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Obama admits bomb plot failures Obama admits bomb plot failures
(21 minutes later)
US security agencies had sufficient intelligence about a plot to blow up a plane but failed to share the information, President Obama says. US security agencies had enough intelligence to disrupt a plot to blow up a plane over Detroit last month, but failed to act, President Obama says.
He spoke after being updated on security reviews since the bomb attempt, and vowed to defeat future al-Qaeda plans to kill Americans. 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 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 plot.A Nigerian man known to US officials has been charged over the 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.
Mr Obama said the government had sufficient information to have uncovered the plot and potentially disrupt it on 25 December. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, CIA Director Leon Panetta and FBI Director Robert Mueller attended Tuesday's meeting.
Mr Obama spoke of "red flags" highlighting plans by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to strike US targets in Yemen and the US.
He said officials now knew that al-Qaeda was 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.
Security measures around the world Can a human eye spot a bomb? Will Yemen become a failed state?Security measures around the world Can a human eye spot a bomb? Will Yemen become a failed state?
"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 criticised the trained professionals and analysts who had access to the information.He criticised 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."I will accept that intelligence by its nature is imperfect, but it is increasingly clear that intelligence was not fully analysed or fully leveraged.
"That's not acceptable, and I will not tolerate it," the president said. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told media on Tuesday that Mr Abdulmutallab, 23, had "spent a number of hours with FBI investigators in which we gleaned usable, actionable intelligence".
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told media on Tuesday that Mr Abdulmutallab had "spent a number of hours with FBI investigators in which we gleaned usable, actionable intelligence", reports AFP news agency.
Mr Obama ordered reviews of airport screening and of the US watch-list system after the suspect - who was known to US officials - allegedly got on a plane with a device.
The 23-year-old is being held in a US jail since an attempt was made to blow up the plane as it came to land at the US city of Detroit.
Prosecution investigationProsecution investigation
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, CIA Director Leon Panetta and FBI Director Robert Mueller are among those at the meeting.
US officials were aware of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab
The suspect began his journey in Lagos, Nigeria, and changed planes at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.The suspect began his journey in Lagos, Nigeria, and changed planes at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, 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.
US officials were aware of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab
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.
Watch-list update
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.