Western European countries closed their airports to cargo from Yemen after two bombs were sent from that country to the United States. Imagine the world’s reaction if Israel were to close her airports to Palestinian cargo.
One package with bombs was intercepted in Dubai, which indeed has extensive cargo-checking facilities, but the other was miraculously intercepted at East Midlands Airport in Leicestershire, the UK. Given the lackluster facilities there, discovering a bomb package by random checks is improbable.
The packages were unusual in that they contained many bombs. Terrorists normally conceal their bombs in packages. Sending suspiciously heavy parcels through FedEx and UPS was also an abnormally bad idea. Delivering them by regular mail would have been a much safer bet.
The US Marines received an order to attack Al Qaeda’s base in Yemen, where the bombs originated, the same day the bombs were discovered. Plans appear to have been ready beforehand because the USS Boxer was ready for an amphibious landing within hours. Such a swift deployment suggests that the bombs were a pretext in a long-prepared operation.
Yemen’s president barred the United States from attacking the Al Qaeda cell responsible, even though he generally welcomes American help in putting down the rebels. He, too, suspects a deliberate provocation.
One report of moderate credibility relates that a bomb was intended for a homosexual synagogue in Chicago—not something that religious Jews would oppose. Be it as it may, the rumor comes in handy for Rahm Emmanuel’s election.
