According to CNN:
New York (CNN) — A U.S. citizen has been arrested in the Times Square bombing probe, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced early Tuesday.
Faisal Shahzad was arrested at JFK airport in New York as he prepared to board a flight to Dubai, Holder said.
The officials said the suspect is the person who bought a Nissan Pathfinder used in the bombing attempt. Earlier, a law enforcement official said the buyer is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Pakistan, and that investigators are looking at more than one person in connection with the unsuccessful bombing.
The report came as CNN learned that the Joint Terrorism Task Force investigating the bombing attempt is considering the possibility that the attempt involved more than just a “lone wolf.” The identity of the person under scrutiny was not known, however.
According to a source familiar with the investigation, investigators believe the plan was an intended terrorist attack to set off explosives in the heart of midtown Manhattan on Saturday night, but the individuals didn’t have the expertise to detonate their device.
It is important to note that this is an on-going investigation. What a terrific job of capturing the evil-doers.
Good to know our Dept of Justice is on the case.
Spot on, Starry. And to think that some voiced an unabashed suspicion that it was probably a “teabagger” angry at the government.
Well, his name sure fits the ‘PROFILE’ of those wanting to do us harm. So I guess ‘PROFILING’ isn’t sooooooooooo bad after all! If the first person to suggest that the people responsible may be Middle Eastern was told to shut up out of fear of being accused of ‘profiling’, then it would be another case of the terrorists (and would-be terrorists) using our laws and PC against us to evade prosecution.
Hmmmmmmmmmmm, using our laws and PC to evade prosecution, now where else could that statement be applied? Lets see, lets see, um I know there was something in the news over the weekend, but I just can’t recall what it was.
Actually, he was a United States citizen, according to the news media reports.
@Starryflights
Still, Starry, what is the common denominator here.
He is a naturalized US citizen. You see, even those who go through the process of becoming a US citizen still harbor an affection for their country of origin that is so strong that many will take sides against the US if they feel compelled to do so. That to me is one of the weak points of allowing far too many first time immigrants into this country. Their offspring would have none of that history and affiliation. We better hope that we never have a military confrontation along the border with the Mexican government, otherwise those true loyalties will catch us in a crossfire.
SA, isn’t it sickening how some are so quick to judge based on skin color? What do they call that again?
SA,
I find it reprehensible that you would use this situation for your cause against mexican immigration.
political correctness has advanced to such a degree that the truth is considered sickening and reprehensible
Has the Times Square bomber been given his Miranda rights? Given the number of potential – attempted murders and the connections being drawn to the Taliban – that does seem a shame. In a war, orders are given to kill – in order to save American lives. This is clearly a war with traitors and enemy combatants. Those who oppose such things as water-boarding, it seems to me – whether used or not – – take on some responsibility for the damnage done, and the next attempt.
Major water-boarding on 24 last night. It did not look fun.
All wars have traitors and enemy combatants.
TP, are you saying that anyone who opposes torture as an interrogation method takes on responsibility for terrorism?
If, by torture you mean being burned with hot irons, cutting off hands or private parts, hanging by the arms in chains, whippings, or cannings as they do in most — all – muslem countries — no. If you mean waterboarding as a part of an interogation of a mass murderer in an effort to save lives – yes — I can accept that — given the current situation and the proven connections these guys have to others. Are you saying that modern, liberal political correctness does not have a cost?
Are you saying that opposition to the use of legal, selected applications of drugs, and/or other techniques is not politically based and does not put others in greater risk? Are you suggesting that Federal and/or military experts engaged in this kind of law enforcement and psycological interogation should not do whatever is necessary? Let’s be clear. Calling waterbording torture is – by itself – a political statement that has costs. I just hope that you and I do not pay the price for those niceities in a hostil world war.
I’ve always found it very helpful not to jump to conclusions in terrorist cases until you have sufficient evidence one way or another to make some solid observations. Terrorist cases can often be like Forrest Gump’s proverbial box of chocolates. Let law enforcement do its job and then inform us. Our own input about who may have done the deed is premature and will surely only turn into arguments.
I know and understand that this can be hard to do; but this case, in my opinion, has another very serious side to it. On Christmas Day 2009 in Detroit and now in Times Square in New York, we seem to have escaped two potentially lethal terrorist incidents through the keen observations of civilians and through the ineptness of the bombmakers. In neither case, as far as I can see at the moment, did law enforcement or counterterrorism pick up on these things before people were actually in acute danger. We are not always going to be so lucky, sad to say. We need to examine carefully the facts repeat facts of this case and then look additionally and methodically at any places where our security gaps can be closed even more tightly. Our counterterrorism people in New York and Washington have foiled a number of terrorist plots in New York before the terrorists actually were able to put their plans into play. This one, however, appears, to have escaped them. We need to know why and how to fix another leak in the dike. Let our guys do their work without having to deal with outside speculation..
Actually, I made no pronouncements, TP. I was asking you for clarification.
