Air Strike Against Extremist Cleric Tied to Fort Hood Massacre Kills 30
24 December 2009 9:52 am by Taylor Marsh
by Gene Thorpe, Washington Post
A Christmas Eve air strike has reportedly killed 30 militants in Yemen. An anonymous official said Al Qaeda were meeting at the house of Anwar al-Awlaki, the preacher who exchanged emails with Fort Hood suspect Maj Nidal Hasan, that was struck. From Reuters:
Nasser al-Wahayshi, the Yemeni leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and his Saudi deputy, Saeed al-Shehri, were believed to be among 30 militants killed in the dawn operation in the eastern province of Shabwa, said the official, who asked not to be identified.
U.S.-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki may also have died in the air strike which targeted a meeting of militants planning attacks on Yemeni and foreign oil and economic targets, he said.
If all the deaths are confirmed, the air strike would appear to have struck a severe blow against AQAP, seen as the most dangerous regional offshoot of Osama bin Laden’s network.
Interesting interview on Obama’s shifting Yemeni strategy gives details behind recent military strikes in that country, which takes our aiding Yemeni leaders with anti-terrorism support through military equipment to another level.
Keep all comments on topic. All others will be deleted.
Thanks.
More warmongering and war expansion by Obama and his militarist neocon cabel. I’m certain that Hillary’s bloody handprints are all over this escalation in terror and death. In 2008 the US gave 0 (zero) dollars in military aid to the Yemeni government. In 2009 Obama gave Yemen $70 million dollars in military aid. The USA is now actively training the Yemeni military in counterterrorism tactics. We are also flying drones around and have a large military and CIA presence at a major military base in Northern Yemen. On top of that the USA is now coordinating attacks into Yemen with Saudi Arabia. One of those joint attacks occurred a few weeks back. This is outrageous. All of the ‘experts’ say that our presence in Yemen is absolutely counterproductive and will, in the long run, cause us to be far less safe and secure. Peace
Are you seriously suggesting that Obama shouldn’t actively seek out Al Qaeda where they hide, in conjunction with governments that ask for our help?
Are you seriousy suggesting that Obama attack militarily every country in which al Qaeda is active? Or should we attack just this country or just that country depending on what? Should we invade Indonesia for example? This hunt down and kill al Qaeda crap is way out of hand. Peace
We are not militarily attacking “every country in which al Qaeda is active.” The cleric whose house was targeted, who has suspected Al Qaeda sympathies, with a meeting reportedly being held at this location, also had connections to the gunman who (allegedly) massacred soldiers at Fort Hood. It’s righteous retaliation against enemies who have impacted events inside our own country. The air strike was justified.
Oh Taylor, I am so surprised, and so sad, at your take on this. There is so much wrong with the U.S. aiding and abetting this extra-judicial execution of a Muslim cleric with “suspected” AQ sympathies who had “connections” with the officer who murdered several of his comrades at Ford Hood. Rather than go on a long rant, let me just ask a question or two:
There are, as you well know, many so-called “clergymen” in the U.S.A. who regularly preach messages of bigotry, misogyny, and various other varieties of mindless hatred and intolerance. Do you think we should wait until we have [in our own personal opinion] enough evidence that the exhortations of such a person has influenced one of the flock to murder a homosexual, or a person of color, or a physician who provides safe and low cost abortions to women of low income — and only then organize the posse to abduct the evil cleric and execute him? [as the U.S. military did in this case] Or should we make pre-emptive strikes against all such purveyors of hate BEFORE their influence has pushed somebody over the edge? [that would be the Bush Doctrine, of course, now mainstream accepted wisdom, fully accepted by the present Administration as well]
“1.There are, as you well know, many so-called “clergymen” in the U.S.A. who regularly preach messages of bigotry, misogyny, and various other varieties of mindless hatred and intolerance. Do you think we should wait until we have [in our own personal opinion] enough evidence that the exhortations of such a person has influenced one of the flock to murder a homosexual, or a person of color, or a physician who provides safe and low cost abortions to women of low income — and only then organize the posse to abduct the evil cleric and execute him?”
