket after all:

The alleged Christmas Day airline bomber had purchased a round-trip ticket -- not a one- way fare, as has been widely reported -- the Obama administration told congressional aides in a closed briefing Tuesday.

According to a person who attended the meeting, the administration also said it was not unusual for international air travelers to buy their tickets using cash, as Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had done. Up to 20% of overseas flights are cash transactions, Department of Homeland Security officials told House and Senate aides.

Was it really all that hard to find out he didn't have a one-way ticket?

Man removed from plane after security alert at Heathrow

By GottaLaff

Every time there is a terrorist incident, we get a rash of reports like this one:

An aircraft passenger was removed from a plane by counter-terrorism officers after uttering a hoax threat as it readied for take-off, it was reported tonight.

The unnamed white man was on an Emirates flight to Dubai taxiing at Heathrow when he made the comments, which were overheard by a fellow traveller.

Cabin crew were alerted and the pilot turned the jet around. Five armed officers boarded the aircraft and removed the man in handcuffs and a companion. More than one arrest was made, it was reported.

How utterly stupid can someone be to make a joke threat knowing how jumpy and on alert everyone is after Underpants Guy's crotch exploded?

And of course, this was costly since they had to turn around.

Not to mention the fear that must have rippled through the plane.

Oh, and there's those inconvenience and anger factors once everyone realized it was a hoax.

Brilliant move, unnamed white man. Pure comic genius. The Not Conan O'Brien show will contact you shortly, I'm sure.

H/t: DCPlod

VIDEO: Colbert On Underpants Bomber Security Failings

By GottaLaff

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Failure to Connect the Dots
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

Colbert simply rocks.

Underpants Bomber indicted

By GottaLaff

Per MSNBC, Underpants Guy plead "not guilty" during a very brief (no pun) 3 minute court session. It was reported that he was "wearing khaki pants" and spoke English and was clearly understood.

The real question was, did he go commando?

Bygones.

I'm not sure how we got through this alive. After all, this took place in an American court. Did his terrorist cooties escape through the air conditioner vent? Did the grand jury turn into Al Qaeda operatives? Did the terrorists win... again... under President Obama's watch? After all, it was Obama who was responsible for the 9/11 attack.

But then again, you know that, because Team Cheney is out there lying about it.

Here's more:

A grand jury indicted Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, on charges of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas Day. The Nigerian was indicted on 6 counts, including attempted murder of the other 289 passengers and crew aboard the plane, and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

He faces life in prison.

If Napolitano should resign, Bush and Cheney should have been impeached

By GottaLaff

See that blog title (by Brent Budowsky)? IMHO, the "if" part could have been dropped. Bush and Cheney should have been impeached. Period:

If Janet Napolitano should be fired for her role in the Christmas bombing plot, George W. Bush should have been impeached for being warned about planes flying into buildings in New York and ignoring those warnings, and Dick Cheney should have been impeached for his role in the CIA leak case and prosecuted for his role surrounding torture.

That cannot be be stated often or more strongly enough.

[...] Napolitano could have handled this better, but the consequences of her mistakes are nothing compared to the consequences of mistakes by Bush, Cheney, Alberto Gonzales and many others.

BushCo could have puffed themselves up, donned their codpieces, and strutted around spewing their fear mongering and threats for another decade, but that wouldn't have compensated for the thousands who died on their watch. They didn't follow through, people were killed, and yet they boast like 8-year-olds about "keeping America safe".

President Obama has "kept us safe" longer than BushCo did, and he gets attacked relentlessly from the very man who was in charge on 9/11: Dick Cheney. It is he and his gang of thugs who should be condemned.

Perhaps the Obama administration could have handled the Christmas day situation better, but nobody died. The Obama administration says they are working to improve national security. Good. It needs improving, and most likely always will. Has any country eliminated terrorism completely? Is that even possible? No.

At least this president didn't ignore a briefing that warned him of some guy with explosives in his underwear, nor is he acting like an arrogant flight-suited peacock, bragging and parading around like a spoiled brat.

And again, nobody died.

It's time that the Rushpublics practice what they preach and support their commander in chief. Here's a thought: Try coming up with some solutions for a change. That would be a real step toward "keeping America safe".

Unpatriotic: Special Comment by my 72-year-old friend

By GottaLaff

(via)

My very caring, impassioned 72-year-old Twitter pal, who goes by the name 42bkdodgr, would like to share his feelings about the inappropriate false GOP patriotism and incessant fear/smear mongering as an unwelcome revival of the BushCo "War on Terrorism" theme rears its ugly head. I am more than happy to oblige.

