This is the 'left overs' of the Bush Regime. We have seen this 'lack of government interest' before with the September 11th hijackers.

The American Way, every living, breathing moment is an opportunity for political volley.

THAT is disgusting.

And I'm callin' it !

Basically, the problem was never sincerely solved after September 11, 2001. The 'populous' mindset is what was pursued to facilitate economic reassurance for the airline industry and exploitation otherwise. The 'real problem' AND 'dangers' were never actually addressed, ie: The Shoe Bomber, etc. Nothing has changed. More inconvenience for purposes of reassurance and the sincere deterrent that results because of it, but, 100% security is not possible when attempting to detect a biological agent.

However, I recall a 'detection device' that was developed with the funding from the USA military to find 'traces' of VX liquid on concrete after the incidence of September 11, 2001. The reason I bring this up is because all the 'biologicals' have similar elements and are non-metal. Whatever radiation a biological substance has to be exposed to in detection is higher than repeated exposure is prudent for people. I don't recall clearly the 'type' of mechanism to this device. BUT. If there is a development of such a mechanism to find extremely small amounts of VX liquid on 'concrete' (another biological compound) it CAN BE INVESTIGATED to look for other biological materials, including PETN. This possibility needs to go forward.




I'll get to the lack of oversight in a minute.

Above is the chemical formula for PETN. It is highly reactive because of the 'oxygen radical.' It is highly stable because the nitrogen atom is positive and stabilizes the oxygen radical until it meets with conditions that cause its instability.

There is a central carbon atom in the middle and the structure of the molecule is highly stable with carbon to carbon single bonds and two hydrogen atoms at each connecting carbon. It is completely a 'biological' molecule and why it is so reactive. That positive state on the nitrogen atom is a 'natural steady state.' Nitrogen enjoys having a positive charge in 'its neutrality.' It is the oxygens that cause the instability. Once there is a destabilized state on one, it is all over, the double bonded oxygen cuts loose and things get to be a mess.

Oh well.

The 'thing' is this. To detect this stuff is nearly impossible, however, I find it odd that there isn't some kind of 'sniffer' dog that can pick up some kind of scent, but, maybe not.

The Brits caught the guy. We have seen this 'lack of focus' by the system before. Back in the day, Europe was warning the USA of these attempts. See the Europeans have a good handle on folks. The countries per square mile are sovereign to authorities that can detect anti-social extremism without too terribly much trouble. If one looks at the 'sovereign effort' per square mile in Europe compared to the USA there is a lot more intense scrutiny 'per person.'

That said, there is a DISCONNECT. I don't know if there is a USA arrogance issue, not enough folks to go around to connect all the dots or what the problem is, but, if I were leading the USA intelligence efforts, considering the 'dynamics' Europe and Interpol bring to that continent, if they stated, "JUMP," I would simply ask 'How high?' Europe's capacity enhances the abilities of the USA and that should be factored into USA intelligence as well.

The fact of the matter is the Brits had it right and something went "W"rong. There is some speculation there is corruption at the European end of this mess. There is concern this idiot talked his way onto the aircraft. There is speculation the person taping the incident was actually a PR person for al Qaeda. Speculate all you want, it is healthy to do, but, at the end of the day the Brits had it right. What transpired from there is a good guess. If the Brits decline passports that means something and no one should be allowed, at any level of a passenger plane administration be allowed to change that. EVER. I don't care if the President of the nation or company CEO is getting on board. If people 'want special treatment' they need to have a court order. I am sure there are 'odds' that say there are 'individual circumstances' whereby that is a burden and imprudent, but, who the hell cares? Excellent quality service sucks.

Passports are an exclusive club to people that abide by the law and seek to work within the infrastructure of a society. I wish everyone in the chain of command at airlines would 'GET IT RIGHT.' The airline is responsible for this. No one else. It happened ON THAT FLIGHT. Okay?

