Obama blames Al Qaeda in Yemen for Northwest Airlines plot
Obama: Terror suspect was trained and armed by Yemeni Al Qaeda.
WASHINGTON – A Nigerian man who tried to bring down Northwest Airlines Flight 253 was trained and equipped by Al Qaeda, President Barack Obama said on Saturday.
Obama received a preliminary investigative report into the attempted terror attack by 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on Thursday.
“We know that he traveled to Yemen, a country grappling with crushing poverty and deadly insurgencies. It appears that he joined an affiliate of al Qaeda, and that this group-al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula-trained him, equipped him with those explosives and directed him to attack that plane headed for America,” he said in his weekly address.
“This is not the first time this group has targeted us. In recent years, they have bombed Yemeni government facilities and Western hotels, restaurants and embassies-including our embassy in 2008, killing one American,” Obama added.
“So, as President, I’ve made it a priority to strengthen our partnership with the Yemeni government-training and equipping their security forces, sharing intelligence and working with them to strike al Qaeda terrorists,” he said.
He warned those involved in the attack that they would be held accountable.
“And even before Christmas Day, we had seen the results. Training camps have been struck; leaders eliminated; plots disrupted. And all those involved in the attempted act of terrorism on Christmas must know-you too will be held to account,” he said.
There have been reports that U.S. aircraft have participated in some counter-insurgency operations in Yemen. But Obama did not directly confirm that.
Obama said he decided to refocus the attention of the U.S. counter terrorism measures away from Iraq because that war had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks.
“And make no mistake, that’s exactly what we’ve been doing. It’s why I refocused the fight-bringing to a responsible end the war in Iraq, which had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks, and dramatically increasing our resources in the region where al Qaeda is actually based, in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he added.
” It’s why I’ve set a clear and achievable mission-to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies and prevent their return to either country,” Obama said.
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So what does this have to do with the restrictions Canadians have on American flights? Nothing, it’s just another money grab to put your carry on into stowaway.