# Naeem Noor Khan -- the other shoe drops **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 15, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622 "2005-07-15T05:35:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/1 "2005-07-15T05:35:27Z")
Remember a little story from last summer about an Al-Qaeda mole who was inadvertently outed by the U.S. government? The result was a hurried scramble by the British to round up the Al Qaeda members he had fingered and a lot of hand-wringing about lost opportunities. An article from Reuters at the time had the following to say: > [@](#): > > The revelation that a mole within al Qaeda was exposed after Washington launched its “orange alert” this month has shocked security experts, who say the outing of the source may have set back the war on terror. The screw-up was extensively discussed on this message board in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=270260&highlight=Naeem+Noor+Khan). Well, now we know just how big a security screw-up it really was. The mole was none other than Naeem Noor Khan, whose name has just been linked to the recent London subway bombings. The hurried arrests last August were in Luton, the city where the subway bombers were based, and Khan’s laptop contained the plans for a bomb attack on the London subway. Here’s an [article](http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/LondonBlasts/story?id=940198&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312) from ABC News about the current state of the investigation into the subway bombings. Here’s [Condoleeza Rice on CNN](http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0408/08/le.00.html) confirming that the Bush administration leaked Khan’s name on background. If Khan had remained a mole he would have been in the perfect position to provide us with the information necessary to stop this attack. Because his cover was blown, that opportunity was lost. How can we fight a war on terror if people in the White House can’t keep their yaps shut? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/2 "2005-07-15T06:09:36Z")
Holy shit! Definitely going to hold my breath until this is confirmed. _Then_ scream. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/3 "2005-07-15T06:11:39Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Holy shit! Definitely going to hold my breath until this is confirmed. > > _Then_ scream. You’ll scream “KHAAAAN,” right? I’ll get my earplugs, because I heard ABC News mention Khan in their story about the bombers this evening. I recognized him from, uh, having his face on the cover of Newsweek as an Al Qaeda agent who was “flipped” by the CIA. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/4 "2005-07-15T06:17:32Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Holy shit! Definitely going to hold my breath until this is confirmed. > > _Then_ scream. The linkage between last summer’s intelligence bungle and the London attacks is just beginning to ripple through the blogosphere. I don’t think it’s made it to the mainstream media yet. But it shouldn’t take long … . ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/5 "2005-07-15T06:28:13Z")
The Brits will totally freak. And I couldn’t blame them one bit. As much as I wish dreary confusion on the Bushiviks, I find myself hoping that its not true. Because its just too fucking awful. Damn, the Brits are about the only friends we got that we didn’t buy. We will look like the world’s biggest assholes. Sweet blazing Og, I hope its not true. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/6 "2005-07-15T07:43:26Z")
Did you see this in the ABC link? > [@](#): > > The laptop computer of Naeem Noor Khan, a captured al Qaeda leader, contained plans for a coordinated series of attacks on the London subway system, as well as on financial buildings in both New York and Washington. Jesus, fuck! Did they **not** take this seriously? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/7 "2005-07-15T08:05:03Z")
Through various beat downs in the Pit, I’ve learned to try to get all the info before jumping in. Tonight, I’m aware that I’m really not thinking clearly (fucking meds) so can I ask for a simple break-down of a bust/flip/whatever is going on form last year that led to the bombings? The accusation sounds like it’s the US’s fault. I can’t concentrate right now to get through the cites clearly, so any help would be appreciated. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/8 "2005-07-15T12:09:33Z")
Ack! I read the OP when it was posted, but figured, as others have said, on NOT screaming until I could track this on several news sources after some sleep. Now I think I might be screaming shortly. Can’t be, though? Just TOO much like a trashy novel, no? Hmm, I failed to convince myself there. Cock-up Theory of History, here we come. Hell, it really would be funny were it not for the little “people being KILLED” detail. Off to look for news items on this, hoping it can turn out somehow not to be the way the OP said, and oh, yes, that would mean not being the way that Reuters said, and well … I shall just not hope to much then, I think. Perhaps some shouting and screaming practice instead? ( … when arrested for breach of the peace, Ms Celyn refused to say anything, on the grounds that too much furious shouting had caused her to lose her voice … and now for a look at today’s weather. ) ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/9 "2005-07-15T12:26:33Z")
I only remember so much of the original fuckup. The source was made known to the general media…why? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/10 "2005-07-15T12:26:54Z")