I admire the criminal's father. He was most brave. He could have endangered his own life by coming forward and that should carry a great deal of brevity, especially given his credentials. He is the hero here and I thank him for his ability to see the sanctity of the lives of strangers as important. There was also an incentive to stop his son from killing himself as well and I recognize that. But, it is difficult to make the decision to actually believe one's instincts when it comes to believing 'the worst' about a precious son. He did that. His father believed in what was occurring and acted on it, no doubt in hopes of saving his son's life in order to find a way that would rehabilitate him. I understand Saudi Arabia has a magnificent program for that purpose. That says something about the Saudi's value system. Unlike the USA, it doesn't allow prisoners to decay, but, actually has found methods of rehabilitation.

Society let its guard down. It occurred in Europe. The 'impetus' needs to be thwarted and stopped. CEOs can go straight to hell. Basically, how did this mess occur on that airline on that day? There was every precaution in the world for it to stop and it didn't. Who failed? And why? Where was the system inadequate or corrupted to allow this to happen?

NO PASSPORT? Huh? There needs to be prosecutions for the allowance of such possibilities. There were hundreds of people threatened with their lives, actual damage to property and the list goes on.

Oh, by the way. Behavioral screenings would not have made any difference as the plane was in the air and there was nothing a Behavioral Screener 'on the ground' in the USA could have done to stop it. Just thought I'd clear that up.

What I am most tired of is loss of sanity and grasping by whoever at whatever for an answer while the OBVIOUS goes unaddressed. There is a lot of 'image' issues in the USA. That is a dangerous 'condition' in a society that is highly dependent on visual acuity in 'content of character, purpose and morality.'

In this case, denying the OBVIOUS should be a relief to the CEO of the airline. He needs to be fired by the way, along with everyone else making decisions that day.

It is very easy to get off track in a 24 hour news cycle where 'toxins' enter the language on a regular basis. Preparedness is a good thing, but, believing in the OBVIOUS when people are to board a plane is something that should not be toyed with.

I doubt there will be 'safe' screening procedures to stop PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) from occupying airline cabins along with pilots and other people. They require too much radiation to allow that on a regular basis. I guess getting naked is an option. So, is 'surface transportation.'

I forgot to mention there is a 'resonance' between the two outer oxygens and nitrogen. The double bond actually 'flips' between each oxygen. Believe it or not 'resonance' actually helps stabilize the molecular relationship because it happens so quickly and never leaves any one oxygen radical, too radical for too long. Resonance is not a bad thing. Biotic life would not be possible without it.

The Weather at Glacier Bay National Park (Crystal Wind Chime) is:

Just a reminder that Alaska has a shorter seasonal sun period than the lower 48 states, regardless of the location above or below the Arctic Circle. AND. The ice fields are still melting and the temperatures are still above zero.


The picture above is the North Pole's midnight sun. It is there 24/7 during the Arctic Circle Summer. I thought this was a better reminder than a completely dark sky with maybe some stars. Hard to capture the essence and project the sky as real.

Local Time: 10:06 AM AKST (GMT -09)

Lat/Lon: 58.8° N 137.0° W

Temperature :: 34 F (This is the 'wilds' of Alaska, not the center of Juneau or Fairbanks or any other 'heat sink' on December 28, 2009. There is something very "W"rong with this picture.)

Conditions :: Overcast

Windchill :: 34 F

Humidity :: 100%

Dew Point :: 34 F

Wind :: Calm

Pressure :: 30.15 in (Rising)

Visibility :: 0.0 miles

UV :: 0 out of 16

Clouds :: Overcast 500 ft

(Above Ground Level)

Elevation :: 33 ft

In Alaska’s Arctic National Parks, the Winter Solstice Will Bring No Warming Sun (click title to entry - thank you)

Posted December 21st, 2009 by Bob Janiskee

If the sun shines bright and warm on your skin today, count yourself more fortunate than the people in Alaska’s four arctic national parks. They’ll get a few hours of ambient light if the sky is clear, but there’ll be no warming sun.

