Plotters Didn't Know Where Mail Bombs Would Go Off

WASHINGTON -- The plotters behind last week's unsuccessful mail bombings could not have known exactly where their Chicago-bound packages were when they were set to explode, even after a suspected test run, U.S. officials say.

The communication cards had been removed from the cell phones attached to the bombs, meaning the phones could not receive calls, officials said, making it likely the terrorists intended the alarm or timer functions to detonate the bombs.

"The cell phone probably would have been triggered by the alarm functions and it would have exploded midair," said a U.S. official briefed on the investigation of the bombs taken off cargo planes Friday in England and the United Arab Emirates. This person, like other officials in this story, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the case.

The official also said Tuesday that each bomb was attached to a syringe containing lead azide, a chemical initiator that would have detonated PETN explosives packed into each computer printer toner cartridge. Both PETN and a syringe were used in the failed Christmas Day bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner linked to an al-Qaida branch in Yemen.

The Obama administration, which has been monitoring intelligence on possible mail plots since at least early September, was preparing new security rules for international cargo in response to the attempted attack.

Security officials are considering requiring that companies provide information about incoming cargo before planes take off, one U.S. official said. Currently, the U.S. doesn't get that information until four hours before a plane lands.

A second official said the U.S. will also expand its definition of high-risk cargo, meaning more cargo will be screened from countries known as hotbeds of terrorism.

President Barack Obama stressed the need for stronger security for air cargo in a telephone conversation Tuesday with Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president, the White House said.

Investigators believe al-Qaida mailed three innocent-looking packages from Yemen to Chicago in mid-September to watch the route they took.

One of those packages contained a copy of British author George Eliot's 1860 novel "The Mill on the Floss." Authorities were investigating whether it was a subtle calling card from Anwar al-Awlaki, the U.S.-born Yemeni cleric who has inspired a string of attempted attacks against the West.

The militant cleric is now a fugitive, targeted by a U.S. kill or capture list. Yemeni authorities put him on trial in absentia Tuesday, charging him as a new defendant in the October killing of a French security guard.

Al-Awlaki became well versed in English literature while in prison in Yemen from 2006 to 2007 and later posted online book reviews slamming Shakespeare and praising Charles Dickens. Beyond that, however, there was no immediate connection between al-Awlaki and the book found in the package mailed in September, one U.S. official said.

Shipping carriers allow Internet users to monitor packages from point to point through the international cargo system.

While a test run would have given al-Qaida a sense of the shipping routes, there was no guarantee the route would be the same a month -- or even a day -- later, officials at UPS and FedEx said Tuesday. Routes change based on the weather, cargo volume and plane schedules, they said.

Neither company lets customers see precisely which planes their packages are on. Sometimes they are packed on cargo planes, sometimes on passenger planes. There is no way for customers to track their packages in real time while in flight, officials with both companies said.

Still, knowing the time shipments were logged in leaving Europe and the time they were scanned arriving in Chicago would have given al-Qaida operatives a large enough time window to allow them to have rigged their bombs to blow up somewhere along the way.

The packages sent last week were addressed to two Chicago-area synagogues. Because the addresses were out of date and the names on the packages included references to the Crusades -- the 200-year wars waged by Christians largely against Muslims -- officials do not believe the synagogues were the targets.

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3 San Diego Men Accused of Helping Militant Group

Published November 02, 2010

| Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- Three San Diego men have been charged with conspiring to route money to a Somalia-based militant group.

According to the federal indictment unsealed Tuesday, Basaaly Saeed Moalin, Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud and Issa Doreh coordinated fundraising efforts and money transfers to al-Shabab in 2007 and 2008.

Moalin also is accused of providing a house in Somalia for al-Shabab fighters. The U.S. government has declared al-Shabab a terrorist group with ties to al-Qaida.

Immigration officials arrested Moalin before he boarded a flight Sunday in San Diego. The other two were arrested Monday.

