Behind the Abdulmutallab Security Breach
CBS News has learned it was only after Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab launched his terrorist attack aboard Flight 253 that the U.S. State Department discovered he had an active U.S. visa through June 2010, a shocking failure of an airport security system drawing ever-increasing fire.
As first reported by CBS News Monday, the U.S. government twice failed to find Abdulmutallab had an active multiple-entry U.S. visa issued on June 16, 2008 at the U.S. Embassy in London.
According to a law enforcement source, the first failure came on November 19, 2009, the same day Abdulmutallab's father warned officials at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria about his son. Then again on November 20 in Washington, after Dr. Mutallab's concerns were forwarded there, officials failed for a second time to figure out the 23-year-old Nigerian national held an active U.S. visa.
"When you have a father reporting information about his son that he believes his son may be leaning towards extremists views, he doesn't know where his son is, that's enough for me to be able to say we need to find out what this individual is doing, where he's at, who he's involved with as soon as possible," said Pat D'Amuro, the former head of counterterrorism for the FBI.
More Coverage from CBSNews.com:
Obama: Plane Bomb Plot a "Serious Reminder"
Tracing Bomb Suspect's Journey to Detroit
Expert: New Security Steps a Smokescreen
Al Qaeda's Yemen Branch Rising in Stature
Many Questions, Few Answers in Terror Case
U.S. Failed to Catch Suspect's Active Visa
Abdulmutallab Shocks Family, Friends
Abdulmutallab Was on U.K. Watch List
U.S. Reviewing Security, Red Flag Tactics
Would-Be Bomber Used Powerful Explosive
Bomb Plot Forces Flight Security Crackdown
Obama Orders Airport Screening Review
Who Is Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab?
Tightening Security in U.S.
Expert: Yemen Ties Could be "Game Changer"
The Visa breakdown is one of a raft of potential red flags that were somehow missed, such as the fact that Abdulmutallab paid nearly $3,000 in cash for his plane ticket and checked no bags, carrying aboard only a small bag for a scheduled two-week trip. How did airport screening in two airports fail to detect an estimated 76 grams of the explosive PETN and a syringe packed with a chemical catalyst concealed in a special pouch sewn into Abdulmutallab's underwear.
Why don't the Dutch use these body scan machines that can detect explosives on U.S. bound passengers? Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport has 17 of them. The Dutch say the United States won't allow it. U.S. officials say that's just not true. Either way, experts say the suspect shouldn't have gotten through.
"If he would appear on the El Al flight he would be suspected and the chemical material on his body would have been found very easily," said Pini Schiff, the former director of security for the Israel Airport Authority.
Despite sharp criticism, Homeland Security Head Janet Napolitano took a most-positive approach on Sunday, saying that the "system worked."
Monday, however, that tune had changed.
"You said the system worked. Do you want to take that back or rephrase that?" asked CBS News anchor Harry Smith on "The Early Show".
"Well, I think taking that phrase out of context doesn't make much sense," Napolitano said. "Obviously, we are now going back and looking at what were the events that lead up to this individual getting on this plane."
Late Monday, a State Department spokesman said it was a "very near miss" and that a review of procedures was needed.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. As first reported by CBS News Monday, the U.S. government twice failed to find Abdulmutallab had an active multiple-entry U.S. visa issued on June 16, 2008 at the U.S. Embassy in London.
According to a law enforcement source, the first failure came on November 19, 2009, the same day Abdulmutallab's father warned officials at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria about his son. Then again on November 20 in Washington, after Dr. Mutallab's concerns were forwarded there, officials failed for a second time to figure out the 23-year-old Nigerian national held an active U.S. visa.
"When you have a father reporting information about his son that he believes his son may be leaning towards extremists views, he doesn't know where his son is, that's enough for me to be able to say we need to find out what this individual is doing, where he's at, who he's involved with as soon as possible," said Pat D'Amuro, the former head of counterterrorism for the FBI.
More Coverage from CBSNews.com:
Obama: Plane Bomb Plot a "Serious Reminder"
Tracing Bomb Suspect's Journey to Detroit
Expert: New Security Steps a Smokescreen
Al Qaeda's Yemen Branch Rising in Stature
Many Questions, Few Answers in Terror Case
U.S. Failed to Catch Suspect's Active Visa
Abdulmutallab Shocks Family, Friends
Abdulmutallab Was on U.K. Watch List
U.S. Reviewing Security, Red Flag Tactics
Would-Be Bomber Used Powerful Explosive
Bomb Plot Forces Flight Security Crackdown
Obama Orders Airport Screening Review
Who Is Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab?
