Video: Obama on the Flight 253 bomb plot
posted at 4:20 pm on December 28, 2009 by Allahpundit
Quoth Doctor Zero, “Has there ever been a moment of crisis in which both America’s citizens and enemies were less interested in what the President had to say?” My thoughts exactly. What could he say? He ordered a review of security procedures, he promised to get the bad guys, he wished everyone a happy new year. All the interesting stuff is going on behind the scenes and can’t be spoken of publicly for obvious security reasons: British cops claim 25 bombers are training in Yemen right now for similar attacks; the feds have a hot lead on Abdulmutallab’s network thanks to SIM cards found in his home; and, according to one passenger on the flight, there was a mysterious second man onboard who videotaped the entire thing. All fascinating and important, and all very much off limits for the official perfunctory presidential Statement of Concern. If people want to dump on him for taking vay-cay while this is going on as pure payback for the left pissing its pants about Bush’s golf game, fair enough; one good turn of political point-scoring deserves another. (I’ll start you off: Should a guy who just came from the beach be promising that we “will not rest” until the perpetrators are dealt with?) But on the merits, who cares?
AQ in Yemen issued a statement within the last hour claiming that it ordered the attack in response to U.S. airstrikes on their bases. To which the White House, in an unusually canny moment, replied thusly:
Or in their words, “The oneness of our belief and brotherhood in Islam is what protected our young Nigerian man, the mujahid brother Omar Al Farouq to directly respond to his oppressive American enemy’s attack on the Arab Peninsula.”
A senior administration official rejects this entirely, pointing out that Omar Abdulmutallab was in the field long before that airstrike.
“He had been deployed before December 17,” the official said. “They’d like to make this seem like retaliation, but the reason they tried to blow up the plane is because they have a hateful, murderous agenda. And that’s why we’re on the forward lean against them.”
Funny how clearly they see the way jihadis use pretexts to justify terrorism in this case but not in, say, this one.
As your companion reading for the clip, do take five minutes to read through the Times’s primer today on the growing importance of Yemen as a base for AQ. They have a weak central government, powerful internal insurrectionist movements capable of destabilizing the country, and lawless tribal areas where it’s safe for jihadis to hide out and plot. Sound familiar?
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Easy. If you prevent the attacks, you don’t have enough forensic evidence to get a conviction. And some coroners will be out of work.
hawksruleva on December 28, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Oh, then Obama would’ve sicced the EPA on this guy. The only real terrorists are those who defile the planet with greenhouse gases!
hawksruleva on December 28, 2009 at 5:06 PM
The only video of Pinnochio I will watch is the one of the nearly extinct Great White Shark chomping him and his surf board in half!
So quit baiting me with the Jihadis drivel Allah!
dhunter on December 28, 2009 at 5:09 PM
He looks so rained on, washed out…
Schadenfreude on December 28, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Drudge is reporting an emergency at his $4000 per night chalet – are they out of grey poupon? Andy Stern have a digestive issue?
Fuquay Steve on December 28, 2009 at 5:10 PM
He never said “jihadi” nor “terror” or “terrorist”. But he did say “allegedly tried to start a bobm”.
Schadenfreude on December 28, 2009 at 5:11 PM
bobm – bomb
Schadenfreude on December 28, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Fuquay Steve on December 28, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Out of cigarettes? I sincerely hope it’s not a family health issue.
kingsjester on December 28, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Coke bender?
thomasaur on December 28, 2009 at 5:12 PM
They are out of Grey Poupon. That is unaccepteble. This, this.. Out of Grey Poupon? This is a POTUS crisis!
“Where are my Secret Servants when I really need them? This crisis is unbearable! Bring me my Grey Poupon”
Key West Reader on December 28, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Allegedly tried, Mr. President? Suspect, Mr. President? Let’s cut the b.s. right now, Barry. He tried and failed to detonate a bomb sewn into his underwear, there were a number of witnesses to that fact, there is bomb material taken as evidence from the terrorist’s body. This a-hole is not an American citizen and therefore, as in the case of KSM, shouldn’t be treated as such with this type of jurisprudent etiquette. The SOB is guilty of trying to murder nearly 300-people in the air and untold numbers on the ground and we don’t need a judge, trial, or panel of jurists to make it so. I am so fed up with these bastards being treated like human beings…they are not!