Are you trully delussional? THE CLERIC WAS IN YEMEN! We were INVITED by the recognized Government of Yemen to help them take out Al Qaeda where ever we find them IN Yemen. We did not “abduct” ANYBODY!!
We, if we were lucky enough to actually GET the bastard KILLED someone involved actively in planning and executing attacks against American military personel AND civilians.
2. [as the U.S. military did in this case]
WRONG, TOTALLY WRONG!
3. Or should we make pre-emptive strikes against all such purveyors of hate BEFORE their influence has pushed somebody over the edge? [that would be the Bush Doctrine, of course, now mainstream accepted wisdom, fully accepted by the present Administration as well]
When you can kill folks involved in active combat against the US or it’s citizens it is NOT pre-emptive.
As far as clerics preaching hate in the US, well MOST of them are Evangelicals and Televangelists…CHRISTIANS and frankly I would LOVE to see these hate mongers held to SOME kind of standard of responsibility for the consiquences of the hate they spew and the people hurt or murdered by the morons who listen to them.
But like the ones who hopefully were killed in Yemen, this would be an AFTER they had committed the crime event.
Like we used to say when the fast movers came in and dropped a load, GET SOME!
Taylor, “allegedly” and “suspected” is enough reason for you to justify an air strike that killed a dozen or more people? You have no evidence at all to indicate that any of the people that the US killed in this air strike was guilty of anything. What crime did they commit for which they should be summarily executed without a trial? Or should we change the laws in the United States so that we can execute people without holding a trial because they are “allegedly suspected” of wanting to do harm to the government? Nazi Germany anyone? You are really begining to scare me Taylor. Peace
Imhotep says:
24 December 2009 at 2:57 pm
1.”Taylor, “allegedly” and “suspected” is enough reason for you to justify an air strike that killed a dozen or more people? You have no evidence at all to indicate that any of the people that the US killed in this air strike was guilty of anything.”
Well apparently the Government of yemen and the US felt they had enough Intel to justify an airstrick in an armed conflict.
2.” What crime did they commit for which they should be summarily executed without a trial?”
They were not “summarily executed” They were killed in a military opperation against enemies of the US and Yemen. Had they been captured taken, put up against a wall and shot your discription might apply. But like so much of your dreck, it dosen’t.
3.” Or should we change the laws in the United States so that we can execute people without holding a trial because they are “allegedly suspected” of wanting to do harm to the government?”
No need to change anything. They were in a foriegn nation that gave permission for the military action. You REALLY need to get in touch with reality somehow, you really, really do.
4.” Nazi Germany anyone? You are really begining to scare me Taylor. Peace”
Nope, fergit about contact with reality. It’s pretty obvious you done slipped off the continental shelf of crazy and are disappearing into the depths.
secularhuman, I’d like to see some evidence. Which we won’t because there isn’t any. There’s just a bunch of bloodthirsty screwballs like you running around screaming “The sky is falling. The sky is falling.” Who are these “enemies of the US and Yemen” exactly? Are they whomever the US and Yemen don’t like? Could I be put on that list? How about you? Like I said Nazi Germany. Peace
So yeah, my swan song was bullshit.
I remember when Saddam had direct links to Al Qaeda too. How’d that bit of justification work out as far as veracity goes? I guess Obam just lies about hios healthcare platform, eh Taylor, but is totally honest when he uses our miltary? And how ’bout that State Department, who initially LIED to us, denying US miltary assets were used. WHY LIE IF THE JUSTIFICATION IS VALID?
Then we have Secular claiming “We, if we were lucky enough to actually GET the bastard KILLED someone involved actively in planning and executing attacks against American military personel AND civilians” which is TOTAL BULLSHIT. There is NO EVIDENCE this cleric aided the Fort Hood shooter in “planning and executing attacks against American military personel AND civilians”. The Ft. Hood shooter had internet contact with the cleric. PERIOD. If Angels makes good on his threat to do me bodily harm, are we to hold Taylor responsible because Angels visits her website, and occassionally engages in blogsite banter with her? Give me a fuckin’ break.