Here’s some information regarding the leak from last year. > [@](#): > > **08/10/04 11:53 EDT Leak Allowed al-Qaida Suspects to Escape By MATTHEW PENNINGTON, AP** > > Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan, a 25-year-old Pakistani, was nabbed in a July 13 raid in the eastern city of Lahore. His capture was a signal victory for Pakistan, a key U.S. ally in the war on terrorism. He led authorities to a key al-Qaida figure and sent e-mails to terrorists so investigators could trace their locations. But on Tuesday, two senior officials expressed dismay that the arrest of Khan made it into the media too soon - reported first in American newspapers on Aug. 2 after it was disclosed to journalists by U.S. officials in Washington. “Let me say that this intelligence leak jeopardized our plan and some al-Qaida suspects ran away,” one of the Pakistani officials said on condition of anonymity. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Sunday that Khan’s name had been disclosed to reporters in Washington “on background,” meaning that it could be published, but the information could not be attributed by name to the official who had revealed it. And from [http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1306638,00.html](http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1306638,00.html) > [@](#): > > **US apologises for terror news leaks** > President Bush’s chief domestic security official yesterday apologised for the disruption of a big MI5 and police surveillance operation in Britain. > Tom Ridge, the homeland security secretary, said the leaking of intelligence in the US about alleged terrorist suspects here was “regrettable”. […] > Whitehall was furious early last month when individuals were named and allegations about terrorist attacks were made public in the US. > The claims, about putative attacks on buildings in the US and on British targets, including Heathrow, were based on information found on the computers of an alleged al-Qaida sympathiser in Pakistan. > The disclosures forced the police to quickly arrest 12 suspects in raids across England. […] > “The volume of potential information was the largest we have ever seen,” he said. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/11 "2005-07-15T12:58:19Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > I only remember so much of the original fuckup. > > The source was made known to the general media…why? > > -Joe Maybe his spouse was critical of the Bush administration. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/12 "2005-07-15T13:32:01Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Maybe his spouse was critical of the Bush administration. You know, it’s funny. You’d think that **THIS** would be one of those investigations that shouldn’t be commented on until it was compelte. Oh, wait, this made the Bush Admin look like they were doing something. Rush it to page one! So…did the leak/announcement to the press come from the White House or Pakistanis? -Joeistani ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/13 "2005-07-15T14:32:44Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Maybe his spouse was critical of the Bush administration. So you’re thinking Rove leaked this as well? I like that theory! ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/14 "2005-07-15T15:10:43Z")
Speaking as a subject of your loyal ally I can safely say we’re only too pleased to be blown to bits by the dozen if it means Bushco can grab a moment of cheap publicity through leaking information on turned suspects. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/15 "2005-07-15T15:17:48Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Speaking as a subject of your loyal ally I can safely say we’re only too pleased to be blown to bits by the dozen if it means Bushco can grab a moment of cheap publicity through leaking information on turned suspects. Oh, **Tagos** - no-one in this thread sounds one tiny bit less pissed off than you or I are about it. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/16 "2005-07-15T15:22:12Z")
> [@Celyn](#): > > Oh, **Tagos** - no-one in this thread sounds one tiny bit less pissed off than you or I are about it. It’s the asshats who aren’t here, the ones who see no damn wrong in anything Bush does I’m ranting at. I don’t see any of the usual moronic, disengenuous, lying sacks of shit here. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/17 "2005-07-15T15:22:28Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > The screw-up was extensively discussed on this message board in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=270260&highlight=Naeem+Noor+Khan). > > Well, now we know just how big a security screw-up it really was. The mole was none other than Naeem Noor Khan, > Here’s [Condoleeza Rice on CNN](http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0408/08/le.00.html) confirming that the Bush administration leaked Khan’s name on background. > > If Khan had remained a mole he would have been in the perfect position to provide us with the information necessary to stop this attack. Because his cover was blown, that opportunity was lost. > > How can we fight a war on terror if people in the White House can’t keep their yaps shut? Just add it to the other “little accidents” such as the Israeli leak and Plame. When will someone do something about this? Why won’t someone put a stop to this? Since when does political expediency or revenge trump national security? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/18 "2005-07-15T15:25:52Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Just add it to the other “little accidents” such as the Israeli leak and Plame. When will someone do something about this? Why won’t someone put a stop to this? Since when does political expediency or revenge trump national security? When you’re a Republican. Remember, kids, it’s OK to be a traitor to your country, as long as you remember to put the Republican party first. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/19 "2005-07-15T15:27:00Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > It’s the asshats who aren’t here, the ones who see no damn wrong in anything Bush does I’m ranting at. I don’t see any of the usual moronic, disengenuous, lying sacks of shit here. Yep, OK, I do see what you mean. Still, we’ve got Bliar as our very own moronic, disingenuous etc … , more’s the pity. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622/20 "2005-07-15T15:31:46Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Just add it to the other “little accidents” such as the Israeli leak and Plame. When will someone do something about this? Why won’t someone put a stop to this? Since when does political expediency or revenge trump national security? 01/20/2001? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/naeem-noor-khan-the-other-shoe-drops/312622.md?page=2)