But first, a personal note from 42bkdodgr:

Many of you may wonder why I chose to use the “ 72 year old friend” as the introduction to my Special Comments. I selected the moniker so readers could see that from my age and life experiences I give a different perspective to the issues of today.

Now for his Special Comment:

Unpatriotic

Time and time again the Republicans have proven they care more about party ideology than working with President Obama and the Democrats for what's best for the American people.

We have seen this behavior in their delaying for almost a month, the extension of unemployment insurance, dearly needed by many Americans, before they all voted in favor; and we also saw it during the debate on health care reform in both houses of Congress.

Now we are seeing it again with Republicans trying to make political hay out of the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a U.S. airliner. Instead of working with and standing by the President, they are sniping at him.

One can only imagine how the Republicans would have acted on September 11, 2001 if any Democrat had acted like Rep. Peter Hoekstra did in using the incident of Christmas day as the basis for sending out a fund raising letter. They would have been called unpatriotic.

Then there is Senator DeMint who is holding up Senate approval of Erroll Southers to head the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Agency. The reason given by DeMint is that Mr. Southers might unionize the TSA agents.

So for DeMint, it seems unions are a greater terrorist threat than Al-Qaeda terrorists. One can only shake ones head at this logic. What is even scarier, Senator DeMint is still saying he is doing the right thing, but now he is saying the Democrats are trying to rush the nominee vote; even though its been over 3 months since Obama nominated Southers for the position.

Republicans and Dick Cheney keep saying that Obama is not aggressively fighting terrorists to protect the country. I guess they don’t consider U.S. aided attacks in Yemen, on December 24th and another one the previous week, against Al-Qaeda and possibly killing two of its leaders, as not being aggressive enough.

Dick Cheney and the Republicans seem to forget President Bush let bin Laden escape from Afghanistan while his administration prepared for an unnecessary war with Iraq, based on lies and misinformation.

Not only was the war unnecessary but it help recruit more terrorists for Al-Qaeda around the world.

From the Republican outcry, I can only assume they prefer a President who uses color coded alerts before holidays and elections, that scare and frighten the American public, for political advantage in order to make it appear his administration is on top of terrorists' activities.

I certainly don’t want a president to act in such a manner; but if President Obama had used such tactics, I can assure you that Republicans would have found fault with him anyway. What we don’t need at this time are fear tactics, but some sane reasoning to resolve the difficult problem of travel security for American citizens and how to protect this country against future terrorist attacks.

Its time for the Republican Party to act as true patriots, that they always claim to be, and work with President Obama to ensure our country and all Americans around the world are safe from terrorist attacks.

Many thanks again for another interesting, relevant piece, 42bkdodgr. You never fail to say what so many of us are thinking and feeling, and we thank you for your unique perspective.

Photos of the Northwest Airlines Bomb

Ahem. I've know a couple "explosive packets" in my day, and they looked nothing like this. Whew, I know this is serious business, but I just can't stop laughing. Via.

Bush Terrorized Us and Al Qaeda Won

By GottaLaff



I have a quick break between San Francisco vacation activities, and ran across this, your Daily Dose of BuzzFlash via my pal Mark Karlin:

When you look back over the 9/11 act of terror that Bush could have likely prevented, but was too lazy to try and prevent after being warned, Al Qaeda beat the Neo-Cons from that point on. [...]

It appears Obama is taking a different path, and that his concern about the nukes in Pakistan falling into terrorist hands is far more on target in regards to our safety, and is a strategic approach to terrorism rather than an end run for oil fields. It's important to also note that by destabilizing Iraq, Bush and Cheney only made the theological extremists in Iran all the stronger.

Let's hope that our primal fear of falling from the sky doesn't overcome our ability to outmaneuver the terrorists.

Becoming terrorized only accomplishes their goals.

Please read the whole thing here. I only gave you a sample.

Video- Rove: Obama Admin. Handling Flight 253 Suspect in 'Troubling Way'

And no one is defending from our side. Should have been out in front of this.

Video- President Obama's Remarks on Failed Terror Attack and Protests in Iran

Via FDL.

Man arrested in 2nd incident on Detroit-bound jet

Awww shit. I'm betting that this makes this more probable. Let's hope this is just overzealousness on the part of the airline or some stupid mook acting up.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Associated Press has learned that a second Nigerian man has been taken into custody aboard a jetliner in Detroit after locking himself in the airliner's bathroom.

