Live blogging transcription of President Obama addressing the Business Council in Washington DC today appears below the fold.
Today's statement by Gibbs:
"The President was briefed six times yesterday about the investigation and was notified of the Faisal Shahzad arrest at 12:05 am, all by John Brennan."
Some of the things we know about Faisal Shahzad:
• Faisal Shahzad arrested at 11:45 ET pm yesterday
• He had already boarded an Emirates Airlines plane at JFK
• Emirates Airlines alerted authorities to Shahzad paying in cash
• Plane was almost about to release jetway and depart when Shahzad was arrested
• Shahzad reportedly was headed to Pakistan via Dubai
• He is due in federal court today in Manhattan before Judge Kevin Fox
• Cell phone calls helped police find him
• ATF and other agencies are now dissembling Shahzad's home in Connecticut in search of evidence
• Shahzad was living in his home in Connecticut with a woman who he designated as his wife, and two children
About President Obama's comments after the jump...
UPDATE: After many years, and a few researched subject-matter diaries, this is my first on the Rec List. Just a simple live blogged transcription. I'm flummoxed, not to mention gob-stopped.
Go figure. But I'm most grateful. Thank you all for your comments.
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President Addresses Business Council in Washington DC today:
Thank you very much. Ron, thank you for the introduction and your leadership.
Before I begin, I hope you don't mind, I indicated to Jim Mohn that I want to give the American people a brief update on the investigation into the attempted terrorist attack in Times Square.
A suspect is now in custody and is being questioned. The American people can be assured that the FBI and their partners in this process have all the tools and experience they need to learn everything we can. And that includes what, if any, connection this individual has to terrorist groups. And that includes collecting critical intelligence as we work to disrupt any future attacks.
Justice will be done. And we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the American people. Attorney General Eric Holder, and other members of my national security team, are going to be providing more details.
But let me say this: This incident is another sobering reminder of the times in which we live. Around the world, and here at home, there are those who would attack out citizens and who would slaughter innocent men, women, and children in pursuit of their murderous agenda. They will stop at nothing to kill and disrupt our way of life.
But, once again, an attempted attack has failed. It has failed because ordinary citizens were vigilant and reported suspicious activity to the authorities. It failed because these authorities -- local, state, and federal -- acted quickly and did what they are trained to do.
I've had the opportunity to personally thank some of the citizens and law enforcement officers who's quick thinking may have saved hundreds of lives. And this suspect has been apprehended because of close and effective coordination at every level. Including our Joint Terrorism Task Force and US Customs and Border Protection.
Finally, New Yorkers have reminded us of how to live with their heads held high. We know the aim of those who try to carry out these attacks is to force us to live in fear, and thereby amplifying the effects of their attacks. Even those that fail.
But, as Americans, and as a nation, we will not be terrorized. We will not cower in fear. We will not be intimidated. We will be vigilant. We will work together. And we will protect and defend the country we love to insure a safe and prosperous future for our people.
That's what I intend to do as president, and that's what we will do as a nation.
[End of speech preamble addressing thwarted attack in NYC.]
The transcript of this speech should be up at the White House web site later today.
I transcribed this excerpt of the president's speech from the live broadcast.
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UPDATE: Attn. Gen. Eric Holder will be giving a press conference at 1:00 pm ET later today.