No lawyers were listed for them in the indictment, and calls to the U.S. Attorney's office were not anwered Tuesday.

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Obama, Boehner Exchange Verbal Jabs in Their Closing Arguments

Whatever the outcome of Tuesday's election, it's time to put aside partisanship, President Obama is telling Democrats and Republicans.

Yet his appeal for unity includes a jab at GOP leaders in the House and Senate for comments that the president said were troubling.

House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio "actually said that 'this is not the time for compromise,"' Obama said Saturday in his weekly radio and Internet address. The president added that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky "said his main goal after this election is simply to win the next one."

"I know that we're in the final days of a campaign. So it's not surprising that we're seeing this heated rhetoric. That's politics," Obama said. "But when the ballots are cast and the voting is done, we need to put this kind of partisanship side -- win, lose or draw."

Voters angry and anxious about the economy and joblessness are expected to take their frustrations out on Democratic lawmakers Tuesday, possibly putting Republicans back in control of the House and maybe even the Senate.

Boehner's comment that "this is not a time for compromise" came during a recent interview on a conservative radio show. He was trying to rebut a GOP senator's suggestion that repealing the health care law was not in the party's best interest. Republicans have pledged to try to repeal the health care law or undo important parts of it.

In the same interview, Boehner said he'd welcome Obama's involvement in working toward Republican goals.

McConnell expressed his desire to have a Republican in the White House. He said in a published interview that the "single most important thing" Republicans want is to help Obama become a one-term president.

Tuesday's results aside, Obama said both parties should be able to agree on steps to promote economic growth and hiring.

"Whatever the outcome on Tuesday, we need to come together to help put people who are still looking for jobs back to work," he said.

In the weekly Republican address, Boehner said Obama has failed to deliver the change he promised. The man who likely would become House speaker if Republicans win control of the chamber also promoted party pledges to cut spending and keep taxes at current levels.

"This is a new way forward that hasn't been tried in Washington yet," Boehner said. "It's a break from the direction in which President Obama has taken our country. And frankly, it's also a break from the direction in which Republicans were headed when Americans last entrusted us with the reins of government. The American people are in charge, and they deserve nothing less."

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Obama Calls Suspicious Packages a 'Credible Terrorist Threat'

President Obama confirmed Friday that federal authorities had uncovered a "credible terrorist threat" in suspicious packages believed to be linked to Yemen's Al Qaeda branch.

Obama, in a brief address to reporters at the White House, said that an examination of the initial two suspicious packages, bound from Yemen to the U.S., determined that they apparently contained explosive materials. They likely were bound for places of Jewish worship in Chicago, he said.

"We will continue to pursue additional protective measures for as long as it takes to ensure the safety and security of our citizens," he said, adding that Yemen's president has pledged full support in the investigation.

The president has received regular updates from his national security team since he was alerted to the threat from two incoming cargo planes carrying packages originating from Yemen.

After being notified of the security concern by counterterrorism adviser John Brennan at 10:35 p.m. ET Thursday, Obama "directed U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies and the Department of Homeland Security, to take steps to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and to determine whether these threats are a part of any additional terrorist plotting," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said.

Intelligence and law enforcement agencies abroad tipped off the United States about the two inbound planes, which were searched upon arrival at airports in Newark, N.J., and Philadelphia, Gibbs said.

New York Rep. Peter King, the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, said the origin of the packages is very concerning because Yemen is home to imam Anwar al-Awlaki, the U.S.-born cleric who is at the top of a U.S. capture-or-kill list.

"The administration was on this. I have to give them credit," King, who has been receiving regular briefings, told Fox News. "You know, the security coming out of Yemen is not where we'd like it to be, so this is again a lot of credit to the FBI and (Transportation Security Administration)."

Michigan Rep. Pete Hoekstra, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said he found "extremely disturbing" the discovery of the packages along with the new terror cases this week in Hawaii and Virginia.

