How many people were killed in this incident? How many injuries? And why is Obama catching flak for this?

The article at Newsweek says that the 'warning' was for a Pakistan-based plot (one that obviously didn't happen) and had nothing at all to do with Yemeni-sourced Nigerian underpants bombers. It's even possible Obama acted based on this warning to prevent an actual competent attack.

I blame neither Bush nor Obama for these attacks. Fact is, its the organizations responsible for protecting us that are to blame when actions arent taken based upon credible evidence. Its hard to blame Bush for 9.11, when the FBI, and other agencies dropped the ball..

you're telling me that the intelligence community got wind of a nigerian attacking "the united states" during christmas, and the president actually heard it??? he didn't put off the briefing??? he didn't delay??? wow. things really have changed since the bush presidency. i feel safer already...

Whatever little traction (not credibility, traction) the GOP has left, it has it own national security.

This cheap shot and hatchet job on the administration defies logic, and so fails the smell test that it will only energize the very basement base of the GOP.

Still, even those supposedly on the "progressive left", like Arianna Huffington, couldn't help but shamelessly pile on this nonstory to grind whatever axe they have.

Republicans will always believe the democrats are weak on defense meme. The shame in this story was its pickup by mainstream and supposedly "left" news outlets.

The FBI, CIA, etc don't need to worry about plane hijackings/explosions as far as terrorism is concerned. The passengers won't allow it. The only reason 9/11 succeeded was because the passengers expected to be flown to Cairo, Rio de Janiero, etc, held for ransom, debriefed, and finally released to enjoy the scenery and locals for a few days before being returned to the US. Not a bad deal. Now everybody expects that if you're acting violent, playing with fire, etc. on a plane, you plan to kill everyone anyway. The passengers will attack and subdue you. All this focus on airport security is stupid. The TSA is a waste of billions. There is no attack on a commercial airliner that can succeed in this day and age. I think that's actually why the authorities focus so much on it. Going after airline criminals is safe. It's the gun-toters on the ground that are dangerous. Their paychecks and kickbacks are the same whether they go after the non-violent "criminals" or the violent ones. I know which one I'd pick if I were living it up under the Blue Code of Silence.