Parties spar over blame for failed Christmas Day terrorist attack
By J. Taylor Rushing and Ian Swanson - 12/29/09 05:12 PM ET

Political fighting over the failed Christmas Day bombing of a Northwest flight intensified Tuesday with both parties offering new lines of attack.

Republicans are labeling Democrats and President Barack Obama as weak on national security, a reliable GOP line attack that faded in the final years of George W. Bush’s presidency.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) said the administration was making a mistake by not sending accused terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to a military tribunal, while at least one Republican has called for the resignation of Obama’s head of homeland security. Other conservatives criticized Obama for not using the word “terroristâ€