In Hawaii, a New York City-born man was arrested on charges he tried to join the U.S. military at a Times Square recruiting station so he could be deployed to Iraq, desert and fight with anti-American insurgency forces.

In Virginia, a Pakistani-born U.S. citizen was charged with plotting to attack Washington's Metro system with people he thought were Al Qaeda terrorists but turned out to be undercover FBI agents.

"We can't minimize the nature of these threats or wish them away," Hoekstra said. "The serious nature of this week's incidents only underscores how critical it is to actively confront the threat at all of its sources. We must redouble our efforts to do so immediately or we will certainly pay even more serious consequences in the future."

Some U.S. officials say they believe that the package was part of a dry-run. Terror experts speculate that the goal was possibly to bring down the planes or to terrorize by mail. Religious institutions in Chicago have been put on high alert. 

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement saying that as a precaution, it is enhancing cargo screening and adding security at airports. 

"Passengers should continue to expect an unpredictable mix of security layers that include explosives trace detection, advanced imaging technology, canine teams and pat downs, among others. As always, we remind the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement," DHS said.

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Obama Calls British, Saudi Leaders About Bomb Plot

Published October 30, 2010

| Associated Press

President Obama has called British Prime Minister David Cameron and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to discuss the thwarted mail bomb attacks.

White House spokesman Bill Burton says the president also received a briefing Saturday from his national security adviser, John Brennan.

Yemeni authorities are checking more packages in the search for terrorists who tried to mail bombs to Chicago-area synagogues. The plot has raised fears of a new al-Qaida terror attack.

Obama is campaigning Saturday in Bridgeport, Conn., Philadelphia and Chicago.

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Fox News Poll: Most Dissatisfied With Washington

With less than a week to go before Election Day, widespread dissatisfaction with the way things are going in the country combined with negative views of the economy and frustration with the government point to major trouble for the incumbent majority Democrats. In addition, a Fox News poll released Friday shows President Obama’s job approval has hit a record low.

The new poll finds if the election were held today, 50 percent of likely voters would favor the Republican candidate in their House district and 37 percent the Democratic candidate, with 10 percent still undecided.

When it comes to enthusiasm, more Republicans (76 percent) than Democrats (65 percent) are extremely or very interested in the elections, and more Republicans (91 percent) than Democrats (83 percent) plan to vote for their party’s candidate.

Yet votes for the Democratic candidates look more solid: 87 percent say they will definitely vote for the Democrat, while 12 percent could change their mind. Among those favoring the Republican, 82 percent are definite they will vote that way and 16 percent may change their vote.
Among the 18 percent who have already voted, ballots have been evenly cast between the Republican and Democratic candidates.

The national telephone poll was conducted for Fox News by Opinion Dynamics Corp. among 1200 registered voters from October 26 to October 28. For the total sample, the poll has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. For the subgroup of 764 likely voters, the margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 points.

The Obama Factor

Two-thirds of voters are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country today, and more than not think Barack Obama’s presidency has made the country weaker (45 percent) rather than stronger (37 percent).

The president’s job approval among registered voters is currently 41 percent, a record low. This compares to 43 percent in mid-October and 46 percent in early September. Half disapprove of Obama’s performance. Among likely voters, negative sentiment is even stronger: 40 percent approve and 55 percent disapprove.

Frustrations are high. Most voters feel dissatisfied (51 percent) or even angry (25 percent) about the way the federal government is working. Just one in five is satisfied (22 percent), while 2 percent are enthusiastic. Angry voters are backing the Republican candidate by a 65-point margin.

Nearly half of likely voters -- 46 percent -- say they will cast their vote to express opposition to Obama administration policies. That shouldn’t be surprising given almost all voters rate economic conditions negatively, only a quarter thinks the stimulus plan has helped the economy, and fewer than one in five wants the new health care law to remain intact.

