A terrifying story in today's New York Times about how Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is working to create highly toxic (i.e. instantly deadly) ricin. The goal: Pack explosives around the ricin and detonate them in public places causing a high death toll and extraordinary psychological fear and damage.
What is remarkable about this report is that President Obama and White House national security advisers were briefing a year ago about AQAP's efforts. Yet, only weeks ago senior White House national security officials briefing the Washington Post on how Al Qaeda was on the verge of collapse following the death of Osama Bin Laden. The question that needs to be asked - publicly - is not only who said this but why did they say it when they knew that Al Qaeda in Yemen is strong enough and well organized enough to reach out globally in their effort to obtain the key ingredients (castor beans, ricin, bomb making materials, etc.) to create this nightmare weapons of mass destruction.
Unfortunately, Washington is completely distracted by the debt crisis and now the chance to take a short holiday away from work (and the world). But somebody has to start asking questions about this conflicting reports.
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