Tag Archives: terrorism

As the GOP and Dick Cheney rail against Obama over the Underwear Bomber, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) points out Dubya’s failings on 9/11.

“I am sick and tired of the former vice president of the United States taking shots not only at this administration, for problems he was largely and personally responsible for, but by an extension at those of us who served in the military and bring that experience. This man suffers from a horrible case of political Tourette’s, and it’s about …

Today the president addressed the failed attempt to bring down Northwest 253. Calls for the resignation of Homeland Security director Janet Napolitano are increasing, but President Obama focused on the reviewing of no-fly watch lists and the pre-boarding screening process.

Gawker and Towleroad have posted this transcription of new pre-flight security rules which were announced on a JetBlue flight from San Juan to NYC yesterday. Among the rules: no in-flight TV, no items in your lap for the last hour, no trips to the restroom during the last hour. However, I flew JetBlue from Orlando to NYC yesterday afternoon and …

Is that what’s next at airport security checkpoints? During 19 hours of travel, aboard two flights across three continents, law enforcement officials said, Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab bided his time. Then, just as Northwest Flight 253 finally began its final approach to Detroit around noon on Friday, he tried to ignite the incendiary powder mixture he had taped to his leg, …

Remember the guy who tried to light a bomb in his shoe? And now we have to take our shoes off at the airport? Remember the guy who tried to sneak in liquid explosives? And now we can’t bring shampoo on board? What do you think the TSA will do about the ass-bombers? Richard Scneier: Nobody tell the TSA, but …

The annual United Nations General Assembly begins today and NYC is under a tight security lockdown. Midtown subway stations are swarming with cops and ominous men in dark suits. Many East Side streets are closed. Heightening tensions is this: Investigators overheard conversations that indicated an attack might be carried out on New York’s subways in a style similar to the …

(This story makes its fifth and final annual appearance on JMG. I just wanted to run it once under a president other than Dubya.) Manhattan, September 11th, 2001 That day, I got to my office on 42nd Street at about 8:55am. About ten minutes later, I got a call from Thomas in Orlando. “Honey, you should look out your window …

Now let’s do a fly-by of the White House!

Former director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge admits in his new book that he was pressured into faking terror alerts in order to help George W. Bush win reelection. Dave Weigel, writing for the Washington Independent, notes that in the past, Ridge has denied manipulating security information for political reasons. In 2004, for example, he said, “We don’t do politics …

In a humanitarian move, the UK has released the terminally ill man believed to have placed the bomb on Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, killing 270. The White House, which has urged Britain to keep al Megrahi behind bars, said it “deeply regrets” the decision. Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill told a news conference …

Dr. Jeff sends us this photo of passengers forced out of LaGuardia’s main terminal this morning due to an “emotionally disturbed” man who brought in a fake bomb. The terminal was closed for 3 1/2 hours and the connections ripple effect could last all day around the country.

Which any 8th grader with Photoshop could have created. And probably made brighter. Today the White House’s sacrificial lamb fell on his sword. The director of the White House Military Office has resigned, an administration official said Friday, two weeks after he authorized an Air Force One flyover of the Statue of Liberty that terrified thousands of people in New …

Former Army Special Forces commander Diana Shroer has won a $500K judgement from the federal government because she was denied a Library of Congress job while transitioning her gender. Diane Schroer of Alexandria, Va., applied for the terrorism analyst job while she was still a man named David Schroer. He was offered the job, but the offer was pulled after …

Everybody is falling over themselves apologizing, half of NYC wants somebody fired, and now we hear the feds predicted panic during the fly-over, yet had it anyway. Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the …

I clipped the above front pages of NYC papers from the reliable Jen Chung at Gothamist. Embiggen the images to see how each paper reacted.

Several buildings in lower Manhattan were evacuated this morning after a jumbo airliner tailed by fighter jets flew frighteningly close to the skyline. Turns out, it was a photo op for Air Force One. Via the Staten Island Advance: A plane, that appears to be a commercial jet tailed by fighter jets, is a “pre-planned” military flight taking photos of …