Two al Qaeda Leaders Behind Northwest Flight 253 Terror Plot Were Released by U.S.

[min0 lee]

Two of the four leaders allegedly behind the al Qaeda plot to blow up a Northwest Airlines passenger jet over Detroit were released by the U.S. from the Guantanamo prison in November, 2007, according to American officials and Department of Defense documents. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the Northwest bombing in a Monday statement that vowed more attacks on Americans.

American officials agreed to send the two terrorists from Guantanamo to Saudi Arabia where they entered into an "art therapy rehabilitation program" and were set free, according to U.S. and Saudi officials.



Guantanamo prisoner #333, Muhamad Attik al-Harbi, and prisoner #372, Said Ali Shari, were sent to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 9, 2007, according to the Defense Department log of detainees who were released from American custody. Al-Harbi has since changed his name to Muhamad al-Awfi.

Both Saudi nationals have since emerged in leadership roles in Yemen, according to U.S. officials and the men's own statements on al Qaeda propaganda tapes.


Both of the former Guantanamo detainees are described as military commanders and appear on a January, 2009 video along with the man described as the top leader of al Qaeda in Yemen, Abu Basir Naser al-Wahishi, formerly Osama bin Laden's personal secretary.



In its Monday statement claiming responsibility for the Northwest bombing, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula called bombing suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab a "hero" and a "martyr" and lauded him for beating U.S. intelligence.



The two-page written claim included a photo of Abdulmutallab and boasted of Al Qaeda's success in designing "advanced explosive packages" that can pass through airport screening undetected.



The statement also asks for attacks upon Americans in the Arabian peninsula, and promises further attacks on the American people.


more.....

 

[min0 lee]

The suspected bomber, 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, told FBI agents he was trained for his Christmas Day mission in Yemen by top leaders of al Qaeda who provided him with the explosive materials.

"The so-called rehabilitation programs are a joke," a U.S. diplomat said in describing the Saudi efforts with released Guantanamo detainees.
Saudi officials concede its program has had its "failures" but insist that, overall, the effort has helped return potential terrorists to a meaningful life.

One program gives the former detainees paints and crayons as part of the rehabilitation regimen.



A similar rehabilitation program in Yemen was stopped because so many of the detainees quickly joined with al Qaeda or its affiliates, the official said.
The increased role of al Qaeda in Yemen, which joined with the Saudi al Qaeda unit, has underscored the problem of how to best handle the repatriation of detainees at Guantanamo.

 

[lnvanry]

could be a catch, release, and bait approach...I doubt out intelligence community is that ignorant...at least I hope

 

[min0 lee]

could be a catch, release, and bait approach...I doubt out intelligence community is that ignorant...at least I hope

Interesting you say that, at DEA this agent was telling me how they would just arrest 2 or 3 dealers but not all at once.

 

[maniclion]

Fuck can I go into a government funded Art Rehab Program, I could be down with just writing everyday as long as I promise not to blow up any buildings.....

 

[Dale Mabry]

Goddamn Obama, can't believe he let these 4 out of his grasp back in 2007.

 

[KelJu]

Goddamn Obama, can't believe he let these 4 out of his grasp back in 2007.

 

[ZECH]

Goddamn Obama, can't believe he let these 4 out of his grasp back in 2007.

Is this disappointment I hear???

 

[Arnold]

Is this disappointment I hear???

Obama was not president in 2007.

 

[Dale Mabry]

While I have a few disappointments with Obama, that shit happened on Bush Watch.

The 3 primary Obama disappointments to date are:

1)Respending the money those assholes from the bank paid back. We were broke before we lent it to them, we need to pay debt off with that money.

2)Pushing through a shitty healthcare package that appears to be reform, but is actually smoke and mirrors. I would bet the antitrust exemption stays and they just rape us for a few more years.

3)Not collecting interest on the money we lend to the banks and other industries. I know a chunk of that is Bush's responsibility, but that doesn't absolve him of any responsibility for not starting.


I would love to support a conservative candidate that is fiscally responsible and part of the "Work hard and it'll pay off" crowd, but that crowd is embracing a retard, whose high school diploma may or may not be honorary, because she went rogue..