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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The would be bomb and bomber

Officials say the buyer of the SUV found in Times Square is a man of Pakistani descent.
Also: 
Arrest made in Times Square bombing case
An arrest overnight at JFK airport.

The attempted car bombing now appears to be an act of international terrorism:
Federal agents and police detectives arrested a Connecticut man, a naturalized United States citizen from Pakistan, shortly before midnight Monday for driving a car bomb into Times Square on Saturday evening in what turned out to be an unsuccessful attack, Justice Department officials announced.

The man, Faisal Shahzad, 30, was taken into custody at Kennedy Airport on board an Emirates flight to Dubai, according to the airline and an early-morning statement Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. delivered at the Justice Department in Washington.

Two other passengers were removed from the plane, Emirates said, but it was unclear whether they were connected with the bombing attempt.

Mr. Shahzad was believed to have recently bought the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder that was found loaded with gasoline, propane, fireworks and fertilizer in the heart of Times Square, a person briefed on the investigation said.
No doubting that we'll be hearing a lot more about this case over the next couple days.

A U.S. citizen arrested as he tried to flee the country led a quiet life in Conn., ex-neighbors say.
Also: 
Repugicans already trying to politicize capture of Times Square bombing suspect
Peter King is a typical repugican buffoon. The alleged Times Square bomber was arrested last night. Within hours, King was politicizing the issue -- and undermining the constitution while he was at it:
Peter King (N.Y.), the top repugican on the House Homeland Security Committee, wants to know whether the Pakistani-born American arrested in connection with a car bomb in New York City’s Times Square was read his Miranda rights.

“I hope that [Attorney General Eric] Holder did discuss this with the intelligence community. If they believe they got enough from him, how much more should they get? Did they Mirandize him? I know he’s an American citizen but still,” King said.
But still?

Yesterday, there were widespread media reports that the Joint Terrorist Task Force (JTTF) had taken over the investigation. This morning, the NY Times noted that the JTTF had identified the suspect.

Peter King serves on the Homeland Security Committee in the House. In fact, he's the ranking Republican on that committee. So King should know what the JTTF is:
Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) are small cells of highly trained, locally based, passionately committed investigators, analysts, linguists, SWAT experts, and other specialists from dozens of U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies. It is a multi-agency effort led by the Justice Department and FBI designed to combine the resources of federal, state, and local law enforcement.
So, the entity leading the investigation is comprised of "law enforcement and intelligence agencies," but Peter King wants to know if the intelligence community was involved?

repugicans never miss an opportunity to play politics with national security -- even when it makes them look like fools.

UPDATE: So, this is the right-wing talking point of the day. Former Maverick John McCain is piling on, too. 

Pakistan intelligence officials say at least one man has been detained in the southern city of Karachi in connection with the Times Square bombing attempt.
Times Square bomb plot suspect says he acted alone
The Pakistani-American arrested on suspicion of driving a bomb-laden car into New York's Times Square told U.S. authorities he acted alone but skeptical investigators are looking into his recent trip to Pakistan, a law enforcement source said on Tuesday.

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