The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
October 13, 2011

"Underwear Bomber" Pleads Guilty to Failed 2009 Attack 
-------------------------------------------------------



A Nigerian man has pleaded guilty to attempting to carry out the failed
jetliner attack on Christmas Day in 2009. On Wednesday, Umar Farouk
Abdulmutallab, the so-called "underwear bomber," admitted to trying to
blow up a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. Abdulmutallab's
court-appointed attorney said he had advised against the guilty plea.

Anthony Chambers: "It was a decision that was against the advice of
consul. But it was a decision that he chose to make and that he believed
to be the right thing to do today, based on his own feelings. Certainly,
we have been involved in what we would consider to be a very contested
litigation at this point in time, that's what we do. We wanted to
continue the trial but we respect his decision."

Some of the passengers aboard the 2009 flight were on hand for the
trial. Outside the courtroom, two passengers said the guilty plea would
help bring closure.

Dimitrious Bessis: "It was a horrible experience. I have nightmares from
it. I know that the children who were there will probably be scarred for
the rest of their lives. But it is over with, thank God. We all made it
— including the good Lord let him live and he made the proper
decision and pleaded guilty."

Lori Haskell: "I'm completely and totally shocked that he pleaded
guilty. But I am glad that this is over with. It's been something that
my family and I have been dealing with for the past year and a half. I'm
glad it's done with and hopefully I won't have to think about it much
longer."



.