Cameron did not know of cargo bomb for 11 hours

[Gromit]

// David Cameron was unaware of the al-Qaeda parcel bomb threat until nearly 11 hours after a live device was found at East Midlands Airport, it emerged last night.

While President Barack Obama was briefed within five minutes of the suspect package being found at 3.30am on Friday, the Prime Minister was not told until 2pm.
A senior Whitehall source told The Daily Telegraph that Mr Cameron had been informed “very late in the day” and conceded: “It is clear that lessons can be learned.” The Prime Minister has ordered a review after questions in Parliament over why he was in the dark for so long. //

http://www.telegraph....n-dark-over-bomb.html

I answered a question last week where I said it was inconceivable he was not told. Now it turns out he was in the dark about the bomb for nearly eleven hours. I know they are new in office, but this seems extremely lax.

Can the nation's security be trusted to these amateurs?

[jno]

that is rather extraordinary.

However, I see we have now responded by imposing restrictions on the transport of ink cartridges. Stable doors come to mind. Too bad all our efforts so far have focused on the prevention of exploding belts.

[jake-the-peg]

What seems even more remarkable is the quote

//The Prime Minister has ordered a review after questions in Parliament over why he was in the dark for so long.//

He needed questions in Parliament before he ordered a review into this?

[Gromit]

One is reminded of hapless George W reading nursery rhymes as the hijacked anew were plunging into the twin towers.

It seems pretty shocking that no one thought to tell the Prime Minister, can you imagine the howls if Blair had been asleep on the job on 7/7?

[kinell]

i dont want to be on a plane where a passenger is allowed to carry a 499g toner cartridge in their hand luggage....

exactly what use can there be for one of these when travelling?

let me know if 'you never leave home without one'?

[Loosehead]

Ah the Old GWB myth, W was informed but at the time it was initially reported as a small plane hitting the towers, even on the BBC site, this had happenned before. That's why he carried on for 20 minutes. Still not like you to ignore the facts eh Gromit.

Of course the PM should know these things but it basically changes nothing, do you imagine that Cameron should suddenly dress up as Rambo ans start kicking ar5se? The security services would be dealing with this under their own procedures. Yes you are correct the PM should know sooner so slapped wrists all round.

[ludwig]

// Can the nation's security be trusted to these amateurs? //

Obviously not. Clearly we need to bring back Gordon Brown, as his well known powers of telepathy would have come in useful in these circumstances.

[Gromit]

Loosehead

Here are the facts.
- The Plane crashed at 8.46am. It had been tracked and NORAD knew it was a jetliner
- The live television pictures of the first plane attack was broadcast at 8.48am.
- Reporters new of the attack before Bush arrived at the school
- US Navy Captain Deborah Loewer, the director of the White House Situation Room, was traveling in the motorcade to the scholl when she received a message from an assistant back in Washington about the first crash. Loewer said that as soon as the car arrived at Booker, she ran quickly over to Bush.
- Bush entered the classroom at 9.03 (15 minutes after it was first on television)
- Bush then does nothing for 20 minutes.

As I say, he was hapless.

[Loosehead]

In the complete timeline Bush says when he enters the Class room he still thought it was an accident. Is there any reason for him to lie about this?

[youngmafbog]

Just what is your point Gromit ?

Are you blaming Cameron for not knowing ?

Seems to me the procedures put in place by your beloved labour failed, much like everything else they did.

[237SJ]

So, what were the proceedures put into place by Labour to check cargo on American aircraft?

[237SJ]

*procedures*

[youngmafbog]

Gromit seems to think something is in place, he's balming Cameron. Unlikely the Tories would have had time to change anything like that so must be down to Noo Labour.

Steve5, so George W knew it was going to happen and went to a school. Hmm odd logic.

[youngmafbog]

If your gonna bash bush at least use something reasonable, I mean there's plenty of material without resorting to the odd.

[jno]

if Cameron hasn't yet mentioned to anyone that he'd like to be told when a bomb is found on a plane at a UK airport, perhaps he should do so. The thought of him trying to blame Noo Labour because nobody tells him anything is hilarious. Is he prime minister or not?

[Gromit]

Youngmafdog,

The procedures I am querying are not about searching planes, I am on about the Coalition's new procedure of The Home Secretary not informing the Prime Minister about a bomb found at a British Airport for 11 hours.

Do yoy not think it is important that the PM is told as soon as possible, he is supposed to be running the show after all.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit I fully covered this in my post on Saturday.

http://www.theanswerb...s/Question952636.html

[Gromit]

AOG,

Yes, I alluded to that at the bottom of my question. I had asserted in answer to your question, that Cameron must have known soon after the bomb was found, but incredibly, he wasn't.