Looks like the 'next' 9-11 was prevented. I wonder if the authorties "cheated" and wire tapped the suspect's phone calls? I hope so.

I find it ironic that Brain Ross, who is so concerned with terrorism against the US has attacked the very technologies that can protect the US from terrorism. Well done Brian!

Remember, "we are not really at war" and "there is no terrorist threat."

Brought to you by leading liberal Democrats by you.

I FIND IT VERY TELLING THAT JUST
LAST WEEK 11 FOREIGN EGYPTIAN
MEN HAVE NOT REPORTED TO A MONTANA
COLLEGE. COULD THEY BE A CELL??

HOW COME THE MEDIA DOES NOT PRINT THEIR NAMES AND PHOTOS???

The citizenry of the world need to seriously consider "EXECUTION" for those involved in terrorism..Wherever they are, Whomever they are regardless of their involvement...."DEATH"..."PUBLIC" summary executions.....

Thank God for George W. Bush fighting the war against Islamists and progressives at the same time.

Why wasn't the term "Muslim" or "Islamic" used ANYWHERE in this article??

Is it because you believe there is no connection there?

Bush is at the ranch again. Uh-oh

Good work

Good article and fine reporting with the exception of a small dose of PCism. What's wrong with calling out these terrorists for what they are? Islamic Arab Muslims who should be dealt with harsely???

Anyone in favor of profiling yet? Anyone? What's it going to take? Stop with the PC crap, and start rounding these characters up. Death or political correctness? You choose.

? And still US Democrats talk of negotiation and peace with Jihadists???.
lunacy --madness -- jibberish
Joseph Lieberman is right !!

Win for security forces now let's start profiling and finish the job.

How does the fact that these terrorists were "home-grown" betray underlying problems in british society? It is rejection by their "home" society that causes immigrant youth to seek affirmation and social acceptance elsewhere. This is not simply a problem associated with being muslim. Exclusion of immigrants from their new community is a social issue, and until it is addressed it will continue to produce these outcomes--home-grown terrorists.

Okay so what do you have to say Democrats? Always quick to jump the President as he continues to work hard against this SOB's. Keep up the good work GW!!!!

So now what? The Brits will take 4 years to convict the slime and spend tens of millions to do it. Then they will let them go in less than 10 years including time served so that they can turn around and try it again.
Stupid not to have execution for terrorisim.

To all of you who criticize homeland security and other similar agencies,

Look at what they have accomplished in just over 7 months this year. Plots to blow up the tunnels in New England and now this. I'm glad they are doing their jobs.

Now how about the administration does something about this oil situation?

We will finally get it after we get it again and again.

Bush had nothing to do with these arrests. Give credit to British and Pakistanis LAW ENFORCEMENT that, by the way, did not have to invade a country to make these arrests. I guess law enforcement does have its place in fighting terrorism.

As for fighting a war against terrorists and Progressives, if Bush and the Administration had tried to enlist Progressives in the fight against terrorism, we wouldn't have the internal dissension that has wracked our country. Instead, the Administration, from 2002 forward tried to make the GWOT a Republican issue. Only by pulling together and agreeing that Americans of various political persuasions are NOT the enemy can we unite our country again.

Will this get the anti-war liberals to understand why we must fight for the good of all mankind.

How can the Brits solve this and we mange to loose 12 Egyptian students? Thanks to M5. A big thanks to the Brits.

M

People need to start thinking WHY this is happening. The infalmation of the situation in the Middle East. With the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and the support of Isreal's oppresion of the Lebannese and Palestinian people no wonder people are trying to fight back agaisnt oppresion. Think of yourself in this position, would you not fight agaisnt this?
Terrorism is not right, I'm not saying that. But what needs to be addressed is stopping people from feeling this resentment. We need to stop this tit for tat, it will only end in the death of more innocent people.

Yeah, Bush saves the world again! GIVE ME A BREAK

Bush: "It is a mistake to believe there is no threat to the Unites States of America"

Amen.

Suppose the Brits were listening in on international phone conversations?