Goldy1 on December 28, 2009 at 5:15 PM
The guy was arrested for trying to blow up an airplane. OK, why no mention of the 277 people he wanted to murder? I’m not being snarky, but it seems curious that they weren’t mentioned.
csdeven on December 28, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Personally I don’t care if he said anything or not. I can hardly stomach the sound of his voice let alone his mug on TV every day as it is. I think he should go on vacation, more often because when he does, he gives us all a vacation from looking at his yap.
royzer on December 28, 2009 at 5:17 PM
/Bending the cost curve. Speechifying costs moneys. Your moneys.
Key West Reader on December 28, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Folks, Yemen has always been a problem. It is only recently that it has gained attention. Osama Bin Laden has ties to Yemen. In fact I would not be surprised if it is ever proven that OSL has been hiding again in Yemen.
There are at least 4 fronts to the AQ attacks:
1. Afghanistan (because the Taliban was harbouring OBL prior to 9/11).
2. Pakistan – never underestimate the Taliban on that front.
3. Yemen
4. Iraq
5. Somalia
Iraq is now the least critical front because of the new govt. but so long as AQ are there and fighting the good people of Iraq then there needs to be some kind of presence.
Saudi Arabia is not the general cause of this problem, even though there are individuals from Saudi Arabia involved. The real source has always been Yemen.
Take for example Indonesia and the imama Bashir. The man is from Yemen.
Osama Bin Laden was operating out of Yemen. Attacks such as that on the USS Cole originated out of Yemen. It is Yemen that has been sheltering AQ. The imam who was guiding Hasan now lives in Yemen. It is Yemen, Yemen, Yemen. Do not underestimate the involvement of Yemen.
Interestingly though, Yemen is a very poor country, and this is information that is used by the uber-libs to once again attack the west. Yemen is also the birth place of Mohammed the pedophile.
maggieo on December 28, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Maybe some well-heeled Americans will someday take up the training of freelance counter-terrorists. Terrorists’ techniques and choices of targets are getting so stale, and enterprising Americans might bring fresh ideas.
Kralizec on December 28, 2009 at 5:19 PM
I wasn’t talkin about that Jihadi I was talkin bout the one in the Whithose! I can’t listen to Pinnochio anymore he makes my hair hurt with the ahhh, ahhh, errr, aahhh , like I said, like I’ve always said, I’ll not rest until Obiden, er ahh, what I said was, ah er
STFU Pinnochio and go feed the nice shark!
dhunter on December 28, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Of course, in reality, Bush “responded” to Katrina 3 days before it came ashore. But in DNC-world, that never happened.
Del Dolemonte on December 28, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Obama speeds home to $4000 per night rental home.
Cig break?
I hope they’re all okay.
Key West Reader on December 28, 2009 at 5:21 PM
ObaMao has been living in his Hawaiian “Tiny Bubbles,” but did take time out to acknowledge the passing of one of his mentors, whom he called a “civil rights lawyer.”
I am reposting this comment from another thread because a lot of dots connect re ObaMao’s peculiar priorities while he is having fun in the sun.
onlineanalyst on December 28, 2009 at 5:25 PM
The terrorist/ underwear thread.
Hit him so fast and hard no one saw the comment.
phineas on December 28, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Put on a tie. Dinnerjacket doesn’t wear a tie. I don’t want my president emulating that guy. Either put on a tie or take off the coat.
And look at me when you’re talking to me, not at your teleprompters. Can’t you get one of Katie Couric’s spare teleprompters so you can look us in the eye?
And quit it with the nose in the air. It doesn’t make you look distinguished.
Gad…
MarkT on December 28, 2009 at 5:37 PM
“Here’s what we know so far. I let lapse our national security, and I plan to punish myself severely and I assure you, I will hold accountable the person responsible: me, and heads will role. I’ve decided to summarily fire myself, Vice President Biden, and what the hell, Nancy Pelosi, not that she was responsible in any way, but rather in hopes that when you look back at my legacy, that I did one good thing.”
CROWD CHEERS WILDLY AT THIS MOMENT, and Obama, wanting to leave on a positive note, exists the podium.
