memeorandum: Taliban Shows Video of Captured G.I. (Alissa J. Rubin/New York Times)

4:45 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: Pajamas Media, NPR Blogs, Associated Press, The Long War Journal, BizzyBlog, Power Line, Political Punch, 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

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, The Politico, TPM LiveWire and Talking Points Memo

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: Matthew Yglesias, The Daily Dish, The Atlantic Politics Channel, The Lede and Gothamist

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

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

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: The Hill, Informed Comment and American Power

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: Harry's Place, The Political Carnival, 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