Why is US government still supporting Pakistan????????
Mr.Bush please clean out your ears and hear out what Indian government has been saying atleast now...........

execute those terrorists

Thank you Britian.......

another skirmish in the war on terrorism. There will be more.

here's the question that should be asked: by diverting the nation's resources from the war against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan to the unnecessary war in Iraq, and by not capturing/killing bin Laden and al-Zawahri, has this president and his policies enabled this sort of thing to happen?

I would help if you told us why these people are so intent on killing us. What is their vision? What are their goals? I know that you know, so please, let us know.

I'm grateful for God's blessing on our 2 countries, and the on the labors of our counter-terrorism. Truly this is the hour we must stand together. Let us seek God to gether for His continued mercies.

It's gotta be TATP, the terrorists' bomb of choice.

Do people still think the Bush administration is doing nothing about the terror threat?? I think not...

It's fortunate the New York Times did not find out about the investigation weeks ago. I'm sure they would have warned the terriorist on their front pages.
Glc

Already the self-proclaimed "progressive" thinkers have found a way to blame Bush, Cheney and Halliburton. Unbelievable!

Why don't you "progressives" do the world a favor and go ahead and drink the rest of the kool-aid?

WHy all the silence about whether these were islamic? I couldn't find a single news story that highlighted that obvious fact.

Also, isn't the term "terrorist" all wrong, and shouldn't it be replaced with islamic fascist? Of course that won't happen - until the public abandons media that fails to tell us the truth about what is going on we will continued to be lied to.

I also thank god for George Bush - on this one issue anyway. Turns out he was right all along!
Now if he would only modify his stance on immigration - that's going to have to come anyway.

How does the fact that these terrorists were "home-grown" betray underlying problems in british society? It is rejection by their "home" society that causes immigrant youth to seek affirmation and social acceptance elsewhere. This is not simply a problem associated with being muslim. Exclusion of immigrants from their new community is a social issue, and until it is addressed it will continue to produce these outcomes--home-grown terrorists.

Thank you U.K. for your efforts. It seems those who truly recognize the threat of terrorism are globally ridiculed, but instances like this show what the world is up against. Not armies fighting other armies, but Islamic terrorists targeting innocent civilians. How warped must a mind be to justify this?

Question: "Why wasn't the term "Muslim" or "Islamic" used ANYWHERE in this article??
Is it because you believe there is no connection there?"

Answer: ABC Reporters Brian Ross and Richard Esposito (and their empty-suit editors) lack basic intellectual honesty, courage, or both. (Sort of like Reuters and their phony photos.)

The MSM IS the enemy within.
m. r. o'donnell

This is a sign of more impending things to come. Wake up! Israel is on the front lines of this very same war just as they were during the cold war. They need the support of those freedom minded people willing to stand up against terrorism worldwide not just when it is convenient like certain French leaders.

President Bush and Karl Rove don't want to find Al Qaeda leaders; they want the "terror threats" to continue for their political gain!

the cut-n-run propaganda machine is extraordinarily quiet..what? no conspiracy theories against the republican-run gov't?

What if they were Irish terrorists? Would the article say so? I think it would, or at least tell us a description indicating what their agenda was. I suppose we are to assume they were Islamo-facists.

September 11, Israel's war with Hezbollah, Iran's and Syria's insurgents in Iraq, Madrid bombings, London subway bombings, this foiled plot... All are part of the same global jihad being waged against the West for more than a decade. Appeasement will not stop this. Anyone who doesn't understand that should go play and let the grown-ups handle this.

Revelation of this plot will be another nail in the coffin of the Democratic party's ambition to take the White House.

What the hell is a "plotter"? God help us all when George Bush and Tony Blair leave office.

Do they support the Caliphate or are they searching for the 13th Imam?

How very convenient for the Bush Administration for this plot to be exposed now. As for myself, I must see hard evidence before I accept the se claims. The War on Terror, just like the War on Drugs or the War on Poverty is an excuse for our government to swell up in power and size. Where is the proof to back up this scare story or are to merely bow to our rulers and accept their every word as truth?

"Investigated and ARRESTED..." Will wonders never cease: old-fashioned POLICE WORK saved the day (again). Too bad Bush is still rampaging through the world's china shop with his mindless bulls, unable to prosecute or even charge more than a handful of suspects after five years of invading the privacy of American citizens.