Danzo on December 28, 2009 at 5:41 PM
To all those pissing and moaning about Obama taking soooo long to address the nation after this failed attempt:
The President is walking a fine line. Responding immediately could perhaps increase the value of such attacks – even those that are unsuccessful – and encourage other would-be terrorists. President George W. Bush also waited to respond publicly after Richard Reid, the “shoe bomber,” attempted to attack a plane by hiding explosives in his shoes in December of 2001. On ABC This Week, Jake Tapper asked former George W. Bush strategist Mathew Dowd if President Obama was doing the right thing by waiting.
“Well yes,” Dowd said, “Part of the problem here is that all the facts that you think are true at the beginning turn out not to be true as the days go on. Some of that stuff we’ve learned in the process of this, as, actually, we’re learning some of the things we first heard, we didn’t catch.
Tom_Shipley on December 28, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Druge now reports it was a monor surf board injury – at least the O got off the course for this ‘emergency’. What a life! If it is not one thing it is another. When will it all end? 2012 HOPEFULLY.
Fuquay Steve on December 28, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Hey, we don’t have that strong of “insurrectionist movements” in America…
right2bright on December 28, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Let me be clear….my short game improved but my putting, so so.
Now about this terrorism stuff….
angryed on December 28, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Dear Mr.President,
Words like “allegedly” don’t need to be used if you treat these vermin like enemy combatants.
Oh, thats right- we’re trying to project a better image.
How’s that working out for ya.
jjshaka on December 28, 2009 at 5:50 PM
I have an inconvenient question:
Where were the Federal Air Marshals?
After all, according to the TSA,
Paul_in_NJ on December 28, 2009 at 5:54 PM
You apparently do not understand…
It isn’t that he doesn’t talk about the problems, he talked about Afghan for months and months…it is that he does not address the problems, he doesn’t take action until forced to by public opinion…he votes “present” on every issue he can.
He has done that from the first days of being elected to an office, how many “presents”, something like 130 times.
He doesn’t lead, he waits, and waits, and deliberates, then he waits…unless the people force him to talk about the problem.
Time for a quote almost written for him:
“On the plains of hesitation lay the bleached bones of the countless millions, who at the dawn of victory, sat and waited…and waited died.”
That is why his ideas die, he waits and hesitates…he just doesn’t know how to lead…
right2bright on December 28, 2009 at 5:55 PM
AP, my only question is what the heck is Bozo vacationing from, exactly? He hasn’t actually done anything for eleven months except vacation, travel to interesting exotic locals, bow to foreign leaders, an apology tour, parties and oh yeah a little golf.
Oh and speaking engagements and lots and lots of TV appearances and magazine covers…
dogsoldier on December 28, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Those are all excellent points.
I seem to recall that the majority of the 19 9/11 highjackers were not Saudis but Yemenis. Osama bin Laden’s roots are from there also.
onlineanalyst on December 28, 2009 at 6:02 PM
So does this mean that you guys will stop ragging Bush for reading “My Pet Goat” for 7 minutes after he was told of the 9/11 attacks?
Nah, didn’t think so. Bush bad. O’bama COOL.
BTW I had to laugh at the story you linked to-almost immediately the ABC “reporter” cites this, even though it has absolutely no relevance to this story:
Vladimir Lenin would approve. Repeat a lie often enough and it will be believed. Why would ABC even mention this in an article on terrorism?
“A lie told often enough becomes truth” -Vladimir Lenin.
Del Dolemonte on December 28, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Obama the worse president ever!!!!
unseen on December 28, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Obama’s My pet goat moment
unseen on December 28, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Put on a tie. Dinnerjacket doesn’t wear a tie. I don’t want my president emulating that guy. Either put on a tie or take off the coat.
MarkT on December 28, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Obama only wears a tie when he really must. Look back at past photos. Ties are considered a symbol of the hated Christian Crusaders.
Meremortal on December 28, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Kailua Beach isn’t really a “surfboard” type of beach-more suitable for body surfing and wind surfing.
Del Dolemonte on December 28, 2009 at 6:19 PM
You guys are comparing a failed terrorist attempt to knowing the country is IN THE MIDDLE of a successful attack?
The comparison to Obama’s reaction here is when the Reid failed in his attack. Bush then waiting, as Obama did, to address the nation.
This is an apples to oranges comparison. On 9/11, the country was under attack and Bush sat there, dare I say dithering, for seven minutes.
Tom_Shipley on December 28, 2009 at 6:26 PM
“….then an isolated extremist”.
Did this moron prez not get the memo that al qaeda was behind this and so it was not an isolated extremist.
