Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility For Failed Attack

Tom Ridge, America's first Secretary of Homeland Security, reacts to Al Qaeda's claim of responsibility for the attempted plane bombing on Christmas!

Plus, were two of the men behind the attempted Christmas attack firmly in U.S. custody - and then released?

And we'll discuss the politics of the situation, which leads to our question of the day:

How do you think the Obama administration has dealt with the attempted Christmas terror attack?

Filed under: Uncategorized

via Los Angeles Times LA NOW blog...

Amid the 333 pages of FBI documents on Michael Jackson, none may be more curious than the reference to the pop star's pet chimp.

The chimpanzee, Bubbles, came up in the 1993 investigation into a 13-year-old boy's allegations that Jackson molested him.

What led an agent to scrawl "male chimp" twice in his notebook remains a mystery, thanks to FBI censors who redacted much of the rest of the writing on the page.

(Read More)

Filed under: Larry King Live • Michael Jackson

By Jethro Nededog via Zaptoit

MTV, predictable much? We're not surprised by the network's choices for their top man and woman of 2009, but we do think they're well-deserved.

Michael Jackson's death was the event of the year. It took down Twitter, inspired pilgrimages to the Jackson Compound in insufferable Encino, Calif., silenced his critics for a short while and introduced a new generation to the awesomeness that was Jackson's music. And let's just say Kanye and John Mayer weren't exactly putting up a fight for the title.

"I think it's great, because Mike was a pioneer," Jermaine Jackson told MTV.

(Read More)

Filed under: Larry King Live • Michael Jackson

TSA GUIDANCE FOR PASSENGERS ON HEIGHTENED SECURITY MEASURES IN PLACE FOLLOWING DEC. 25 INCIDENT

On Dec. 25, 2009, an individual on board Northwest Airlines Flight 253 set off a device and was subdued by passengers and crew. TSA wishes to acknowledge the heroic efforts of those individuals.

As a result of this incident, TSA has worked with airline and law enforcement authorities, as well as federal, state, local, and international partners to put additional security measures in place to ensure aviation security remains strong. Passengers traveling domestically and internationally to U.S. destinations may notice additional screening measures.

The American people should continue their planned holiday travel. TSA encourages passengers to remain observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior or activity to law enforcement officials.

Q:  What additional security measures is TSA taking domestically?

A: TSA has a layered approach to security that allows us to surge resources as needed on a daily basis. We have the ability to quickly implement additional screening measures including explosive detection canine teams, law enforcement officers, gate screening, behavior detection and other measures both seen and unseen. Passengers should not expect to see the same thing at every airport.

Q: What additional security measures are being taken for international flights to U.S. destinations?

A: TSA issued a directive for additional security measures to be implemented for last point of departure international flights to the United States. Passengers flying into the United States from abroad can expect to see additional security measures at international airports such as increased gate screening including pat-downs and bag searches. During flight, passengers will be asked to follow flight crew instructions, such as stowing personal items, turning off electronic equipment and remaining seated during certain portions of the flight. 

Q: Do passengers need to do anything differently to prepare for checkpoint security procedures? Has anything changed in terms of what passengers can bring in their carry-on or checked bags?

A: At this time, security checkpoint requirements for passengers departing U.S. airports remain the same. Passengers do not need to do anything differently, but they may notice additional security measures at the airport. 

Q: Should passengers plan to arrive at airports earlier than normal?

A: Passengers traveling within the United States should give themselves extra time to check in and proceed through the security checkpoint before their flight, especially during the busy holiday travel season. TSA advises that passengers traveling on international flights to U.S. destinations allow extra time for security and arrive an additional hour earlier.  

Q.  How long will these measures remain in place?

A: TSA will continuously review these measures to ensure the highest levels of security.

(www.tsa.gov)

Filed under: Larry King Live

(CNN) – A security alert aboard a Northwest Airlines jet ended Sunday after investigators determined the incident - the second in two days involving a Detroit, Michigan-bound flight - was "non-serious," federal authorities said.

The crew of Northwest Flight 253 reported a "verbally disruptive" passenger Sunday and requested police meet the plane when it arrived from the Netherlands, the airline told CNN. The man was questioned by police after the plane landed in Detroit early Sunday afternoon.

The Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight is the same one targeted Friday in what prosecutors called a failed attempt to blow up a jetliner. Sandra Berchtold, a spokeswoman for the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Detroit, said Sunday's alert was caused by a passenger who "spent a lengthy time in the restroom."

"This raised concerns, so an alert was raised," she said. "JTTF investigated, and the investigation shows that this was a non-serious incident and all is clear at this point."

The passenger spent about an hour in the bathroom and got upset when he was questioned by the crew of the flight from Amsterdam, Netherlands, according to government sources. Law enforcement agents questioned the man Sunday.

