Christmas With Terrorists
By Connie Lawn, December 25, 2009
Christmas season has been reasonably peaceful in America, but has not been joyous for millions who are suffering through
the hard times. It could have been worse. On Christmas Day, a wealthy Nigerian student tried to set off a lethal
explosive device on a flight that was within twenty minutes of landing in Detroit, Michigan. He did manage to burn his
groin area (where the explosive was taped) and set fire to a small part of the wall of the plane. But, the heroic action
of a young Dutch passenger, then assisted by others on the plane, prevented a disaster. Video producer Jasper Schuringa
burned his hand, as he jumped over four rows of seats, cornered the terrorist, and worked to put out the fire. He was
later applauded by the other 300 passengers, whose lives he probably saved.
Two days later, there was the same fear on a flight taking the same route. It was also called NW Flight 253. But, the
incident appears to have been caused by a passenger who was genuinely ill, and not just trying to assemble an explosive
device in the toilet.
The 23 year old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has been travelling often between the U.K, Yemin, the United
States, and other countries. He reportedly received Jihadist training from Al Qaeda associates. His father is a
respected banker in Nigeria. He went to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, to report concerns about his son’s “radicalization
and associations,” according to the Washington Post. He was placed on a “watch list” with several thousand others, but
was not placed on a “do not fly” list. In fact, he was granted a two year visa to the United States.
There are so many questions surrounding this near – disaster: why was he allowed on the plane in the first place and
how did he get 80 grams of dangerous, unstable chemicals and powder on with him? What kept it from exploding before, on
the nine hour flight? Are more such plots like this in the planning? How can they be prevented? Why is the United States
hated so, in some quarters? (that question can be debated for years).
Whatever the answers, air travel will now be even more complex and frightening than before. President Obama – on
“holiday” in Hawaii, has been holding numerous conference calls. There is likely to be a change in the “no fly” lists,
and more people will be prevented from entering the country. Of course, that does not prevent home grown terrorists from
preventing their atrocities, as were the cases in Oklahoma City, Virginia Tech, Columbine, Fort Hood, and other places
where mass tragedies occurred on American soil by US residents.
As the New Year dawns, many of us are concerned about the future. But, 2009 was been a troubled year. The best we can
do is pray for peace and well being, for the people of New Zealand, the United States, and for the world.
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Connie Lawn has a passionate love for NZ. She worked for Radio New Zealand for 20 years, and then for Radio Live for a
few years. Connie has covered the White House and the world since 1968. Her other passion is skiing, and she calls
herself "the skiing White House reporter." Her ski stories are on dcski.com and other outlets. Connie is also heard on
thousands of radio stations, but firmly believes the internet is the future. She can be reached at connie@scoop.co.nz
ENDS