THANKS Britain (and good recap Ross and Esposito). We can count at least on OTHER countries for a competent defense of our own when plots originate offshore -- I have zero confidence in our own ability to do such police work and smart intelligence work here in the U.S. or overseas in defense of our nation. The military is a PR firm now, as are most Executive Branch agencies under the Bush/Rove doctrine of destruction which is falsely advertised as prevention.

Sounds like Scotland Yard still practices the real deal: careful, detailed, EVIDENCE-based investigation and arrest and prosecution of suspects. So far this sounds like a tremendous bit of life-saving preventive detective work. We are in their debt.

Mr. Adams, your comments are outlandish and emphasize the school of thought you subscribe to. Your comments make you no better than our enemies.

With a 30-something percent approval ratio, it appears the strategy of not finding Al Qaeda leaders is a real effective one - heavy on the sarcasm. This is not about politics, this is about the struggle of human freedom...you obviously don't get it.

We should stop calling the Islamic Terrorists and start calling them cowards, because that is what they truly are.

It's unreal to read the replies by the Bush bashers. You'd think they would at least think that there was a problem. I guess they still are thinking the towers were taken down by Bush. They couldn't possibly think Bush was smart enough to fool this many people could they? I mean that's all I hear from them... It would be nice if the other side had a constructive idea on terror containment. Instead just anti-Bush. Pathetic..

All good Americans need to have a nationwide "neighborhood watch". Keep your eyes peeled, your cell phones on, your pantries stocked, and don't let the head-in-the-sand liberals discourage you with their political correctness or their hatred of America.

Hopefully this will reawaken the people in this country who would like to revert to a pre-9-11 mentality.

I, like Gail, fear the day that Bush & Blair leave office.

Oliver has it right - Summary execution for any and all, including any who had even one finger in the plot! Jail risks release to try again another day - liberals be dammed!

The timing of the arrests seems a little convenient, vis-a-vis the election cycle. Scotland Yard couldn't have busted these guys a week ago?

There are no coincidences.

This comment that Bush doesn't want to find Al Qaeda leaders is insane and based on the hatred of Bush that many feel. Why do you think that America has had no big terrorist incident since 9/11?

The comment seems to be based on emotion and feelings but it is not logical.

Reuters calls these people "freedom fighters".

ABC calls them plotters.

When is the left-wing and the mainstream media going to document that the entire world is at was with Islamic Terrorists?

I've been a dues paying member of the Democrat all my adult life. I'm so disappointed that the leaders of my party are supporting the terrorists.

I predicted after 9/11 that the new global threats of subversive/terrorist warfare
would require a deeply troubling but necessary reassessment of our "rights" and "protections." I also predicted that many would not be able to adjust to the new reality and would fall back into protecting their personal liberties and pursuing their political agendas once the trauma subsided. That has happened--here and in Europe. But just as the riots and murders in Europe forced some new realizations on idealistic goals of open borders and faith in diversity as a recipe for multicultural nirvana, this new unveiling of a brutal attack on
civilian passenger planes is reasserting the issues only briefly debated after 9/11's awakening. You can hear the earthmovement rumblings--across the Atlantic--which most
assuredly have been glimpsed here--but only in their infant stages. Leeson: if the partisan proponents of absolute "protections" for First Amendment civil rights do not shift their thinking in the face of this new reality and back off the partisan opposition platform (see New York Times for example revealing classified antiterrorist war strategies under the banner "the people want to know"), they will be in danger of losing the entire body of First Amendment law along with its ideological foundations to authoritarian messengers appealing to the legitimate and illegitimate fears that unfettered "freedoms" will not and cannot quell.

Punks organize to attack civilians and all you can talk about is some ridiculous theory about Bush and Rove. As a liberal who is upset over the Iraq war, I'm intelligent enough to know Bush/Rove have nothing to do with this issue today. I am starting to think maybe the anti-war side of my party is willing to be blind to the reality in front of us. Bush will be out of office for sure in 2008 yet something tells me Islamists will still be trying to kill innocents the world over. Do my fellow Democrats think once Bush is gone the threat of millitant islam will stop??? That's a mental disability!