Tightening Security in U.S.
Expert: Yemen Ties Could be "Game Changer"
The Visa breakdown is one of a raft of potential red flags that were somehow missed, such as the fact that Abdulmutallab paid nearly $3,000 in cash for his plane ticket and checked no bags, carrying aboard only a small bag for a scheduled two-week trip. How did airport screening in two airports fail to detect an estimated 76 grams of the explosive PETN and a syringe packed with a chemical catalyst concealed in a special pouch sewn into Abdulmutallab's underwear.
Why don't the Dutch use these body scan machines that can detect explosives on U.S. bound passengers? Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport has 17 of them. The Dutch say the United States won't allow it. U.S. officials say that's just not true. Either way, experts say the suspect shouldn't have gotten through.
"If he would appear on the El Al flight he would be suspected and the chemical material on his body would have been found very easily," said Pini Schiff, the former director of security for the Israel Airport Authority.
Despite sharp criticism, Homeland Security Head Janet Napolitano took a most-positive approach on Sunday, saying that the "system worked."
Monday, however, that tune had changed.
"You said the system worked. Do you want to take that back or rephrase that?" asked CBS News anchor Harry Smith on "The Early Show".
"Well, I think taking that phrase out of context doesn't make much sense," Napolitano said. "Obviously, we are now going back and looking at what were the events that lead up to this individual getting on this plane."
Late Monday, a State Department spokesman said it was a "very near miss" and that a review of procedures was needed.
We need to all be vigilant of suspect people. We need to declare a formal war. We need to monitor Muslims here and from our prison systems. We need to clean out Sudan areas and area of Pakistan. We have to stop all money getting to these guys, from where ever. We need to stop being PC.
Bush and Chaney , we were safer with them, because they used interrogartion tecj that saved lives.
...........Now is the time, to make this guy talk, and I am not talking about his lawyer//
Your 2010-2012 Gloating about a Failed Terrorist Attack, that would have Killed 300 Or More People is [[Deplorable, Distasteful & Detestable]]
Your Hateful & Hate Filled Swipe is not about a Foiled Terrorist Attack, its about being Happy for the Republicans.
You're Sick and a Low Life, just Praying for a Successful Terrorist Attack on America, for Political Gains in 2010-2012 [SICK]
This is Far Beyond Democrat or Republican Politics, this is about how Fate Prevented what would have been a Terrible Crime Against Humanity.
_______________
Under George W. Bush...
1. 911
2. The Anthrax Attacks on U.S. Congress Sept. 20. 2001
3. Richard Reid The "Shoe Bomber" December 22 2001
All Under a Republican President and Majority Ruling Republican Senate-Congress, from 2001-2006.
Stop Politicizing this Incident & Pray that Nothing like this Happens Again, Oppose to Celebrating what might have happen, for Republican Gains in 2010-2012.
____________
Your 2010-2012 Gloating about a Failed Terrorist Attack, that would have Killed 300 Or More People is [[Deplorable, Distasteful & Detestable]]
Your Hateful & Hate Filled Swipe is not about a Foiled Terrorist Attack, its about being Happy for the Republicans.
You're Sick and a Low Life, just Praying for a Successful Terrorist Attack on America, for Political Gains in 2010-2012 [SICK]
This is Far Beyond Democrat or Republican Politics, this is about how Fate Prevented what would have been a Terrible Crime Against Humanity.
_______________
Under George W. Bush...
1. 911
2. The Anthrax Attacks on U.S. Congress Sept. 20. 2001
3. Richard Reid The "Shoe Bomber" December 22 2001
All Under a Republican President and Majority Ruling Republican Senate-Congress, from 2001-2006.
Stop Politicizing this Incident & Pray that Nothing like this Happens Again, Oppose to Celebrating what might have happen, for Republican Gains in 2010-2012.
____________
Don't get me wrong, this event highlighted a weakness in our security systems and responsible people need to evaluate the cause and fix it.
A left over from the paranoia from the Bush regime. It is time to reevaluate EVERY aspect of flight safety and execute measures that really do something instead of just look like something is being done.