I am not so sure that simulating drowning isn’t a form of torture. I am also not sure where ‘modern, liberal plitical correctness’ has a part in the conversation. People either think torture is an acceptable method of interrogation or they don’t as a rule. Most people don’t feel the need to put labels on it having to do with politics.
Wolverine, yesterday every news show I watched had some idiot almost goading future terrorists to do it better. Some even said things like “everyone knows you mix blah and dee and dah together to make an explosive.” I will blame the news shows if we have another attack. They called them stupid, incompetent, and then how to do it better.
The FBI ought to have a gag order put on these fools.
@Wolverine “In neither case, as far as I can see at the moment, did law enforcement or counterterrorism pick up on these things before people were actually in acute danger.”
And yet we continue to dutifully remove our shoes and discard our water bottles at airports (but bringing our 18-inch pointed metal knitting needles in our carry-on luggage, go figure). DHS and TSA are two of the most worthless agencies in the Federal government. Their responses to these incidents are always retroactive, never proactive, and each successive terror attempt points clearly to the fact that we are really on our own in protecting ourselves. And if we find anomalies that make us uncomfortable, we are accused (often by our own government) of “profiling”.
Boy, I love how Mayor Bloomberg lectured us today about how any actions against Muslims or Pakistanis “will not be tolerated.” Just yesterday he rushed to judgment that this was the act of someone who was a racist and probably mad about healthcare reform. Why the hell do we have to “tolerate” that from our so-called leaders?
Faisal Shazad was on the “no fly” list. He bought a ticket, boarded the plane, and nearly got away to Saudi Arabia. Had it not been for the fact that a Customs agent spotted his name on the manifest, he would have disappeared. Score 1 for U.S. Customs, score zero for TSA, who only cared about his shoes.
To Elena @ 8:19
It’s ILLEGAL immigration, and yes I find it reprehensible that they would demand rights.
The guy changing his shirt should step up and claim his 15 minutes of fame by denouncing Bloomberg’s PROFILING attempt. Why is profiling only an issue when it’s directed at a minority, or should I say anyone who isn’t white? Remember, today white=racist! I’m starting to get comfortable with the accusation, as it seems the ‘racists’ are the only ones with this country’s future in mind.
Wait for it…….wait for it…….. I hear the comments coming!
@Emma
It is very disturbing that so much “luck” was required to identify this guy. If an observant customs agent had not been present, the terrorist would have gotten away. This suggests that there are no consistent procedures for identifying people on the No-Fly List and preventing them from boarding aircraft.
I just heard tonight that a ticket agent called the feds because he bought a 1 way ticket, was middle eastern, and appeared nervous. Perhaps more than one person squealed.
Homeland security is too big. TSA? I like TSA. Remember who used to do their job?
Actually, Emma, the things you have to do at the airport may have served to turn a terrorist away who otherwise might have decided to proceed with his mission. It is just that you and I and everyone else will likely never know about that one. Sort of like the street mugger who, upon seeing the police cruiser at the corner, decides to go to another neighborhood to ply his trade.
OMG, the ticket agent was PROFILING! How terrible! Profiling and racist, two words that are taking on new meaning.
Waterboarding is torture. Anything can be considered torture when taken to an extreme. Waterboarding is ALLOWABLE torture. Every single military member that has gone through SERE school has been waterboarded. However, any actions such as this should be closely scrutinized and justified.
Now, if the danger is imminent, ie, the ticking bomb scenario…..red goes to positive, black to negative………
Cargo (Elena, hold your ears and cover your eyes), I probably agree with you about keeping an option open when there is a ticking bomb scenario. I don’t believe torture should ever be used routinely or as a standard operating procedure. However…when the bomb is ticking…hell I don’t care what is done and I dont think most others do either if their lives and the lives of their loved ones rely on it.
@cargosquid
red to pos – black to neg – fully and appropriately justified as in the movie Taken. Funny!!! However, waterboarding is legally not torture – we don’t do that – so calling it that is nothing more than politics. I prefer viewing waterbording – as you note when called for – as as an enhanced incentive to encourage a real hard case to responsd to important questions – again and again.
Bet if it were being done to you, tough guy, you would suddenly change your mind and decide it was torture.
I am guessing Cargo knows of what he speaks.
For those of you who think that Americans should be free to marry anyone, regardless of immigration status, consider this: Faisal Shahzad apparently gained U.S. citizenship by marrying an American woman after being in U.S. for 10 years on foreign student and employment visas.
Events such as these are precisely the reason why I believe that marriage to an American citizen should not be an automatic ticket to legal residency and/or citizenship.
Is he still married to her?
@Moon-howler
Actually, only second hand. I’ve never attended SERE school. No need. However, I have known many who did. And they’ve all been water boarded.
Yes, LEGALLY, its not torture. In reality, it can be considered torture. But then, torture is in the eye of the one being “tortured.”
Heck, having an ICarly marathon all Saturday afternoon is enough for me to talk……