I predicted after 9/11 that the new global threats of subversive/terrorist warfare
would require a deeply troubling but necessary reassessment of our "rights" and "protections." I also predicted that many would not be able to adjust to the new reality and would fall back into protecting their personal liberties and pursuing their political agendas once the trauma subsided. That has happened--here and in Europe. But just as the riots and murders in Europe forced some new realizations on idealistic goals of open borders and faith in diversity as a recipe for multicultural nirvana, this new unveiling of a brutal attack on
civilian passenger planes is reasserting the issues only briefly debated after 9/11's awakening. You can hear the earthmovement rumblings--across the Atlantic--which most
assuredly have been glimpsed here--but only in their infant stages. Leeson: if the partisan proponents of absolute "protections" for First Amendment civil rights do not shift their thinking in the face of this new reality and back off the partisan opposition platform (see New York Times for example revealing classified antiterrorist war strategies under the banner "the people want to know"), they will be in danger of losing the entire body of First Amendment law along with its ideological foundations to authoritarian messengers appealing to the legitimate and illegitimate fears that unfettered "freedoms" will not and cannot quell.

To the people insisting on labeling these monsters "muslims" or "islamic", this is pure ignorance. Who in history goes around calling Hitler a christain Nazi? Why must we label the origins of these terrorists. Hell, if they were irish, does that make them any less of a threat? The ignorance must end. Islam is a religion of peace, and what you have here are extremists. Remember, the Oklahoma bombing was done by McVeigh, who believed he was acting in the name of the bible.

I'm hoping this foiled plot will open up the eyes of the liberals out there still believe "nothing is the matter"... we're at war for crying out loud... wake up.

Thanks Great Britain for a job well done.

What is all this hatred for progressives? Don't we have enough hatred to spread around for now? No matter what you think of Bush's relentless domestic assault on civil rights and freedoms (freedom is 'marching on?") this president's occupation of Iraq continues to fuel the kind of hatred that results in this level of terrorism. Never forget that Bush proclaimed publically that he DOES NOT CARE about Osama bin Ladin and doesn't "spend that much time" on him. That's your big hint right there.

This is too scary. We have Muslim fanatics trying to kill us and themselves and they will not stop. Will this go on forever?
Then we have pointy headed idiots here in our own country with partisan interests and a warped sense of values actually hindering our capacity to combat these fanatics. God help us......

Like many other terrorist busts--Im thinking of the one recently in Miami that turned out to be rather blown out of proportion--we need let this story develop a few days so the public and press can figure out what the true facts are.

I listened to the press conference this morning featuring Chertof and Gonzales. Sounded more like a propaganda scare session than an informative briefing.

Great job by all parties involved in the capture of these people. The cooperation involved in this raid must have been huge. I think the coordination demonstrated by PM Blair and President Bush should not go unnoticed.

Interesting analysis M - "Old fashioned police work" saved the day. Apparently that "old fashioned police work" was centered around a number of "sneak and peek" search warrants that allowed the British investigators to figure out the terrorists next move. Those "sneak and peek" warrants are exactly what people like you tried to have banned in the US during the Patriot Act renewal. Thank God our Congress is smart enough to place our citizens' safety first and not jeopardize my children's lives to protect your alleged privacy. Have no doubt that if M's vision for America prevailed we'd have no defense against terrorists like this. O

Can someone explain to me how continued American presence in Iraq is helping defeat Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism?

Why do I think that America has had no big terrorist incident since 9/11?

Increased law enforcement and intelligence, something Bush has derided, especially in the 04 election.

It's amazing that some people still believe were are "taking the fight to the terrorists" in Iraq.

Thank God for Bush and Blair and their dedication to the cause of the World. Both have shown remarkably thick skin in the face of the minority public opinion and the evil media machine that is ou to ruin both of them. Through all of this I have seen two very geniuine men and wonderful leaders do a great job under trying circumstances.

"Why do you think that America has had no big terrorist incident since 9/11?"

