What the hell is going on? THREE different bomb plots broken up by authorities.

[Liberal In Texas]

All three have some kind of Islamic/Middle Eastern connection. They're saying no connection and maybe I read too many off-the-wall novels, but you have to wonder if some sort of sleeper cell has been activated.

Good on the authorities for breaking them up. I hope some fanatic doesn't slip through the net.

New York, New York:
A young Afghan-born man has been indicted in New York on a charge of conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against targets inside the United States. And two other Afghan-born men accused of making false statements to federal investigators investigating the case were ordered released under court supervision.
A New York grand jury indicted 24-year-old Najibullah Zazi, a resident of the western state of Colorado, on a charge that he conspired with unnamed others to make and use improvised bombs inside the U.S.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-09-24-voa32.cfm

Dallas, Texas:
Federal authorities arrested a 19-year-old Jordanian citizen whom they said placed an inactive car bomb today at Fountain Place, a 60-story skyscraper in downtown Dallas.
Hosam Maher Husein Smadi has repeatedly voiced his intent to serve Osama bin Laden and al-Qa'ida and commit "violent Jihad," authorities said in a prepared statement.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/092409dnmetbombarrest.1b177db8b.html

Springfield, Illinois:
Michael Finton, also known as Talib Islam, was arrested in Springfield, Illinois, and charged with attempted murder of federal officers or employees and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction, charges that carry a life sentence.
"Fortunately, a coordinated undercover law enforcement effort was able to thwart his efforts and ensure no one was harmed," David Kris, assistant Attorney General for National Security, said in a statement.
Finton was arrested on Wednesday in Springfield as he used a cell phone to try to detonate the bomb he believed was inside a van he had just parked outside the federal building.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2447383520090924