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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Obama admits bomb plot failures | Obama admits bomb plot failures |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| US security agencies had enough intelligence to disrupt a plot to blow up a plane last month, but failed to act, President Barack Obama has said. | US security agencies had enough intelligence to disrupt a plot to blow up a plane last month, but failed to act, President Barack Obama has said. |
| The intelligence community had failed to "connect the dots", Mr Obama said, adding: "That's not acceptable, and I will not tolerate it." | The intelligence community had failed to "connect the dots", Mr Obama said, adding: "That's not acceptable, and I will not tolerate it." |
| Enhanced airport screening and a review of the US watch-list system were ordered after the 25 December attempt. | Enhanced airport screening and a review of the US watch-list system were ordered after the 25 December attempt. |
| A Nigerian man known to US officials has been charged over the alleged plot. | A Nigerian man known to US officials has been charged over the alleged plot. |
| Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab later gave "actionable" intelligence to US officials, the White House said. | Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab later gave "actionable" intelligence to US officials, the White House said. |
| Mr Abdulmutallab's name was in a US database of about 550,000 suspected terrorists, but was not on a list that would have subjected him to additional security screening or kept him from boarding the flight. | Mr Abdulmutallab's name was in a US database of about 550,000 suspected terrorists, but was not on a list that would have subjected him to additional security screening or kept him from boarding the flight. |
| 'Red flags' | 'Red flags' |
| Mr Abdulmutallab, 23, was allegedly trained in Yemen - a country that has come under increased scrutiny from the US since his arrest. | Mr Abdulmutallab, 23, was allegedly trained in Yemen - a country that has come under increased scrutiny from the US since his arrest. |
| MARDELL'S AMERICA The president doesn't do anger easily, indeed was criticised for failing to emote fury after the plot itself, but it can't have been a comfortable meeting Mark MardellBBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full | |
| The US suspended the repatriation of Yemeni prisoners from its Guantanamo Bay detention centre in the wake of the plot, but Mr Obama reiterated that he would push on with his plan eventually to close the centre. | The US suspended the repatriation of Yemeni prisoners from its Guantanamo Bay detention centre in the wake of the plot, but Mr Obama reiterated that he would push on with his plan eventually to close the centre. |
| Mr Obama spoke on Tuesday after being briefed on security reviews ordered after Mr Abdulmutallab's arrest. | Mr Obama spoke on Tuesday after being briefed on security reviews ordered after Mr Abdulmutallab's arrest. |
| Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, CIA Director Leon Panetta and FBI Director Robert Mueller were among those who attended the security meeting in Washington. | Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, CIA Director Leon Panetta and FBI Director Robert Mueller were among those who attended the security meeting in Washington. |
| In his remarks, Mr Obama said the US intelligence community had known of "red flags" indicating plans by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to strike US targets in Yemen and the US. | In his remarks, Mr Obama said the US intelligence community had known of "red flags" indicating plans by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to strike US targets in Yemen and the US. |
| Excerpts of Obama security speech Security measures around the world Can a human eye spot a bomb? | |
| He said officials now knew that al-Qaeda had been working with Mr Abdulmutallab. | He said officials now knew that al-Qaeda had been working with Mr Abdulmutallab. |
| "But our intelligence community failed to connect those dots, which would have placed the suspect on the no-fly list. | "But our intelligence community failed to connect those dots, which would have placed the suspect on the no-fly list. |
| "In other words, this was not a failure to collect intelligence, it was a failure to integrate and understand the intelligence that we already had." | "In other words, this was not a failure to collect intelligence, it was a failure to integrate and understand the intelligence that we already had." |
| He had stern words for the trained professionals and analysts who had access to the information. | He had stern words for the trained professionals and analysts who had access to the information. |
| "I will accept that intelligence by its nature is imperfect, but it is increasingly clear that intelligence was not fully analysed or fully leveraged," he said. | "I will accept that intelligence by its nature is imperfect, but it is increasingly clear that intelligence was not fully analysed or fully leveraged," he said. |
| White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told the media on Tuesday that Mr Abdulmutallab had "spent a number of hours with FBI investigators in which we gleaned usable, actionable intelligence". | White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told the media on Tuesday that Mr Abdulmutallab had "spent a number of hours with FBI investigators in which we gleaned usable, actionable intelligence". |
| Yemen security concern | Yemen security concern |
| The suspect began his journey in Lagos, Nigeria, and changed planes at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. | The suspect began his journey in Lagos, Nigeria, and changed planes at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. |
| Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen were among the 14 countries singled out by Washington for enhanced security measures for travellers, introduced on Monday. | Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen were among the 14 countries singled out by Washington for enhanced security measures for travellers, introduced on Monday. |
| Countries considered by the US to be sponsors of terrorism - Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria - were also included. | Countries considered by the US to be sponsors of terrorism - Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria - were also included. |
| A diverse range of observers, in Yemen and abroad, agree that a heavy-handed counter-terrorism strategy will create more problems than it will solve Will Yemen become a failed state? | A diverse range of observers, in Yemen and abroad, agree that a heavy-handed counter-terrorism strategy will create more problems than it will solve Will Yemen become a failed state? |
| The move sparked protests by some of the states. Cuba said it had summoned the US ambassador to make a formal protest, the Associated Press news agency reported. | The move sparked protests by some of the states. Cuba said it had summoned the US ambassador to make a formal protest, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
| Since the incident, officials have moved dozens of names on to "watch" and "no-fly" lists, as they seek to overhaul security, Bill Burton, another White House spokesman, said earlier. | Since the incident, officials have moved dozens of names on to "watch" and "no-fly" lists, as they seek to overhaul security, Bill Burton, another White House spokesman, said earlier. |
| Those on the watch-list are subject to extra security checks, while those on the no-fly list are not allowed to board flights to the US. | Those on the watch-list are subject to extra security checks, while those on the no-fly list are not allowed to board flights to the US. |
| Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula said last week it had trained and equipped Mr Abdulmutallab for the plane plot. | Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula said last week it had trained and equipped Mr Abdulmutallab for the plane plot. |
| The US re-opened its embassy in Yemen on Tuesday, following what it called successful counter-terrorism operations by government security forces on Monday north of the capital. | The US re-opened its embassy in Yemen on Tuesday, following what it called successful counter-terrorism operations by government security forces on Monday north of the capital. |
| A BBC correspondent in the Yemeni capital Sanaa says the embassy was referring to a strike that reportedly killed two al-Qaeda operatives. | A BBC correspondent in the Yemeni capital Sanaa says the embassy was referring to a strike that reportedly killed two al-Qaeda operatives. |
| The embassy had closed on Sunday in response to what it said were al-Qaeda threats. The British and French embassies have resumed operations, but remain closed to the public. | The embassy had closed on Sunday in response to what it said were al-Qaeda threats. The British and French embassies have resumed operations, but remain closed to the public. |
| Yemeni authorities have tightened security measures at Sanaa's airport, as well as around several other embassies. | Yemeni authorities have tightened security measures at Sanaa's airport, as well as around several other embassies. |