Planners of Attempted Northwest Air Christmas Bombing Were RELEASED FROM GITMO

Finally something that Barak Obama can legitimately blame on George Bush. ABC is reporting that two of the four leaders who planned the attempted bombing of Northwest flight 253 over Detroit were former residents of the Guantanamo Bay prison. They were released in November of 2007, into the hands of Saudi Arabia who claimed the terrorists could be cured via art therapy (I swear I am not making this up). The Video at the end of this post is a 60 Minutes report on the Saudi rehabilitation program which includes "Art Therapy:"

Two of the four leaders allegedly behind the al Qaeda plot to blow up a Northwest Airlines passenger jet over Detroit were released by the U.S. from the Guantanamo prison in November, 2007, according to American officials and Department of Defense documents. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the Northwest bombing in a Monday statement that vowed more attacks on Americans.

American officials agreed to send the two terrorists from Guantanamo to Saudi Arabia where they entered into an "art therapy rehabilitation program" and were set free, according to U.S. and Saudi officials.

Guantanamo prisoner #333, Muhamad Attik al-Harbi, and prisoner #372, Said Ali Shari, were sent to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 9, 2007, according to the Defense Department log of detainees who were released from American custody. Al-Harbi has since changed his name to Muhamad al-Awfi.

Gee Art therapy, I wonder if Osama bin Laden posts their finger paints on the fridge like any proud parent. The 60 minutes report says the art therapy gives the terrorists a chance to get in touch with their feelings.

And then there's art therapy - a surprisingly modern concept introduced by Dr. Awad al Yami into a very conservative society. Dr. Awad says art gives his students a chance to express feelings they're not ready to talk about.

The feelings these guys should be feeling is a hangman's noose around their necks.

Both Saudi nationals have since emerged in leadership roles in Yemen, according to U.S. officials and the men's own statements on al Qaeda propaganda tapes.


Both of the former Guantanamo detainees are described as military commanders and appear on a January, 2009 video along with the man described as the top leader of al Qaeda in Yemen, Abu Basir Naser al-Wahishi, formerly Osama bin Laden's personal secretary.


In its Monday statement claiming responsibility for the Northwest bombing, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula called bombing suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab a "hero" and a "martyr" and lauded him for beating U.S. intelligence.


The two-page written claim included a photo of Abdulmutallab and boasted of Al Qaeda's success in designing "advanced explosive packages" that can pass through airport screening undetected.

True they are undetected but they can be real ball-busters.

The statement also asks for attacks upon Americans in the Arabian peninsula, and promises further attacks on the American people.


The suspected bomber, 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, told FBI agents he was trained for his Christmas Day mission in Yemen by top leaders of al Qaeda who provided him with the explosive materials.


"The so-called rehabilitation programs are a joke," a U.S. diplomat said in describing the Saudi efforts with released Guantanamo detainees.


Saudi officials concede its program has had its "failures" but insist that, overall, the effort has helped return potential terrorists to a meaningful life.


One program gives the former detainees paints and crayons as part of the rehabilitation regimen.


A similar rehabilitation program in Yemen was stopped because so many of the detainees quickly joined with al Qaeda or its affiliates, the official said.

Truth is the revelation that these guys came from Guantanamo bay should serve as a warning to the Obama administration which is release some of the Gitmo prison before he moves the rest onto the American mainland.


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