It is truly astounding that this thread can go ten posts, as well as Taylor’s initial bit of Red, White, and Boo marketing, without noting the inner turmoil Yemen is experiencing with the Houthi insurgency that Saudi Arabia is targeting. I mean hey, you seen any reports that Saudi is targeting Al Qaeda? I guess we are just COINCIDENTALLY zapping the big bad boogie man while Saudi gets them nasty Houthis. Of course, golly gee willikers, it couldn’t be that we are assisting this Yemeni despot maintain his tenuous grasp on power because he is just another piece of Uncle Sam’s amazing traveling puppet show, could it? Using the boogie man as a rationale and justification?
The far right wing has gone out of their way to portray the Ft. Hood shooter as a big bad Islamic radical “terrorist”, instead of just another wackjob nut that freaked. Note he isn’t the only one, it seems a number of returning soldiers have gone postal. And they weren’t Muslims. The irony here is seeing Taylor and the rest of the neo-con wannabes here singing the neocon’s song for marching us off to war. You’d think, after Bush and Cheney’s criminal deceptions, that a group of so called “progressives” would smell the kool-aid before they started swilling it like Russians at a TASS sponsored vodka tasting event. But nope, here we see the unquestioning faith that Obama might lie to us about healthcare and bail-outs, but he’s a regular saint when it comes to pulling the trigger on American cruise missiles. Never mind that the Obama Administration’s first reaction to the media exposure of our operations in Yemen were to LIE about it.
I doubt Limbaugh or Hannity coulda penned a more apropos essay to be included in the Neo-con Handbook for Selling War. And they would absolutely LOVE Secular, who not only drinks the kool-aid but brews his own with statements such as “We, if we were lucky enough to actually GET the bastard KILLED someone involved actively in planning and executing attacks against American military personel AND civilians”.
But whatever. If you all think you can debate this Yemeni thing without saying a peep about the Houthi insurgency, then you might jusy as well get yourselves some Fox News credentials, and give Hannity, Savage, Levin, Palin, Lieberman, Cheney, and Perle (etc) a hand with their war marketeering, because you are reading straight from their script.
How do you think the families of the innocent dead women and children feel about the United States versus Islam? Ya think they might just hate us? So we SUPPOSEDLY kill a few terrorists, while nurturing the hatred of a whole village? Hmmmm, seems a bit counter productive to me, but hey, I’m not the one offering Cheney’s argument.
Ahhh, I knew there would be a late christmas presant after all.
POA show’s up to once again establish his/her/it’s credentials as a liar and lame puppy all around! BWAHAHAHA! Son, daughter, whatever, yo shit is weak, very weak indeed.
imhopless “Like I said Nazi Germany.” You and your soulmate have established a new low for pathetic steryotypes.
YOU want to see some evidence. Frankly, a couple of tools like you two have about as much chance of seeing anything exept your little revolutionary/anarchist mags as Bush jr. has of forming a complete sentence.
And the bottom line is shitferbrains, you are a self proven LIAR.
So merry, Merry moron, merry, merry.
Taylor’s warning at the beginning of this thread doesn’t apply to Secular, obviously.
“Hmmmm, seems a bit counter productive to me, but hey, I’m not the one offering Cheney’s argument.”
Hmmmm, Cheney/Bush had BL in their grasp and instead of killing him let him go to go for the oil in Iraq.
Now AlQaeda and their friends are being offed at a pretty decent rate. That is, the folks who actually attacked us and their buddies and support troops to all appearences are being KILLED.
Maybe it’s just me but it would seem only a retard, wack job or dishonest wackjob could or would compare going after the actual attackers as offering Cheney’s arguement.
