Evidence in Christmas Day terror case not being released to public
Lawyers and federal prosecutors are handling the evidence being used in Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s trial with strict confidentiality.
Christmas
Learning airport security lessons from the Christmas Day plot and 9/11
This editorial claims that despite the changes that have been made to airport security since 9/11, an effective system has yet to be developed. The writer lauds Israeli airport security, which focuses on human guards who conduct face to face interviews with suspiciously-behaving people. A question on outdated CIA intelligence practices is also explored.
Interview with Janet Napolitano
In the wake of criticism of the ways she handled the Christmas Day would-be bomber Abdulmutallab, Janet Napolitano discusses the Department of Homeland Security’s plans to respond.
Detroit was chosen at random
Abdulmutallab and al-Qaida apparently chose to attack Detroit at random, a White House intelligence briefing revealed last week. “There is no evidence that Detroit was systematically targeted. It was just one of several options the bomber suspect had,” says Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Brighton). Congressional hearings on the Abdulmutallab Christmas Day plot will begin next week,…
After Fort Hood, the Christmas Day plot and others, terrorism is Obama’s newest political minefield
Critics say Obama’s response to the Christmas Day plot by Abdulmutallab was late and trepid, and analysts believe terrorism has become the Democrats’ and Obama’s central political vulnerability. A senior GOP strategist says the current focus on national security is a challenge for the administration because terrorists are so unpredictable. “It’s driven by events,” he…