God help us all and save us from this idiot!
centre on December 28, 2009 at 6:37 PM
So was he supposed to run from the room like he was Navin Johnson trying to avoid sniper fire? Or was he to finish what he was doing knowing that it would take at least 7 more minutes to get AF1 ready for take off?
thomasaur on December 28, 2009 at 6:40 PM
I kept waiting for him to ask us to withhold judgment (BTW, is he still doing this re: Hasan?), while condemning a white cop as having acted “stupidly” because somewhere in the world he arrested a black man.
RightWinged on December 28, 2009 at 6:46 PM
So, Bush had to be in the air before he was in contact with his team at the White House? That doesn’t make any sense. And no, he doesn’t have to jump up and sprint out of the room. But politely cutting his visit short so he could get briefed on the situation ASAP was probably the best course of action to take in that situation.
There were incredibly important decisions made very quickly that day, most notably the one to shoot down US passenger planes if they were thought to be hijacked. And if you believe Angler, Bush was not the one to give that order.
Tom_Shipley on December 28, 2009 at 7:23 PM
I wasn’t aware that you were a part of Bush’s Secret Service detail that morning. What Leftist blog did you glean this “fact” from?
Del Dolemonte on December 28, 2009 at 7:28 PM
On 9/11, the country was under attack and Bush sat there, dare I say dithering, for seven minutes.
Tom_Shipley on December 28, 2009 at 6:26 PM
capejasmine on December 28, 2009 at 7:32 PM
capejasmine on December 28, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Again, no one is saying Bush had to leap up say “Holy S***, we’re under attack!” and run out of the room. But politely interrupting the teacher, saying he had to get going and thanking the kids for their time (or something) then leaving would not cause a panic.
Sure, some might pick up that something was up, but I’m pretty sure they found out soon enough that planes crashed into the WTC.
And I don’t want to sound callous, but when the country is under attack, is it more important for the commander in chief to be briefed on the situation ASAP or make sure a group of kids in not potentially frightened because the president cut his visit short?
Tom_Shipley on December 28, 2009 at 7:44 PM
LOL, the only people who breathlessly held a stopwatch to Bush during this were BDS-addled people like you and your uncle Mikey, who could never forgive Bush for legally stopping (by a 7-2 SCOTUS decision) Algore’s attempt to steal the 2000 election.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rO3F6mZUaE
http://www.michaelmoore.com/books-films/facts/fahrenheit-911
I did a Google search on the keywords “Bush 9/11 my pet goat 7 minutes”. I got almost 10,000 results.
Del Dolemonte on December 28, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Yeah, I forgot that Air Force 1′s phone is attached to the propeller, which needs to spin to generate the energy the phone needs to work. How silly of me to think he could be in contact with the WH from the ground in FLA.
Tom_Shipley on December 28, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Obama does not measure up to a single positive standard next to George Bush
though he does lead when it cones to negative aspects
Sonosam on December 28, 2009 at 7:51 PM
7 Minutes, Tom. 7 minutes. 420 seconds. Are you honestly convinced that Bush could have changed what happened that day simply by leaving 7 minutes earlier than he did?
If so, please let me know the name of the doctor who signs your medical marijuana prescriptions. That’s some good spliff you be smoking, mon.
Del Dolemonte on December 28, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Bottom line: You hate George Bush and you have a man-crush on Barry. There’s nothing else to discuss. Besides, isn’t there a NAMBLA meeting or something that you’re supposed to be at tonight?
Dopenstrange on December 28, 2009 at 7:57 PM
At that point the SS detail was the security of the Pres.
He was not in the game to ensure his safety the SS was and whatever they did I’m certain of their prudence as I’m sure GWB was.
Now bar on the other hand would have used the grandstand pulpit gratuitously if not ineffectively.
Sonosam on December 28, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Unlike yourself, I actually have some experience in this field-the President and VP are always in contact with the White House, always. And that includes on the ground.
Here in New Hampshire, the real estate company I worked for in the 1980s one day got a visit from the Secret Service. They were there a couple of weeks before the Vice President (you remember him, Mr. Potatoe Head Dan Quayle) was scheduled to arrive in the state for some sort of function (can’t remember exactly what it was, probably he was campaigning for someone).
