Jon Stewart on underwear bombs and Nigerian bankers

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With the new year comes a new ‘Daily Show.’ And the run of holiday news could not have delivered host Jon Stewart more ready material than ‘an Al Qaeda plot to blow up a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day.’’

‘Once again the industrious souls of elf Qaeda trying to spread a little fear throughout the land,’’ Stewart said in Monday night’s opening monologue.

‘Yes! We’ve got us a new front in the war on terrorism,’’ said Stewart, having fun not only with a botched, Yemen-based plot, but also a failed bomb planted in the passenger’s underwear. ‘Even if the bomb works, there’s going to be 72 very disappointed virgins.’’

On the U.S. missing the warning of the accused bomber’s father that his son had become radicalized: ‘I too have a tendency to ignore messages from Nigerian bankers who want to help me.’’

There were no other warning signs, of course. The would-be bomber had no baggage as he boarded the U.S.-bound flight and paid for his ticket with cash.

‘Going to Detroit to start a better life.’’

-- Mark Silva