The investigation into the Time Square bombing ¹ case led to three men being picked up on administrative charges for immigration violations. It is believed these men supplied money to Faisal for a yet to be determined purpose.

The tracing of money and the use of ICE teams are a great use of resources available to the investigators. While the amount of money may be small in the scope of things, the intelligence value cannot be overstated. Using these resources, we will be able to get a better understanding of how a guy like Faisal operates, and who his friends are. People like this go largely undetected for a long period of time.

Two female suicide bombers approach a train station and execute over 35 individuals and injure over 100 more people. Timing, target, methodology… all have an investigative importance to the event. Rush hour gives you a greater population to impact. The KGB counter terrorism offices were within range. Suicide bombers are practically impossible to stop. But while all of this is important to counter-terrorism investigative efforts, what effect does this event and others like it have on us?

Sadly, most Americans this morning were unaware of the attack. Major cities will have an increase in police presence at the transportation facilities. Most of us will recognize the increase, shake our head and move on. The abundant presence of law enforcement makes us feel good, safe and secure. Much like a floating iceberg more is going on in the law enforcement communities than meets the eye.  Attempts are constantly being made to identify operational plans of small groups who want to conduct this type of attack.

This administration is taking political advantage with our national security. Desperate for a “win”, they capitalize on an opportunity where from their perspective it’s a “win-win” situation. How?

After the debacle that was the Christmas day terror attack, where our Commander in Chief and his top intelligence officer remained on vacation not to interfere with much needed and valuable “family” time, the administration sends FBI agents to Nigeria to meet with Mr. Abdulmutallab’s family. This kinder, gentler approach produces a talkative terrorist who reveals who he trained with and where, as well as other pertinent information they refuse to divulge under National Security issues. However, administration officials are comfortable enough to discuss openly what type of information they have received to give us insight to what they are doing and why their approach worked so well. Now we have information that the next attack is “certain” within the next three to six months. (Note: no increase in threat level).

The President addresses the American public yesterday trying to explain the failures which have occurred in our intelligence system. He stated no one person can be blamed. This is true; when systemic failures occur, the entire operation fails. Multiple problems existed before this most recent event; some he inherited, some he created.

First, you can’t blame the head of Counter Terrorism for going on vacation during a terrorist attack. He was filing his reports to the President who was on a beach in Hawaii, also on vacation. The country is under terrorist attack and the President is asking for a fax a few times a day about it? Talk about man made disasters and catastrophes!

As a result of the most recent attempted attack aboard a commercial aircraft, a new policy is in place which mandates flyers can no longer stand up during the last hour of an international flight. Additionally, nothing on your laps will be allowed (blankets will be taken back), and all items must be stowed. All as a result of an examination of methodology of the latest attack, and government’s belief it must do something.

Of course we will do this and issue the new mandates. Officials are “duty bound” to do something. Let the public think they are safe. Shoes were x-rayed after the shoe bomber incident. This person sewed explosives into his underwear. So what’s the next natural step in our response? Mandating all undergarments be x-rayed as well? How far away are we from the FAA or Homeland Security mandating that all underwear must be checked?

The bickering between investigative organizations at the federal level and the local levels is as bad as the bickering of a married couple. This past weekend it was reported the White House entered into the terror Intel dispute between the FBI, who claims a release of information could compromise some of their investigations and local officials who believe they need to be informed so they can identify threats in their communities.