Alaska has four National Park System units situated north of the Arctic Circle (66.5 degrees North), to whit: Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park,
Cape Krusenstern National Monument, and Noatak National Preserve. These arctic national parks have much in common besides physical factors like large size, beauty, and harshly cold and snowy winters. They also have some interesting solar effects rooted in the fact that they are on the poleward side of the Arctic Circle. This insures that all four will have some summer days when the sun never sets below the horizon and some winter days when there is no direct sunlight. From the former you get “Land of the Midnight Sun.” From the latter you get “Land of Twilight.”...

Bipartisanship is Dead.

Set aside the idea that Bush/Cheney had a regime that basically demoralized a global community and the American people. Forget for a few minutes that is a reality.

Health care in the 21st century is a necessity in every human life and if you don't believe that then you know nothing about child rearing or the 'moral content' of life.

Many people of all walks of life have been in the health care debate for a long, long time. Perhaps one of those most dedicated is Senator Max Baucus. I don't necessarily agree with all he brought to the bill within the Senate, but, it would be very wrong to nto recognize the importance he played in carrying this issue as a priority for so many years. That same is held true as a reality with some House member that had 'at the ready' bills to present to their legislatures when called upon.

In the closing hours of the 'hearings' in the Senate on health care reform legislation, there were all types of accusations by the Senate Republicans about bipartisanship. It was a time when Senator Baucus was leading the Democrats for the day. As he listened to those peers it was obvious the words and tone was becoming quite a painful issue for him.

He stood in ridicule of the complaints. He stated during the years he worked on this issue there were many opportunities for bipartisanship. He said there were many of his peers that consulted with him and agreed on aspects of the bill. But, as the bill went to the floor those same peers left the legislation to the Democrats and sequested themselves in a 'proverbial huddle' (my words, not his) in a political posture. He stated the Senate Republicans abandoned all intent to engage health reform in the USA and instead decided it was a 'hot topic' for their political 'play.'

Senator Baucus probably holds dignity at a higher level for the esteem of his collegues than many in the Senate. But, that ended at that moment and he called his peers 'liars.' Simply liars. He was astonished to hear the words leveled at him and his Democratic collegues and he simply wasn't going to 'take it' anymore. He had been miligned enough along with the members of the Senate attempting to cure the ills of the health care system of the USA.

That means something. When a Senator like Max Baucus stands in contempt of the words and slander of his Republican peers, it is nothing to dismiss. It has brevity. He rarely participates in such verbiage and seeks to be 'the peacemaker' on many instances.

It's over. There is no cooperation from Republicans. They have decided they are against this President, the Democrats in the Senate and primarily the majority of Democrats in the House. There is no reason to attempt any more 'outreach' to Republicans. They need to FIRST reach across the isle and seek to repair the damage they have caused with their 'good will' to their collegues. Quite frankly that will never happen and the Democrats need to stop seeking the relationship. It is not forthcoming. The Republicans are simply 'political animals' and nothing else.

When they 'mimic' talk show hosts verbiage in order to relate to their constitutents, there is something gravely wrong within that party. It isn't a legitimate political party anymore. Sadly they have drifted from protecting Americans into 'practicing ideology.' Their methods don't work for the country. If that isn't plainly obvious now, then I don't know when it will be. To continue to live in denial of the damage done to this country over eight years of whatever one wants to call that mess is a hideous concept.

The only venue of power the Republicans have today is opposition, denial and lies. It's over. The Health Care Reform debate was one the most profoundly important issue this country has faced domestically for decades. If they couldn't find their way to 'the table' then there is no reason to continue to expect they ever will.

The RNC saw only 'one hope' for their survival and that is to the party of 'same' and that is the direction they took regardless of the opportunity to serve the people of this country in a productive way. They don't want what is best for the country, they want what is best for 'the party.' The Democrats continued on path with growing resistance because it needed to be pursued. That takes strength of character in knowing when political peril is a hideous element to a vital change in policy.

