CHARGED – AT 8:44 P.M. ET:  The oppressed and alienated person, who, by the way, lived in a London mansion, has been formally charged.  From Fox:

A federal judge has told a Nigerian man that he is charged with trying to blow up a Northwest Airlines plane on Christmas Day.

U.S. District Judge Paul Borman read 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab his charges in a conference room on Saturday at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, where he is being treated for burns.

Agents brought Abdulmutallab into the room in a wheelchair. He had a blanket over his lap and wore a green hospital robe.

The judge asked Abdulmutallab if he understood the charges against him. He responded in English: "Yes, I do."

Reportedly, this victim of society also told the judge that he can't afford a lawyer, despite his family's wealth.  Oh boy.  Now watch all the usual suspects with law degrees fall over themselves to defend this bird. 

There's also more detail on the device used in the bombing attempt:

Preliminary FBI analysis found that the device contained PETN, also known as pentaerythritol, a highly explosive device. FBI agents recovered what appear to be the remnants of the syringe from the vicinity of Abdulmutallab's seat, believed to have been part of the device.

Acted alone, acted alone!  Repeat that three times.  Why, everyone knows how to use PETN.  Can't you get it at Stop 'n Shop?

And the nation's chief lawyer speaks out, unfortunately:

"This alleged attack on a U.S. airplane on Christmas Day shows that we must remain vigilant in the fight against terrorism at all times," Attorney General Eric Holder said.

Brilliant insight.  Just brilliant.

"Had this alleged plot to destroy an airplane been successful, scores of innocent people would have been killed or injured. We will continue to investigate this matter vigorously, and we will use all measures available to our government to ensure that anyone responsible for this attempted attack is brought to justice."

Oh, groan.  Brought to justice.  Escort 'em to the courthouse.  Read 'em their Miranda rights.  Ah, it's wonderful to be back in the Clinton era. 

Can you imagine FDR, on the day after Pearl Harbor, saying to Congress, "Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – a serious violation of the law occurred in our territory of Hawaii."

Sure, Eric, bring 'em to justice...unless other branches of the government get to them first in a more clear-cut manner.

December 26, 2009