The jet had the same designation - Flight 253 - as the one on which a Nigerian man is accused of attempting to set off an explosive device Friday, said Scott Wintner, a spokesman for the Wayne County Airport Authority. Winter told CNN the flight "requested emergency assistance and was pulled aside upon arrival in Detroit."

The jet was taken a long distance from the terminal and "completely engulfed" by emergency vehicles and heavily armed police once it landed, said Don Graham, who was waiting for relatives to arrive at the airport.

The flight arrived about 12:34 p.m., said Susan Elliott, a spokeswoman for Delta Air Lines, which owns Northwest. The 257 passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft about an hour after the jet landed, she said.

Filed under: al Qaeda • Crime • Larry King Live • Terrorism

Tonight,

Another scare in the air...

A flight, the same flight, from Amsterdam to Detroit is disrupted two days after the attempted terror attack on Christmas day.

Was this a copycat move or simply a misunderstanding?

What's the state of air travel, is this an industry in crisis?

Tonight, a special Larry King Live will talk to reporters and experts from around the globe as we try to get to the bottom of what's going on.

9pm ET

Filed under: Larry King Live

Filed under: Larry King Live

If you watched Kenny Rogers on tonight's holiday music special, you'll want to check out his live tour when he comes to your city!

* Hankinson, SD  January 29, 2010 8:00 p.m. Dakota Magic Casino Hotel – Convention Center

* Walker, MN January 30, 2010 8:00 p.m. Northern Lights Hotel & Casino – Events Center

* Walker, MN  January 31, 2010 8:00 p.m. Northern Lights Casino & Hotel – Events Center

* Nashville, TN – February 04, 2010 8:00 p.m. Schermerhorn Symphony Center

FOR MORE TOUR DATES, CLICK HERE

And by the way, the artist who performed "Joy to the World" with Kenny Rogers was Grammy award winner Rebecca Lynn Howard.  You can learn more about her by clicking here.

Filed under: Larry King Live

Tonight we have a special Larry King Live. A star studded line-up of musical performances to get you in the holiday spirit.

Sting, Kenny Rogers & Rebecca Lynn Howard, Andrea Bocelli & David Foster, David Archuleta, Queen Latifah, The Boys and Girls Choir of Harlem Alumni Ensemble, Katharine McPhee, Shawn King and a special appearance by Tyra Banks. All tonight on Larry King Live!

For more information on Kenny Roger's tour currently under way click here

Photo courtesy Life.com

Filed under: Larry King Live

Sting took some time out of his concert stop at New York's Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine to talk to us about his Christmas memories, and the mystique of winter.  His new album, "If On A Winter's Night," is available now.  Sting will also be performing on the LKL Christmas music show, airing Dec. 23rd.  We taped the performance earlier this week and it's incredible.

LKL Blog: What are your fondest childhood holiday memories?

Sting: I think when it snowed it made my little gray industrial town into this magical landscape. And I used to work with my daddy on the milk grounds, so we were the first people at 5 in the morning to disturb the snow. So that memory for me was magical, even though it was cold, and after a few hours I was pretty miserable. When we first went out there it was great. I still love the snow.

LKL Blog: What do you like to do to celebrate the holidays now?

Sting: My greatest Christmas gift is for my six children to come home, and we sit around the fire, and we talk about what's happened to us in the year, and what we've done, and what we hope to achieve next year. Just sitting with them, with the fire on, and a few dogs around, that's the greatest gift I could ever have.

LKL Blog: Why did you decide to do an album centered on the winter season?

Sting: The record company said to me, "Why don't you do a Christmas record," and I said, "I'm not really into Frosty the Snowman, I don't really like Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer, and I'm not that into Santa Clause." So I said why don't we consider doing an album about the winter, because it's a very rich season. It's full of imagery, ghosts and spirits, and magical stories. So I said let me do that. So I spent 6 months doing research, looking at songs from many centuries, many different kind of genres - folk songs, classical songs, sacred songs. We ended up with "If On A Winter's Night" and it's doing incredibly well, much better than anyone expected. I'm thrilled.

LKL Blog: What do you like to do in winter?

Sting: Well, I ski, I snowboard, I love to walk. I like to walk with my dogs in the snow. I like the winter. It's a season that's important for reflection. Animals hibernate, humans reflect.

LKL Blog: And are you now sporting the beard for winter warmth?

Sting: Last year I was in an opera in Paris, and I was the star, and I played Dionysis, the Greek God, so they made me get this beard, and I kind of liked it. My wife breeds Irish wolfhounds, so it's not so far removed from the dogs, so it gets me more affection.

Filed under: 5 Questions • LKL Web Exclusive • Music • Sting