If the Republicans can't 'join the country' in reform of it's corrupt systems, then they don't belong in office and the extremism noted in the Senate over this issue is proof of their resolve. They are Anti-American and no flag waving will ever change that ever again. They did NOTHING to promote change, they only attempted obstruction of it.

"Doing nothing" and regressing was never an option. Never. To learn as we go forward is the best path we ever had and the path that will lead to our best outcomes.

Health Care Reform is so enormous it is not at all an 'equation,' but, a process. Those that sought to obstruct it didn't live with reality or understanding the needs of the USA. That is called incompetence in government.

I don't believe in "Terror Watch Lists." They don't work. Just that simple.

Still yet another neglected problem from the Republicans and the Bush/Cheney Regime.

FBI Terror Watch List 'Out of Control' (click here)

June 13, 2007

8:55 AM

A terrorist watch list compiled by the FBI has apparently swelled to include more than half a million names.

Privacy and civil liberties advocates say the list is growing uncontrollably, threatening its usefulness in the war on terror.

The bureau says the number of names on its terrorist watch list is classified.

A portion of the FBI's unclassified 2008 budget request posted to the Department of Justice Web site, however, refers to "the entire watch list of 509,000 names," which is utilized by its Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force....

If Terror Watch Lists worked the people on them would most likely belong in prison and as soon as they presented to flights to civilized societies they should be arrested.

Terror Watch Lists are a 'convenience' and not a tool. They can probably intercept the most likely to try to carry out violence, but, once the list makes its way to al Qaeda or otherwise, those folks will be retired from any attempts. This man was a prime example of those that can 'slip through.'

The best and only methodology to 'airplane security' is to have 'airport security.' Heck, use the same time of measures Homeland Security uses in ports and sensitive border crossings with trucks if that helps, but, then one is talking about huge capital outlays. It doesn't make sense to do it.

The best and only methodology for airplanes is security from the time people enter the terminal passing through metal detectors, right up to being scrutinized at the ticket counter, finger prints detectors, retinal scans and then again before boarding.

What does that mean?

That means every bag, not every other, goes through scans before loading, that means no more knitting needles, scissors or liquids, unless perscription medications REQUIRED during flight. That means there are over the counter meds available from flight attendants, including, baby formula. In the case of 'special formulas' the airline should be notified ahead of time to stock same while in flight.

What it boils down to is 'the passenger gets on the plane without ANY potential for causing harm.' The needs of passengers have to be met by the airlines and all available articles that are considered dangerous 'at boarding' need to be supplied during flight.

RIGHT NOW, Terror Lists of any kind are in the hands of al Qaeda and other networks of violence and it would be foolish to believe otherwise. They are used BY COMPUTERS to pull out potential problems and that is a cost saving measure. They are 'substituted' for 'real provisions' of security when boarding airplanes and the is the long and short of it. We don't need more beaurcratic measure to 'attempt' to secure flights, we need flesh and blood people that are dedicated to securing their passengers safety to be working and ON THE GROUND to be sure everyone is as safe as they can be.

The BEST way to defeat this entire mess? Is to rid any country on Earth of the networks of violence that plague them, but, there are always going to be 'Lone Wolves." It is the human condition.

There is a VALID REASON why President Obama has an aggressive and busy agenda. It has nothing to do with politics or 2010.

It has to do with the overwhelming neglect of eight years of Republican greed.

Neglect that TRANSCENDS the Bush/Cheney Regime.

Neglect that INCLUDES our military, the treatment of our soldiers, all the way to 'procurement' and the result of crony priorities. Don't even start.

Neglect on every venue of American dynamics, be it domestic or international.

IF it weren't 'there to be done' there would be nothing 'creating' the need!

End of discussion.

Time is of the essence and there is no time to waste.

The neglect extends to decades of abuse of Republican greed, including the years of American devastation of domestic natural resources when Regan didn't know how to generate a sustainable economy EITHER.

