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02 Feb 2012 10:48

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U.S.: Size of the TSA’s infamous no-fly list doubles in a single year

  • 10,000 people on the U.S. government’s no-fly list roughly a year ago
  • 21,000 people on the no-fly list one year later; only 500 are Americans source
  • » So, what happened? After the Christmas 2009 “Underwear Bomber” incident, the TSA worked on improving the list, expanding it far beyond the initial set of names. Of note: The federal government is adding names beyond al-Qaeda, believing that the terror threat expands beyond the group behind the 2001 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. “Both U.S. intelligence and law enforcement communities and foreign services continue to identify people who want to cause us harm, particularly in the U.S. and particularly as it relates to aviation,” said TSA head John Pistole, who has had to deal with some backlash against higher security standards in the past year.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Nov 2011 10:31

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U.S.: Jose Pimentel’s mother apologizes for her son’s terror plot

  • I didn’t raise my son in that way. I feel bad about this situation.
  • Carmen Sosa, mother of NYC “lone wolf” bombing suspect Jose Pimentel • Apologizing for her son’s behavior while speaking with reporters outside her Manhattan home this morning. Regarding the NYPD’s actions in this incident, Sosa praised them. “I think they handled it well,” she said. If it helps Ms. Sosa, the FBI didn’t exactly treat this case very seriously, a sign it may not be a strong case. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Nov 2011 20:52

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U.S.: Why the FBI reportedly passed on perusing Jose Pimentel

  • They felt the NYPD’s evidence, and Pimentel’s actual threat, was shaky. If given the opportunity, could Jose Pimentel have actually pulled off a terror threat? The NYPD seemed convinced of this, but the FBI wasn’t quite so sure. On top of this, they felt the evidence was a little rough around the edges — particularly the use of a confidential informant, who recorded hours of conversations with Pimentel, but may not be the most reliable witness to whatever happened. As one law enforcement official, speaking off the record, put it: “If the FBI declines a case, it’s not a strong case.” Think it’ll hold up? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Sep 2011 22:12

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World: Anwar al-Awlaki killing approved in secret Justice Department memo

  • As a general matter, it would be entirely lawful for the United States to target high-level leaders of enemy forces, regardless of their nationality, who are plotting to kill Americans both under the authority provided by Congress in its use of military force in the armed conflict with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces as well as established international law that recognizes our right of self-defense.
  • A vague, anonymous U.S. official • Discussing and defending the American role in killing key al-Qaeda figure Anwar al-Awlaki, whose killing was sanctioned in a secret memo put together by the Justice Department. As we pointed out earlier, al-Awlaki was a U.S. citizen, making his assassination very controversial for some, most notably Glenn Greenwald. Does the explanation above hold water? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Sep 2011 10:44

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World: Three reasons Anwar al-Awlaki’s assassination is a major development

  • We could say all sorts of things about Anwar al-Awlaki, but we’ll let this Yemeni official say them for us: “He’s the most dangerous man in Yemen. He’s intelligent, sophisticated, Internet-savvy, and very charismatic. He can sell anything to anyone, and right now he’s selling jihad.” A high-profile get for the United States, the al-Qaeda recruiter was killed during an ongoing bombing campaign coordinated with Yemen. Obama is expected to speak on al-Awlaki’s death soon. Why is this such a big deal? Here’s a breakdown:
  • one Anwar al-Awlaki was considered one of al-Qaeda’s top recruiters and had been highly sought after by both American and Yemeni officials for years.
  • two Al-Awlaki was also internet-savvy, using his fluent English and Web presence to draw recruits. Experts say this is a future model for terror recruitment.
  • three Despite his pedigree as a internet-savvy spiritual leader, al-Awlaki was also a U.S. citizen, meaning some see civil rights issues in this situation. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Sep 2011 20:28

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U.S.: Lone wolf terror suspect thought he worked with al-Qaeda, not the FBI

  • See this model plane here? It was a terror threat. This model plane was reportedly owned by a 26-year-old Massachusetts musician (and apparent lone wolf terror suspect) named Rezwan Ferdaus, who wanted to use this model plane (and another one) to blow up the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol. Obviously, it would’ve been loaded to the gills with explosives … if Ferdaus’ plan actually worked. See, the guys he was reportedly working with? He thought they were al-Qaeda operatives. Actually, they were FBI. Oops. Ferdaus also reportedly built some cell phones modified to blow up roadside bombs in Afghanistan. However, he also handed those to the FBI. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Sep 2011 20:50

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U.S.: Appeals court: Give this Jose Padilla guy a harsher sentence, already!

The al-Qaeda supporter, center, received a 17-year sentence in 2008 from a Miami judge. Now a Georgia appeals court says that’s too lenient, and ordered Padilla to get re-sentenced more harshly. That doesn’t happen often. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

14 Sep 2011 20:34

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World: Underwear bomber shouts “Osama’s Alive!” in courtroom

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 24, made the outburst while potential jurors were filling out questionnaires. Guess the trial on this one’s gonna be fairly painless. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Sep 2011 13:57

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U.S.: Joe Biden on terror threat: “We do have talk about using a car bomb”

  • There are specifics — in that sense it was credible — but there’s no certitude. There’s no smoking gun, but we do have talk about using a car bomb.
  • Vice President Joe Biden • Speaking on the credible terror threat this morning while on “Good Morning America.” He was slightly less vague than Michael Bloomberg was last night. NYC and DC have upped their security ahead of the 9/11 anniversary as a result of the threat, which up to this point has proven incredibly vague. Let’s hope that, whatever it is, authorities have their ducks in a row. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Aug 2011 16:04

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World: U.S. makes it legal for aid groups to help Somalians

  • before Aid groups couldn’t get food to starving people in al-Shabaab-controlled areas in Somalia. That’s because the U.S. has sanctions against the al-Qaeda affiliated group who is doing everything in their power to ensure aid doesn’t reach civilians — including diverting aid and killing aid workers.
  • now The U.S. now says it won’t prosecute aid groups whose aid falls into the wrong hands — which is a good thing. It’ll make it at least a little easier to get aid to people in Somalia, but it’ll still be dangerous. 14 World Food Programme workers have been killed in the region since 2008 alone. source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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