(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) 


BY VICTORIA CRAIG

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

Feds now say the would-be underwear bomber on a U.S.-bound flight was actually a double agent.
NBC’s “Today” has the details of the sudden twist.

“Officials now say the man who volunteered to smuggle an underwear bomb onto a U.S.-bound jet was actually a double agent. He infiltrated the Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen while working with the CIA and Saudi Intelligence agencies.”

So now, everybody knows.  And, CNN reports, Homeland Security isn’t happy about it.

"It's really, to me, unfortunate that this has gotten out, because this could really interfere with operations overseas.”

Al Qaeda has reportedly long wanted a suicide bomber to target an American jetliner.
CBS explains how the United States pulled off the bait and switch — and how it could benefit domestic security efforts.

“The only way for intelligence officials to ensure they controlled the plot was to have their own agent volunteer to be the bomber and then hand the bomb to the CIA. The tradeoff: They would lose a source penetrated deep inside the organization - but they would save lives.”

Although this foiled attempt is a win for the United States, the trouble isn’t over yet. Fox News reports, officials say there are still other bombers yet to be caught.


“The bomb maker who is still on the loose is likely trying to quickly train Al Qaeda apprentices because the terror network knows he’s a top level, tier one target who will probably get a visit from one of our drones as soon as we track him down.”

Rather than exploding the device, the would-be bomber handed it over to the CIA for investigation. This latest device is an improvement, according to authorities, of a similar one used in the Christmas Day bomb plot in 2009.

“The new bomb contained no metal and used a chemical … that was to be a detonator in a nearly successful 2010 plot to attack cargo planes … The latest underwear bomb was aimed at a potential gap in security technology, which experts say reinforces the importance of blending intelligence gathering with airport screening.”

Now focus turns to airport security. Because of the bomb’s more simplistic design, many wonder if airport screening procedures are enough to catch similar future attacks. Body scanners at airports across the country are designed to detect non-metal objects.

“The overall design was basically the same, with no metal. Presenting no more challenges to airport scanners than the 2009 underwear bomb. As a result, U.S. officials say no change in airport security is planned.”

Still, The Huffington Post explains why there’s a potential safety concern for passengers flying outside the confines of the U.S.

“The machines, which were adjusted after complaints about "naked” airport scanners, are scarce outside the U.S...Body scanners are not used in Yemen or other countries considered high-risk incubators for terrorism … ”

Authorities say U.S. lives were never in danger, and the Obama administration had intelligence on the plan all the way back in April.