A law enforcement official tells the AP that the incident took place aboard the same Northwest flight that was attacked on Christmas Day. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the incident was ongoing.

A Delta spokeswoman says all 256 passengers have been safely taken off the plane. Delta operates the Northwest flight.

Terror Suspect's Father Reported Him to the US Embassy 6 Months Ago

By GottaLaff

(Photo: Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, who reported his son to the US Embassy)

What next, we find out Umar appeared on Larry King's show in 2002 and announced his intentions?

However, one day after the foiled terrorist attack, the man's father has come forth to reveal that he reported his son's fanatical religious views to the US Embassy six months ago.

The young man in question - Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab - is the son of Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, a former Nigerian minister and bank chairman. Half a year ago, he became suspicious of his son's religious beliefs and reported his activites to the US Embassy and Nigerian security services.

On Saturday, Mutallab left his home in Katsina, Nigeria to speak with security agencies. He indicated that his son left London, where he was an engineering student, to travel. He said he did not know where he intended to go. He said that he believed he might have gone to Yemen, "but we are investigating to determine that."

The Associated Press is reporting the same thing.

One source, someone who is close to the father, said that Daddy raised his eyebrows a few inches when he found out Umar was allowed to come to the U.S. after his tip-off to the embassy.

After Umar enrolled at University College in London, he left, going to Egypt and then Dubai. After relocating, he told his family he no longer wanted to have contact with them.

I apologize for interrupting CNN's Speculation Marathon. I'm sure this news will fuel at least another 24 hours of Q and A with unbiased authorities Fran Townsend and Pete King.

UPDATE, via a tweet from Chuck Todd:

He was added to the MAIN database of 550,000 people in Nov. 2009 (following father's warning).

Questions we're all asking: just how do names get treated when added to the terrorist database? How quickly are they investigated?

H/t: physiologyprof

Dep't. of Justice Press Release: U.S. Charges Suspect in Attempted Terrorist Attack on Plane

By GottaLaff

Here is theDoJ press release in its entirety, courtesy of the FBI:

A 23-year-old Nigerian man was charged in a federal criminal complaint today with attempting to destroy a Northwest Airlines aircraft on its final approach to Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Christmas Day and with placing a destructive device on the aircraft.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, a Nigerian national, boarded Northwest Flight 253 in Amsterdam, Netherlands on December 24, 2009 and had a device attached to his body. As the flight was approaching Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Abdulmutallab set off the device, which resulted in a fire and what appears to have been an explosion. Abdulmutallab was then subdued and restrained by the passengers and flight crew. The airplane landed shortly thereafter, and he was taken into custody by Customs and Border Patrol officers.

A preliminary FBI analysis found that the device contained PETN, also known as pentaerythritol, a high explosive. Further analysis is ongoing. In addition, FBI agents recovered what appear to be the remnants of the syringe from the vicinity of Abdulmutallab’s seat, believed to have been part of the device.

“This alleged attack on a U.S. airplane on Christmas Day shows that we must remain vigilant in the fight against terrorism at all times,” Attorney General Eric Holder said. “Had this alleged plot to destroy an airplane been successful, scores of innocent people would have been killed or injured. We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously, and we will use all measures available to our government to ensure that anyone responsible for this attempted attack is brought to justice

Abdulmutallab required medical treatment and was transported to the University of Michigan Medical Center after the plane landed. He will make his initial court appearance later today.

Interviews of all of the passengers and crew of Flight 253 revealed that prior to the incident, Abdulmutallab went to the bathroom for approximately 20 minutes, according to the affidavit. Upon returning to his seat, Abdulmutallab stated that his stomach was upset, and he pulled a blanket over himself. Passengers then heard popping noises similar to firecrackers, smelled an odor, and some observed Abdulmutallab’s pants leg and the wall of the airplane on fire. Passengers and crew then subdued Abdulmutallab and used blankets and fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Passengers reported that Abdulmutallab was calm and lucid throughout. One flight attendant asked him what he had had in his pocket, and he replied “explosive device.”

These prosecutions are being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. The public is reminded that criminal complaints contain mere allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Now back to the Tee Vee Machine news dee jays' endless 24/7 speculation already in progress.

UPDATE: On CNN just now, they said something about someone giving this guy the device, and explaining how to use it, and off he went.

H/t: Jason Leopold