Terrorists were not on the planes yet but they were close

Not a good story to wake up to, learning that the UK has uncovered a plan to blow up passenger planes headed for the United States.  This story is being covered extensively on news channels, especially Fox News with their Skynews television reports, but the possibilities hit closer to home for me today as Dale supposedly took off for home from Europe.  I haven't heard that he was grounded so assume his flight is now in the air.

What is known at this particular time is that at least 21 British nationals of Pakistani origin have been arrested in Great Britain. 

The number of suspects may reach 50 or more.

Wizbang is following this story with many frequently updated links.  Thanks to Lorie Byrd

"the terrorists were going to board consecutive flights leaving Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, and Hethrow," and "they were not on the planes yet, but they were close."  I am 100 percent with Ace who said on his constantly updated website, "I'd just hazard the obvious -- they bought the tickets."

This is the 5th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, in case this bit of news got by you.  Makes me wonder just where all those Egyptian students who entered the country over the weekend and got lost really are.  Seems three were found and are being held.  They aren't charged with anything but are being questioned.  Right.

Airport authorities are going to disallow hand held carry on baggage and liquids are now suspect in all forms including gels (toothpaste) hairspray, drinks and most horrifying of all, baby formula.  The only conclusion you can draw is that some of these suspects are women carrying their babies and planning to blow up a plane.

The investigation is being described as global and it has been reported that MI-5 and the CIA worked together on it.

Leftist blogs have already begun to raise the political flag to see how many gullible thinkers will salute.  This from AMERICAblog is throwing out the theory that the republican administration has responded to the story with a "red alert" because a Lieberman lost the Connecticut democratic primary.

"And isn't it queer that the emergency is declared within a day of Republican party leader Ken Mehlman launching an all-out offensive against Democrats following Joe Lieberman's loss in Connecticut, an offensive in which Mehlman, the White House and Republican operatives are claiming that Democrats no longer care about national security or the war on terror.

And just at that moment we get our FIRST ever red alert. Beam me up, Scotty."  This leaves me speechless.  Check the comments which follow the post.  This "emergency" as Katherine Ham at Townhall states, "International terrorist plot, guys. You got a victory yesterday, but it's really not all about you." 

I'd add one more thing, these terrorists don't care a whit whether you are a democrat or a republican.  They want to kill Americans.  We are all in this together, like it or not.