Strained Intelligence Cooperation Between US and UK After Failed Christmas Attack

British officials have retracted their assertion that they passed intelligence information about the attempted Christmas Day bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, to the United States, which might have helped avert the attack. The remarks came as President Obama and his national security team met at the White House to review the attempted bombing. British Home Secretary Alan Johnson clarified that no information was held by the U.K. or shared by the U.K. with the U.S. that indicated Abdulmutallab was about to attempt a terrorism attack against the U.S. British officials acknowledged that they had information about Abdulmutallab's contacts with Islamic extremists during his three years as an engineering student in London but did not pass it to American agencies.

Key Takeaways:

• The British government retracted their assertion that they passed intelligence information about Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to the United States, which might have helped avert the attack.
• British Home Secretary Alan Johnson clarified that no information was held by the U.K. or shared by the U.K. with the U.S. that indicated Abdulmutallab was about to attempt a terrorism attack against the U.S.
• British officials acknowledged that they had information about Abdulmutallab's contacts with Islamic extremists during his three years as an engineering student in London but did not pass it to American agencies.
• The U.S. and British intelligence agencies have a strained history of cooperation, with the U.S. expressing concerns about British counterterrorism agencies' reluctance to accept the extent of Britain's network of Islamic extremists.
• The British government has emphasized the importance of close intelligence cooperation with the United States in the wake of the failed attack on the plane bound for Detroit.
• British officials have acknowledged that they need to be "ever more vigilant" about maximizing protection against those who pose a threat.
• The British government has barricaded 180 individuals from entering Britain due to their terrorist links.
• The attempted bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, linked up with Al Qaeda in Yemen after leaving London.

Statistics:

• 180 individuals have been barred from entering Britain due to their terrorist links.
• 2005: The year Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab started his engineering program at University College London.
• 2008: The year Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab completed his engineering program at University College London.
• May 2009: The month Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was refused a new student visa to enter Britain due to his association with a "bogus college."
• Dec. 25, 2009: The date of the failed attack on the Northwest Airlines plane descending into Detroit.

Sources:

• "Britain Retracts Assertion on Intelligence Sharing in Failed Christmas Bombing Case" by Keith Johnson, The Wall Street Journal
• "British Home Secretary Clarifies U.K. Intelligence on Attempted Christmas Day Bomber" by Ian James, The Telegraph