The Epitome of American Cowardess. More Murdoch Puppets.

I apologize for including Reverend Sharpton in the picture, but, rarely does Michael Bloomberg and K"Nut"e Gingrich appear in public together for a 'photo op.'

I heard both of them on the news hour "Meet the Press." I have heard it all now.

They ranted on and on about how 'endorsing' spending on Global Climate Change agenda is a national security threat as it puts money in the hands of our enemies. That is straight out of the Murdoch News Agency. I cannot believe how extensive the lies are and how these men can't thing for themselves.

They say these things in the face of FACTS otherwise:

YEMEN (click here) - The top leader of rebels in Sa’adah, northern Yemen, Abdul Malik al-Houthi has died after he was seriously injured in an air strike two weeks ago, military and independent sources said Sunday.

Various and concurrent sources from Sa’adah said Sunday that Abdul Malik al-Houthi was buried on Saturday in al-Malahaid area, west of Sa’adah.

He was buried next to the house of Ahmed al-Hadawi, who is very close to al-Houthi family, military and the concurrent independent sources said....

One would think the 'fall of the Karzai government' would be enough evidence to the outcomes of abandoned Western support, but, nooooo....these bozos actually will say ANYTHING to be partisan among their constituents.

Yemen Says It Foiled Al-Qaeda Attack on U.K. Embassy Last Week (click here)

December 24, 2009, 10:04 AM EST

By Henry Meyer

Dec. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Al-Qaeda planned to carry out a suicide attack on the U.K. Embassy in the Yemeni capital that was foiled last week by security forces, the Defense Ministry’s newspaper reported.

Eight al-Qaeda militants strapped with explosive belts intended to storm the embassy in Sana’a after a twin car bomb attack on the building, the Yemeni ministry’s 26 September newspaper cited unidentified security officials as saying today. The operation, to be carried out by a terrorist cell based in Arhab, northeast of the capital, was in its final stages of operation, the newspaper said....

How long has the USA worked with the Islamic/Arab/Muslim nations of the Middle East to bring about peace? How long and how much have we invested in attempting to secure our country away from the propaganda of radicals in these nations? What is the ONE premise everyone knows it true about the 'security of al Qaeda' in these nations? IT IS DEPENDENT UPON POVERTY.

The extremist networks have nothing to offer these people except poverty and the five pillars of Islam. In hopelessness, the people abide by the 'rule of man' in these countries because the governments are helpless to do anything about it.

WHY?

Because as long as impoverishment can assist people to survive, ie: Somali pirates, Hezbollah and the list goes on, the governments will 'allow' them to exist because they have no alternative for their people. As the 'networks of violence' grow in strength by 'dependency issues' alone they take over the culture and they grow in numbers. The government then becomes overwhelmed with corruption and the result are countries completely dysfunctional.

What do we know goes hand in hand with poverty? Besides networks of violence? What results from poverty due to the ravages of natural resources, including diamonds and all that mess, is ENVIRONMENTAL degradation. What does environmental degradation cause? Oh, is that what the issue is? Yes, indeed, human induced global wamring because the biotic content of nations are devastated and the carbon sinks disappear.


There are some very basic truths here and Knute Gingrich and Michael Bloomberg and Rupert Murdoch's political ambitions are not served by them.

WELL.

TOO BAD.

The fact of the matter is that people STARVE due to environmental degradation was well. Ever study 'what happened to the Mayans?' The more devastation to the land less productive it is and THAT is one of the reasons Plantation Farms are out of the question. One species plantations succumb to Climate Change and the land is left barren and eroding.

These countries, the ones that sustain al Qaeda and the Brotherhood and Hamas are some of the most environmentally devastated nations on Earth. What results is starvation and drought and then the NGOs are faced with hauling food to the people because the governments are unable to sustain their lands and therefore the people.