About a third of likely voters say they will use their vote to express support for Obama policies, and 20 percent say the president will not be a factor in their vote.

Forty-seven percent of likely voters approve of the job their own representative is doing. Even so, most -- 76 percent -- disapprove of the job Congress is doing overall.

Nearly equal numbers of voters have a positive view of the Democratic (42 percent) and Republican (44 percent) parties. By a six-point spread, more voters have a negative view of the Democratic Party.

Congressional Voting

Independents favor the Republican candidate in their district by 41 percent to 27 percent, with 32 percent saying they will vote for a third party candidate or are still undecided. This raises the question of whether these independents really will show up at the polls Tuesday.

Men back the Republican candidate by a wide 30 percentage point margin. Among women, the vote splits more evenly: 45 percent back the Democrat and 42 percent the Republican.

Eighty-seven percent of likely voters who support the Tea Party movement are backing the Republican candidate.

While 76 percent of those who backed Obama in 2008 are voting for the Democratic House candidate, some 13 percent are defecting to the Republican. More of Republican Presidential nominee John McCain’s voters -- 88 percent -- are sticking with the Republican this year.

Key Issues

The top issue to voters this election is the economy, followed by the trustworthiness of candidates, government spending, health care, and the federal deficit.

By a wide 60-34 percent, voters disapprove rather than approve of Obama’s handling of the economy. Fully 90 percent rate economic conditions negatively, and more than twice as many say they are worse off today compared with two years ago (36 percent) as say they are better off (16 percent).

A 55 percent majority of voters disapproves of the job Obama is doing on health care. In addition, many would like Congress to repeal the new health care law, either entirely (29 percent) or in part (29 percent). Others would like to see the law expanded (20 percent). The smallest group is the 15 percent who wants to leave the law as it currently is.

Of the issues tested, the president receives his highest approval rating for his handling of Afghanistan: 43 percent approve and 45 percent disapprove.

Click here to see the raw data.

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Illinois Democrats Woo Voters Before Obama Rally

CHICAGO -- Democrats were out early Saturday trying to fire up voters before President Barack Obama's Chicago rally, where he was expected to make another push to fend off Republicans who want to claim his former U.S. Senate seat and the Illinois governor's mansion.

Gov. Pat Quinn and Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias, both Democratic candidates on the top of the Illinois ballot, implored people to vote at the Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition. That gathering that was televised and broadcast on the radio.

"Please don't waste our votes," Quinn told about 200 people at the PUSH headquarters on Chicago's South Side. "We're running against the right wing that wants to tear down President Obama. They want him to lose the office of governor in his own home state of Illinois."

Quinn and Giannoulias, who's in a tight race for Obama's seat against Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, were gearing up for an Obama get-out-the-vote rally later Saturday evening. It's the president's latest effort to bolster his party ahead of Tuesday's election.

Like the Democrats, Republicans were busy as well on this final weekend before Election Day. Kirk and GOP candidate for governor Bill Brady were making stops around the state before wrapping up with a rally of their own in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook.

More of the same was planned for Sunday, with a GOP rally in Chicago with Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who claimed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat in a special election.

Illinois Republican Party chairman Pat Brady said Republicans in the state have mounted an aggressive get-out-the-vote effort over the past year and have made about 4.4 million outreach calls.

"I think this year we've beaten them at the get-out-the-vote effort," Brady said.

Obama's Chicago visit shows the Democrats are still trying to rally their base with just a few days to go before the election, which Brady said is "not good."

If Kirk wins Obama's old Senate seat it would be an embarrassing loss for Democrats and another big win for Republicans who are trying to shift control of Congress in Tuesday's election.

Giannoulias said he wants to help advance Obama's agenda to move the country forward and blasted Republicans for saying they want to take back America. He said Obama has been unfairly blamed for the country's problems, which Giannoulias said started under Republicans.

"How far back do you want to go? We saw what happened when they were in charge," he said.

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