Why do you draw the conclusion that it's because of some heroic work on our part? The border's wide open and people are still making it onto planes in the states with contraband after all of our security "improvements." We have probably foiled a small homegrown plot or two, but I believe the real cause is that Al Qaeda has not attempted a major attack on US soil since 2001. Let's not forget it was 8 _years_ between al qaeda attacks on US soil (WTC 93, WTC '01 ) - this is a patient adversary. That was 8 years space when nobody was paying attention to them.
Although the US developed a very pretty rainbow alert system and our administration never fails to utilize it around election time, we've done very little that I can see to protect our ports, borders, and airlines. Little things here and there, but not a lot of oversight, and tons of cracks to slip through for anyone who so desires.
This latest sting is largely the success of the UK's security. I can't help but think Al Qaeda's a bit foolish for trying to pull off a stunt like this over in Europe, where the airline security's a notch better than the gum-chewing, gossipping American airport security personnel who are constantly asleep at the wheel. It's just a matter of time...

Thank God for Bush and Blair and their dedication to the cause of the World. Both have shown remarkably thick skin in the face of the minority public opinion and the evil media machine that is ou to ruin both of them. Through all of this I have seen two very geniuine men and wonderful leaders do a great job under trying circumstances.

The DC snipers, the Cole bombers, the embassy bombers, the 9/11 hijackers, the Seattle shooter, Nasralla, bin Laden, Zarqawi, the Madrid bombers, the London bombers, the Canadian plotters, and on and on and on. What's the common denominator? Do we know who are enemy is? Are we intelligent enough to pronounce it? How can you win a world war if you can't even acknowledge who your enemy is?

SailorSam, maybe you missed the part in the article about having to act now and arrest these BAD guys because they were preparing to embark on their terror targets (airliners). To further praise the Brits: careful/patient surveillance in order to understand the magnitude of this network and the seriousness of the threat they present; waiting until you can catch them red-handed but before they could strike. In today's lawyer-driven world, you couldn't stop them any sooner or these guys would be back on the streets in short order due to claims of "profiling."

SailorSam,
Read the article again. They started the roundup when the "alleged" scum began making flight reservations. Do you think the "alleged" scum do this now in order to influence our primaries?

Get beyond the politics, sammy -

Let's give a big hand to all who worked hard to discover this plot. The Islamic extremists wonder why we back Israel- well, look at what the extremists stand for! They don't target military targets , they go only after the civilians- total cowards.
Thank you England! God bless President Bush and Tony Blair. If we get a mealy mouth President come next election, be prepared for the USA to become another Israel or Iraq- we will have terrorist bombings everywhere. I'm very worried about it too,like Gail and others, which is why I'm moving as far from the main cities as I can, I don't trust the voters not to vote an idiot into office. Sorry, if this offends anyone, but it's just my opinion.

Thank you Brits and thank God for a foiled catastrophy. It seems only a short time until passenger and baggage flights will be separate. Seems that would solve a lot of the risk.

Open your eyes lovers of freedom and democracy, you're in the crosshairs of Islamic radicals. They want you DEAD... or subjective to Islam! Wake up! Shed your pacifism and naivete before it's too late.

"To the people insisting on labeling these monsters "muslims" or "islamic", this is pure ignorance. Who in history goes around calling Hitler a christain Nazi? "

This comment by Duke is indicative of the poor logic on the Left. Dear Duke: Hitler did not perform his crimes in the name of Christianity. Muslim terrorists perform their crimes in the name of Islam and of Mohammed. That, my logic-challenged dhimmified friend, is the difference.

"Have no doubt that if M's vision for America prevailed we'd have no defense against terrorists like this."

Have no dobut that if Bob and Schwartz's vision of America prevails there will be no democracy or individual rights, both sacrifcied in the name of greater "security."

"...not all Muslims are terrorists, but...almost all terrorists are Muslims."--Abdel Rahman al-Rashed, Manager, Al-Arabiya TV News

"...not all Muslims are terrorists, but...almost all terrorists are Muslims."--Abdel Rahman al-Rashed, Manager, Al-Arabiya TV News

Kudos to the British police and intelligence services as well as all others who helped in foiling this terrible plot. As for those who see this as a failure of the left or right in our societies, remeber that whatever your views about the politics in your countries the Islamofascists are after all of us.