If you want to talk about 'dangers to the USA and Western national security,' we can talk about how STUPID, completely STUPID the USA Republicans are in their worship of money, their greed and the way they treat Murdoch as god.

The Republicans are nothing short of pathetic, a danger to the USA national security and they need to be dealt with and not given a spot light on Meet the Press.

A reason to say awake until Midnight.

...A blue moon - the second full moon in a calendar month (click title to entry - thank you) - occurs only every 2½ years on average. This month, full moons occur on December 2 and December 31.

An astronomer, David Reneke, from Australasian Science magazine, said it was rare for the event to land on New Year's Eve, and it would not happen again until 2028.

''While everyone's celebrating they should also take a moment and look up into the night sky,'' Mr Reneke said.

But the moon will not turn blue - if anything, Mr Reneke said it could turn red when viewed from cities because of the filter effect of smoke from fireworks....

Why does this make me nervous?

This is the Blackwater Training grounds in NC. They give tours every week. Some of their 'online' propaganda promotions show men using Tasers on metal doors and dogs with body armor in attack training. I mean where is PETA when you need them?

They are guns for hire. Not needed and their should be a blanket policy to stop the use of ANY private militias within the USA military. If the USA hasn't got enough soldiers that volunteer to defend the country, then there is something wrong with the war, not the soldier.

When is National Security not really secure? When Eric Prince's Blackwater is involved.

I want my country back. All of it!

Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder (click here)

by Jeremy Scahill

August 4, 2009

A former Blackwater employee and an ex-US Marine who has worked as a security operative for the company have made a series of explosive allegations in sworn statements filed on August 3 in federal court in Virginia. The two men claim that the company's owner, Erik Prince, may have murdered or facilitated the murder of individuals who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. The former employee also alleges that Prince "views himself as a Christian crusader tasked with eliminating Muslims and the Islamic faith from the globe," and that Prince's companies "encouraged and rewarded the destruction of Iraqi life."…

Blackwater Guards Tied to Secret C.I.A. Raids (click title to entry - thank you)

By JAMES RISEN and MARK MAZZETTI
December 10, 2009

WASHINGTON — Private security guards from Blackwater Worldwide in some of the C.I.A.'s most sensitive activities — clandestine raids with agency officers against people suspected of being insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan and the transporting of detainees, according to former company employees and intelligence officials....

The Amsterdam Connection? You've got to be joking. This is a no brainer.

Climb every mountain...



Leave me a lone, I'm on holiday.



Hello?



Amsterdam is 'drug central.' A lot, a lot of loose CASH people. A lot. Any terrorist network can find a huge income in Amsterdam. Add to that the poppy culture from Afghanistan and you have a nationwide 'clearinghouse.' Everyone that 'can' and those that 'casually travel' always brings home a 'souvenir' from Amsterdam. Come on, this is easy.

They come by boat, they come by plane, they take mules and walk the rest of the way. You know those DONKEYS in Afghanistan? They travel so well over the border?

WELL.

Give me a break.

Al Qaeda is having a global hissy fit. Bin Laden is calling in all his favors.

Get used to it, nothing it going to change soon. "Tighten it up."

This is no joke, this is a crescendo that has been building since the USA has moved back into Afghanistan and Pakistan has been as successful as it has been. The political rhetoric against the current Pakistani President is all part of the attempts to derail the war against al Qaeda.

We are being successful.

Al Qaeda has had eight years of uninterrupted growth. This is going to do down hard and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

We had to go here. And NATO knows that.

There was no 'soft approach' that was ever going to correct this course. Don't get lazy. It is time to be the best we can be and stop this insane terrorist network.

We can do it.

Oh, yes we can.



Today went exceptionally well. Delta and Northwest Airlines should be congratulated for its attentive and well trained crews. The civilized world is better at being aware and prepared than al Qaeda has resources.

I would encourage the global community to support the current President in Pakistan through a difficult time.

I am proud of our humanity.

They.

Have none.

