Obama Pins Plot on al Qaeda in Yemen, Calls for End to Political Sniping

Obama used his weekly radio address to pin the blame on the al Qaeda group, describing the journey of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the would-be bomber, to Yemen where he "he joined an affiliate of al Qaeda ... (who) trained him, equipped him with those explosives and directed him to attack that plane headed for America."

"Let us remember this: our adversaries are those who would attack our country, not our fellow Americans, not each other," Obama said. "Let's never forget what has always carried us through times of trial, including those attacks eight Septembers ago."

"Instead of giving in to fear and cynicism, let's renew that timeless American spirit of resolve and confidence and optimism," he said. "Instead of succumbing to partisanship and division, let's summon the unity that this moment demands. Let's work together, with a seriousness of purpose, to do what must be done to keep our country safe."

Several Republicans had quickly jumped on statements made on last Sunday's news shows by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano that "the system worked" and that there was no evidence that the incident was "part of anything larger."

Rep. Peter King, ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, had been critical of Obama for not immediately coming forward himself to speak out on what had happened and what was being done, telling Fox News, "We're now what, 72 hours into this? And the President has not spoken, the Vice President has not spoken the Attorney General has not spoken and Janet Napolitano has now told two different stories in two days." He was referring to Napolitano's second round of talk show appearances on Monday where she conceded that the system had failed.

Obama made his first public statement on the Monday after the Friday incident.

The sharpest attack came from former Vice President Cheney who said in a statement to the Politico: "It is clear once again that President Obama is trying to pretend we are not at war. He seems to think if he has a low-key response to an attempt to blow up an airliner and kill hundreds of people, we won't be at war."

In his remarks today, Obama said that on the day he was inaugurated, "I also made it very clear-our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred, and that we will do whatever it takes to defeat them and defend our country, even as we uphold the values that have always distinguished America among nations."

Obama said that, recognizing Yemen was becoming a staging area for terrorist actions, he has made it a priority to work with that country's government by training and equipping its security forces and sharing intelligence.

A little over two weeks ago, Yemeni forces attacked suspected hide-outs of al Qaeda and said it killed at least 34 militants. The New York Times reported that the U.S. helped the Yemenis with firepower and intelligence, something Obama appeared to acknowledge today when he said "even before Christmas Day, we had seen the results. Training camps have been struck; leaders eliminated; plots disrupted."