memeorandum: Man Attempts to Set Off Explosives on Plane, Law Enforcement Officials Say (ABCNEWS)

8:10 AM ET, December 26, 2009

Top Items:

Man Attempts to Set Off Explosives on Plane, Law Enforcement Officials Say — Suspect Claims al Qaeda Terrorism Link, but FBI, Investigators Are Suspicious — Federal officials and police are interviewing a Nigerian man, who allegedly tried to “explode” a powdery substance aboard …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Glenn Thrush's Blog, Pajamas Media, NPR Blogs, Associated Press, Sister Toldjah, Political Punch, The Hill, Jules Crittenden, The Long War Journal, BizzyBlog, Power Line, Townhall.com, Whiskey Fire, PoliBlog, Jihad Watch, Atlas Shrugs and DISSENTING JUSTICE

Scott Butterworth / Washington Post:

White House: Failed plane attack an attempted act of terrorism — A Nigerian national, claiming to be acting on behalf of al-Qaeda, is in custody in Detroit after allegedly attempting to light an incendiary device aboard a Northwest Airlines flight after it landed Friday, federal officials said.

Discussion: At-Largely, Alas, a blog, TalkLeft and AmSpecBlog

Wall Street Journal:

Midair Bomb Attempt Fails — Man on Flight to Detroit Claims Al Qaeda Ties; Obama Tightens Security — This picture provided by J.P. Karas shows Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on the runway after arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Amsterdam on Friday.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Atlas Shrugs, LewRockwell.com Blog, AMERICAblog News and Tim Blair

New York Times:

Terror Attempt Seen as Man Tries to Ignite Device on Jet — A Nigerian man tried to ignite an explosive device aboard a transatlantic Northwest Airlines flight as the plane prepared to land in Detroit on Friday, in an incident the United States believes was “an attempted act of terrorism,” …

Discussion: Think Progress, Matthew Yglesias, The Atlantic Politics Channel, NewsBusters.org, marbury, USA Today, Associated Press, The Politico, The Lede, Politics Daily, Gothamist and The Daily Dish

msnbc.com:

Officials: Possible terror attack on Northwest jet — Nigerian man tries to light powdery substance on Detroit flight, officials say — A 23-year-old Nigerian man tried to light a powdery substance aboard a Northwest Airlines flight before landing in Detroit on Friday, a senior U.S. counterterrorism official told NBC News.

Discussion: Gawker, TPM LiveWire and Talking Points Memo

Fox News:

Passenger Ignites Explosive on Delta Flight, Al Qaeda Connection Reported — A male passenger reportedly linked to terrorist organization al-Qaeda ignited a powdery substance prior to landing on a Delta Airlines flight to Detroit Friday. The suspect is believed to be Nigerian, Fox News reported.

Discussion: Political Byline and The Political Carnival

Sebastian Rotella / Los Angeles Times:

Plane incident called an act of terrorism — Federal authorities say a Nigerian passenger on an Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight tried to blow up the airliner, which landed safely. The would-be bomber is injured. — Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on the runway after arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from Amsterdam.

Discussion: Informed Comment, Associated Press and American Power

Michelle Malkin:

Incident on NWA Flight 253? Update: suspect claims al Qaeda direction; Update: An attempted act of terror — Scroll for updates... Via BNONews, a passenger on Detroit-bound NWA Flight 253 was arrested in what MAY have been an attempted hijacking. Also reports that the suspect may have attenpted to light something.

Discussion: Riehl World View

CNN:

Explosive device ignited aboard U.S.-bound airliner — (CNN) — A passenger on an international flight bound for the United States Friday ignited a small explosive device shortly before landing in a move the White House called an attempted terrorist attack, a senior administration official said.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo

Libs-R-Insane / CBS News:

Passenger Lights Explosive on Delta Flight — 2 Hurt, 1 Detained in “Attempted Act of Terrorism” On Amsterdam-Detroit Flt. ; Man Claims al Qaeda Tie; FBI Investigating — (CBS/AP) Updated 7:50 p.m. EST — A Northwest Airlines passenger landing in Detroit on Friday tried to blow …

Discussion: The Political Carnival, Harry's Place, Video Cafe's feed and Jihad Watch

Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Breaking: Attempted terrorist attack on int'l Northwest flight?

Discussion: Times of London, NO QUARTER, The New Editor and Scared Monkeys

BBC: ‘Bomb attack bid’ on US airliner

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:

Debate Shows Obama Plays by Washington's Rules — WASHINGTON — Howard Dean ran for president in 2004 as the outsider ready to battle an entrenched establishment in Washington. And so, four years later, did Barack Obama. — Now, one year into Mr. Obama's presidency …

Discussion: DISSENTING JUSTICE and Prairie Weather

Alissa J. Rubin / New York Times:

Taliban Shows Video of Captured G.I. — KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban released a video of a captured American soldier on Friday, the second to surface since he was seized in southern Afghanistan about six months ago. — Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl, 23, of Idaho, was captured in late June in Paktika Province …

Discussion: The Daily Dish

Associated Press:
Commander to Rescind a Provision on Pregnancy

Discussion: RHRealityCheck.org and Taylor Marsh

Paul Krugman / New York Times:

Tidings of Comfort — Indulge me while I tell you a story — a near-future version of Charles Dickens's “A Christmas Carol.” It begins with sad news: young Timothy Cratchit, a k a Tiny Tim, is sick. And his treatment will cost far more than his parents can pay out of pocket.

Discussion: Donklephant, The Confluence, Washington Monthly and Prairie Weather