If there is a time in the history of humanity on Earth to come together over common beliefs and ideals, this is that time.

SOURCE: Al-Qaida Link in Failed Plane Attack (click here)

Last Update: 9:44 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Northwest Airlines passenger from Nigeria, who said he was acting on al-Qaida's instructions, tried to blow up the plane Friday as it was landing in Detroit, law enforcement and national security officials said.

Passengers subdued the man and may have prevented him from detonating the explosives, the officials said.

"We believe this was an attempted act of terrorism," a White House official said.

Federal officials imposed stricter screening measures after the incident.

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., ranking GOP member of the House Homeland Security Committee, identified the suspect as Abdul Mudallad, a Nigerian. King said the flight began in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit. There were 278 passengers aboard the Airbus 330.

There was nothing out of the ordinary until the flight was on final approach to Detroit, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory. That is when the pilot declared an emergency and landed without incident shortly thereafter, Cory said in an e-mail message. The plane landed at 11:51 a.m. EST.

One of the U.S. intelligence officials said the explosive device was a mix of powder and liquid. It failed when the passenger tried to detonate it.

The passenger was being questioned Friday evening. An intelligence source said the Nigerian passenger was being held and treated in an Ann Arbor hospital.

All the sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

One law enforcement source said the man claimed to have been instructed by al-Qaida to detonate the plane over U.S. soil.

The official said an official determination of a terrorist act would have to come from the attorney general.

The official added that additional security measures are being taken without raising the airline threat level.

The official declined to describe what additional measures law enforcement was taking.
The White House was coordinating briefings for the president through the Homeland Security Department, the Transportation Security Administration and the FBI.

A law enforcement source said the explosives may have been strapped to the man's body but investigators weren't immediately certain, partly because of the struggle with other passengers.

One passenger from the flight was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, hospital spokeswoman Tracy Justice said. She didn't know the person's condition, or whether the person was a man or woman. She referred all inquiries to the FBI.

Passenger Syed Jafri, a U.S. citizen who had flown from the United Arab Emirates, said the incident occurred during the plane's descent. Jafri said he was seated three rows behind the passenger and said he saw a glow, and noticed a smoke smell. Then, he said, "a young man behind me jumped on him."

"Next thing you know, there was a lot of panic," he said.

Rich Griffith, a passenger from Pontiac, said he was seated too far in the back to see what had happened. But he said he didn't mind being detained on the plane for several hours. "It's frustrating if you don't want to keep your country safe," he said. "We can't have what's going on everywhere else happening here."

President Barack Obama was notified of the incident and discussed it with security officials, the White House said. It said he is monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates from his vacation spot in Hawaii.

J.P. Karas, 55, of Wyandotte, said he was driving down a road near the airport and saw a Delta jet at the end of the runway, surrounded by police cars, an ambulance, a bus and some TV trucks.

"I don't ever recall seeing a plane on that runway ever before and I pass by there frequently," he said.
Karas said it was difficult to tell what was going on, but it looked like the front wheel was off the runway.

"We encourage those with future travel plans to stay in touch with their airline and to visit www.tsa.gov for updates," Homeland Security Department said in a statement.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has been briefed on the incident and is closely monitoring the situation.

The department encouraged travelers to be observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement officials.
------

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


STATEMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

WASHINGTON D.C. – “Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has been briefed on the incident aboard Northwest Airlines flight #253 and is closely monitoring the situation.

Passengers may notice additional screening measures put into place to ensure the safety of the traveling public on domestic and international flights.

As always we encourage the traveling public to be observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior or activity to law enforcement officials.

We encourage those with future travel plans to stay in touch with their airline and to visit www.tsa.gov for updates.”

It wouldn't be Christmas without retaliation by The Taliban. This is an earlier picture of Pfc. Bergdahl. I have just one thing to say.

"The Geneva Conventions, you slimeballs !"

Merry Christmas, Pfc. Bergdahl.