Due to the location of our office building, which was right at the corner of the major state east-west highway and the major Interstate thru the center of the state (I-93), the Secret Service decided that our location was ideal to set up their high-tech mobile communications gear so the Veep could be in constant touch with DC during his trip from the closest airport to his speaking engagement. They brought in several huge boxes of top-secret radio gear and set them up in an unused closet out back.
I still have a copy of the Secret Service Certificate of Appreciation that they sent us a couple of weeks later.
But I’m sure you’ll say it was forged and what I personally witnessed never really happened.
Del Dolemonte on December 28, 2009 at 8:03 PM
Potentially, yes. There were decisions that needed to be made. If there was plane that would have struck a target within 7 minutes of the second tower being hit, and Bush needed to give the order to shoot down the plane, yes, it could have made a big difference.
Point is, at that moment, all he knew was that the US was under attack — two planes hit the WTC. He didn’t know anything more for seven minutes. During those seven minutes, there were other planes in the air that were hijacked, both headed toward D.C.
It turns out Bush sitting there for seven minutes probably didn’t have much of an impact — if any — on what happened. But he didn’t know that at the time. He was told explicitly by Andy Card that the country was under attack, yet he chose to sit there for seven minutes so he wouldn’t upset the children.
I’m sorry, but that’s not leadership. He froze. He didn’t know what to do. I don’t blame the guy too much, no one’s ever been in that situation before, but still, the right move there in hindsight is to excuse yourself and get briefed.
Tom_Shipley on December 28, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Wrong again. Bush was notified about the first plane hitting the WTC at 8:55 AM, 9 minutes after it happened.
The second plane would not hit the other WTC tower until 8 minutes after he was notified while reading the Goat Book (upside down).
Del Dolemonte on December 28, 2009 at 8:12 PM
Bush was told the first plane hit the WTC just before he entered the classroom. At 9:03.30, the second plane hit. At 9:05 Card whispered in the president’s ear that a second plane had hit the WTC and that “America is under attack.”
So, this statement…
…is perfectly accurate.
Tom_Shipley on December 28, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Look out Katie Couric, this guy has got some promising journalistic skills! I could hardly tell he was reading script at all.
ndanielson on December 28, 2009 at 8:25 PM
You know, I take it as a compliment when you guys accuse me of being some sort of paid operative.
Tom_Shipley on December 28, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Obama encouraged this crime. he is complicit, as is anyone who voted for him. They criminally voted for evil. All the dems. Every dem is a criminal.
proconstitution on December 28, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Exactly. Days and days of information and preparation and this is the message. This is not leadership to show up with this wrong message – without a tie- reading it off a teleprompter.
So what is the purpose of the message and the delivery? It was not spontaneous, it had a purpose.
batterup on December 28, 2009 at 9:07 PM
If the bomb had actually gone off, would Obama had put on a tie? What does it take to make this guy act Presidential? And sticking one’s chin in the air doesn’t count. That didn’t save Mussolini.
Dongemaharu on December 28, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Source, please?
Del Dolemonte on December 28, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Impossible to call bama an empty suit; that suit is so stuffed with turds the seams are unravveling. EVERY time he opens his mouth it’s another blunder; the man is totally out of touch with reality and a completely incompetent embarrassment of a fool. Just looking at him makes my stomach turn…
jgdp on December 28, 2009 at 11:34 PM
The timeline of the events of the day has been pretty well established, though there are some slight disparities on time. I’ve seen Card telling the president about the 2nd attack at 9:06. But Wikipedia gives a good, comprehensive timeline:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_for_the_day_of_the_September_11_attacks
This guardian article also has Card going into speak to the president at 9:05.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1365455/Revealed-what-really-went-on-during-Bushs-missing-hours.html
As far as what Card told Bush, here ya go:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32782623/ns/us_news-911_eight_years_later/
Tom_Shipley on December 29, 2009 at 9:13 AM
He couldn’t even put on a tie?
C’mon Barry, you’re the President for goodness sake. At least try to look the part.
Jay Mac on December 29, 2009 at 9:56 AM
I bet that all of the detainees at Gittmo are enrolled in the Health Care package that the Demoncrates are trying to shove down our throats.
The relevance to the failed attempt to blow up NW 253 is that the perp was used to a higher lifestyle and wanted to be sure he had the best health care possible if his attempt failed.
MSGTAS on December 29, 2009 at 10:21 AM
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