It's working...

[MODU]

I think it is tied in with BushOklahoma's comment, but on the radio this morning they said that the US picked up two phone calls from London to the US from the suspected attackers.  I've been trying to find a link to that news piece, but I haven't found it yet.  I'll post it when I do.

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Ok, here we go.  This article at least references the connection I stated above, and addresses the question by Joe.

"Vague tip launched probe on 3 continents"

In the aftermath of the July 7, 2005, transit bombings in London, British authorities received a call from a worried member of the Muslim community, reporting general suspicions about an acquaintance.

From that vague but vital piece of information, according to a senior European intelligence official, British authorities opened the investigation into what they said turned out to be a well-coordinated and long-planned plot to bomb multiple trans-Atlantic flights heading toward the United States--an assault designed to rival the scope and lethality of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijackings.

By late 2005, the probe had expanded to involve several hundred investigators on three continents who kept dozens of suspects under close surveillance for months, even as some of the plotters traveled between Britain and Pakistan to raise money, find recruits and refine their scheme, according to interviews with U.S. and European counterterrorism officials.

Precise details of the plot--how many planes, their destinations and the date--remain unknown. The shape of the operation changed regularly as the would-be bombers considered which trans-Atlantic flights to target and prepared for a practice run, which was expected to take place in the next few days, U.S. officials said.

Investigators eventually pieced together enough information from a blizzard of stakeouts, tips and wiretaps to make clear that something big was in the works and that the preparations were nearing an end.

"It's not like three weeks ago all of a sudden MI5 knew about this plot and went to work," a U.S. law-enforcement official said, speaking of the British security service. "They'd had a concern about these guys for some time, for months."

One U.S. intelligence source said some of the British suspects arrested had made calls to the United States.

(Cont...)

[MODU]

I don't see what Iraq has to do with British police doing their jobs.

I don't see what Iraq has to do with you making stupid comments.

[MODU]

sure you can.  you can diatribe without mentioning it was some other government besides our own foiled a plot.  which means you can also omit that congressional hawks will benefit from the press coverage (even though the hapless Blair, whose approvals make Bush's look not so bad, doesn't seem to be experiencing a bounce).  you can suggest that you know what is in the dealt hands of the terrorists (to continue the metaphor John started).  I'm not necessarily saying he's wrong in toto, just admiring his optimism.

Actually, it was at least three governments involved with this year long investigation.  And, the tools used one the UK side mirror some of the tools bemoaned by the critics and ran on the front page of the NY Times.  You omitted that fact.