Underwear bomber cooperating with investigators
Source: Agencies |
February 4, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
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THE Nigerian man accused of trying to use a bomb hidden in his underwear to bring down a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas has provided investigators with fresh intelligence in multiple terrorism investigations, officials in Washington said.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's cooperation could prove to be a national security victory and a political vindication for President Barack Obama, who has been under fire from politicians who say the administration botched the case by giving Abdulmutallab the right to remain silent, rather than interrogating him as a military prisoner.
In the days following the failed bombing, a pair of FBI agents flew to Nigeria and persuaded Abdulmutallab's family to help them. When the agents returned to the United States, Abdulmutallab's family came, too, according to a senior administration official.
FBI officials continue to question Abdulmutallab, working in collaboration with CIA and other intelligence authorities, the official said. Obama has received regular updates on the interrogation.
Abdulmutallab is said to have provided information about his contacts in Yemen, where an al-Qaida branch has claimed responsibility for the failed attack.
Before the attack, the US regarded the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula largely as a threat to Yemen's stability, not the US. Depending on how much he knows, Abdulmutallab's cooperation could help authorities better understand the organization.
While the interrogation continued, White House and intelligence officials quietly seethed as political rivals accused them of putting lives at risk.
That criticism peaked last weekend when Senator Susan Collins accused the administration of having "a blind spot when it comes to the war on terrorism."
Authorities had hoped to keep Abdulmutallab's cooperation secret while they continued to investigate his leads, but details began to trickle out during testimony on Capitol Hill, where FBI Director Robert Mueller and Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair confirmed authorities were continuing to gather intelligence in Abdulmutallab's case.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's cooperation could prove to be a national security victory and a political vindication for President Barack Obama, who has been under fire from politicians who say the administration botched the case by giving Abdulmutallab the right to remain silent, rather than interrogating him as a military prisoner.
In the days following the failed bombing, a pair of FBI agents flew to Nigeria and persuaded Abdulmutallab's family to help them. When the agents returned to the United States, Abdulmutallab's family came, too, according to a senior administration official.
FBI officials continue to question Abdulmutallab, working in collaboration with CIA and other intelligence authorities, the official said. Obama has received regular updates on the interrogation.
Abdulmutallab is said to have provided information about his contacts in Yemen, where an al-Qaida branch has claimed responsibility for the failed attack.
Before the attack, the US regarded the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula largely as a threat to Yemen's stability, not the US. Depending on how much he knows, Abdulmutallab's cooperation could help authorities better understand the organization.
While the interrogation continued, White House and intelligence officials quietly seethed as political rivals accused them of putting lives at risk.
That criticism peaked last weekend when Senator Susan Collins accused the administration of having "a blind spot when it comes to the war on terrorism."
Authorities had hoped to keep Abdulmutallab's cooperation secret while they continued to investigate his leads, but details began to trickle out during testimony on Capitol Hill, where FBI Director Robert Mueller and Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair confirmed authorities were continuing to gather intelligence in Abdulmutallab's case.
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