wkmac
Well-Known Member
Warning Very Long post: Take your shots but I'm just saying
Tie,
The reason I poked such fun at your over reaction is because I think the over reaction is just unwarranted at this point. Genuine concern, yes but not over reaction and I think the “rubber bomber” is just more proof if he turns out to be Al Qaeda at how ineffective they are but in respect to your point, they can get lucky also and therein the reason for concern.
PETN is a very powerful explosive and had it gone off on the plane, it would have been very bad and yes this discussion would be very different indeed. PETN is a key compound in semtex but it and of itself doesn’t detonate very easily as it requires some type of primary detonation before PETN secondary reaction can take place. The compound is also the core of Detcord (detonation cord) but even detcord requires an initiator like a blasting cap. PETN is also used in the medical field as a vasodilator for heart conditions and the drug Lentonitratis almost pure PETN. So if it is so dangerous to detonate, why in such pure form is it allowed in the medicine chests for American homes? The next question also is from what source did the rubber bomber get his PETN, ordinance grade or medical? “IF” it’s medical, this even further questions the sophistication of the attack and points more and more to the amateurish nature that it’s appearing to be thus the tag “rubber (as in Trojan) bomber”, “underwear bomber”, etc.
There is also the question concerning the total failure of security to prevent this clown from boarding a commercial air flight, especially in Europe. We’ve all heard about the early warning of this guy but on the day after the incident, a Michigan couple, both lawyers, observed some strange events in Europe prior to the departing plane being boarded. http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2009/12/flight_253_passenger_says_at_l.html
OK, who was this 2nd person allegedly seen helping the bomber by-pass standard customs/immigration procedures? Who had that much pull? Or had Mutallab conned some Good Samaritan who had the authority to do his bidding with some cock and bull story? You’re right, who knows! But the appearance of the well dressed stranger is what raises the point of looking further and much broader at this whole situation.
First, the Al Qaeda connection. On Monday the 28th, this Fox News story was rather a typical of what we were hearing about this whole event. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,581307,00.html The article tells us that Mutallab is connected to Al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula (otherwise known as AQAP) and that AQAP has claimed responsibility although no source for that claim was given. Don’t jump, there is a source but that comes later. In the 3rd paragraph on the news story, Fox reports that there have been 2 US led airstrikes within Yemen against Al Qaeda operatives this month (December 09) and this is further verified by a CBS report on December 19th http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/18/world/main5997532.shtml of the first airstrike on Dec. 18th and Fox reported the 2nd strike as the day before Mutallab tried his stunt. That paragraph IMO was trying to paint a motive on Mutallab via Al Qaeda in retaliation for the airstrikes but Mutallab as per the same Fox News story purchased his ticket on Dec. 16th.
I’m not suggesting the facts of paragraph 3 don’t have a place in this story (they do) but where it was placed after paragraph 2 where it reports Al Qaeda claimed responsibility just in terms of context IMO is trying to suggest something else. But we should also note that Al Qaeda per the report posted on the internet that they were responsible and yes I will get to that.
But let’s look at Yemen first. We all remember the USS Cole so Yemen is not an unknown country but do we know all the facts about it? Until these latest events I can say I never paid too much attention but let’s look closer. Yemen turns out IMO to be more interesting than first thought and although I know Al Jazeera is not on your must read list, there August 2009’ profile of the Yemen Houthi peoples is very enlightening. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/08/200981294214604934.html I can see where have a Shia influence Islam on the southern border of Sunni Saudi Arabia could cause a problem but I had no idea of the continuing strife over this between the 2 countries. Also it’s no secret the US and Saudi Arabia are very close and now it would appear that Yemen’s gov’t maybe be more pro-American than we realized at least according to the article above. But here’s what also interests me. Yemen didn’t come on the radar when our inept “rubber bomber” took a road trip but earlier this month, we started hearing more and more out of Washington about Yemen. OK, I get the Al Qaeda deal but first off Al Qaeda is Sunni not Shia, as hard as some have tried to paint that brush and with the Wahabbi influence I could see Al Qaeda ticking up in the Yemen Sunni areas. Reuters this past Tuesday reported official Yemen gov’t sources as saying there may be a many as 300 Al Qaeda militants in Yemen. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BS2NR20091229 Now 300 is not something to sneeze at but why now the ramp up in Yemen? Al Qaeda all of a sudden move into the neighborhood? According to a Council on Foreign Relations report in 2005’, Yemen was a terrorist haven then. http://www.cfr.org/publication/9369/ But why in only the last few weeks have we acted in Yemen? Going back to Al Jareeza, I found a rather interesting report from November that really peaked my interest. November 5th 2009 Saudi jets bomb Yemeni Houthis http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/11/20091151323886933.html
From November 8th 2009 Yemen Rules Out Truce With Houthi http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/11/200911723220363295.html
and then on November 23rd 2009 Saudi forces 'fighting in Yemen' http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/11/20091123133924522522.html
OK, Yemen authorities claim only about 300 Al Qaeda exist in country and yet our closest Middle Eastern Ally Saudi Arabia along with another close ally in Yemen whose gov’t is also Sunni are both in a conflict with a Shia based uprising and now we have our gov’t opening a 3rd theater of military operations now in Yemen allegedly to combat Al Qaeda expansion?
Let me give you another possible angle to consider. The conflict between the Yemen Sunni gov’t, the Saudi Sunni gov’t and the Shia houthi has been perculating for years and of recent, yes maybe even with the aid of Iran, and it’s reached a boiling point requiring even the Saudi gov’t to intervene and invade. But now the Saudi’s are in trouble as the Houthi are fighting back effectively.
end part 1
I recently read a post quoting the Rev. Wright " The chickens have come home to roost" ??? Have we really sunk this low --The chickens have come home to roost --tells me that Wright and obviously some Americans think AlQaida has "just cause" --- if we follow that train of thought --they must be disappointed when the terroist fails ???? I am sure that will cause a reaction --but realize what you are saying. Just cause = Just actions
Enjoy.
<--round mouth