Wait a second, it’s POA whinning that nonarguement…nuff said.
secularhuman, there you go again. Making wild charges and backing them up with nothing. Nada. Zilch. No evidence or substantiation. Just “I think this” and “I think that” and so it must be. You’re exactly the kind of mushy brained, blinded by the light follower that allows the empire to survive. And the endless wars to go on and on and on. Peace
I wish I a had fiver for every “Al Qaeda terrorist” claimed killed by “intelligence sources”, to justify a military strike somewhere, that later turns up alive and well on some other section of the globe. It has happened too many times to count. Even from the beginning, a number of the 9/11 hi-jackers were misidentified, so in truth, we don’t really know who the full cast of players were. Thats not “conspiracy theory”, its fact. Interesting that the American public is so incurious that they don’t seem to wonder why a revised list of the hi-jackers has never been publically released, or why “dead” Al Qaeda operatives keep turning up alive. So if an operation really DIDN’T kill who we were told it killed, WHO WAS KILLED? Even the Cole incident, if you do deep googles on it, you find that a whole cast of characters have been forwarded as being the “mastermind”, depending on what US military strike, and what part of the planet, the strike occurs on. Thats not “conspiracy theory” either, its fact. So far I have found four different so called “Al Qaeda” “masterminds” blamed for the attack, depending on what time period, and what “action”, is being justified. And the band of brigands that were accused? They escaped from a Yemeni prison, apparently with assistance from the same regime that we are supposedly now allied with in our “fight against terrorism”. That doesn’t make you ate least a little suspicious?
And if ad hominem and insult are part and parcel of FP discussion here, as it seems, then note the shallow shit that Secular always manages to deposit on these threads. His claims are always specious, always vague, never amounting to much more than “we are killing them thar terrists that attacked us”. What an empty pigheaded bunch of horseshit. Above, he claims this cleric helped plan and execute an attack on military personel. There is no evidence of that. Taylor’s accusation against the cleric is just as vague and dissingenuous in its insinuation. Its the same old horseshit you can find on any far right wackjob site, or hear on a myriad of AM radio shows.
Truth is, we don’t even have validation that this cleric was killed, either. And the White House refuses to comment on the specifics, instead choosing to natter the usual half denial half admission pat bullshit about Yemen “helping us fight the war against radical Islam”. Seems the White House is aware of that which Taylor and Secular don’t quite get yet, that these so called attacks on “Al Qaeda” are often proven to have been nothing more than a bloodbath of innocent civilians that CREATED terrorists rather than ELIMINATED them. Funny how the “successful” operations hit the front page, but when they are later proven to be far less than successful, and actually disastrous for the local populations, you need to watch the small print on the back pages to find out about them.
Even this morning, the comments from the White House are becoming far less specific……
US reiterates support for Yemeni offensive
Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:36:30 GMT
The White House has reiterated its support for the ongoing military operations across Yemen as thousands of civilians continue to suffer displacement and relentless strikes.
“As we have said previously, the President [Barack Obama] supports the government of Yemen and their efforts to take out terrorist elements in their country and we will continue to support those efforts,” presidential deputy press secretary, Bill Burton, told reporters on Friday.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=114629§ionid=351020206
Heres another one…..
Anwar al-Awlaki, imam linked to Ft. Hood gunman Hasan, believed to have been killed in Yemeni strike
By Helen Kennedy
December 24th 2009, 10:59 AM
AFP/GettyAbove, protesters in Yemen demonstrate against the government’s strike against Al Qaeda bigs in the Shabwa province. The strike reportedly targeted the home of Anwar al-Awlaki.
Imam Anwar al-Awlaki (left) corresponded with Fort Hood gunman Nidal Malik Hasan. Related NewsArticlesArmy wants mental exam to determine if suspected Fort Hood killer is fit to stand trialArmy adds 32 attempted murders to 13 murder charges against Ft. Hood suspect Nidal Hasan Ex-FBI Director William Webster tapped to head Fort Hood reviewFt. Hood gunman out of intensive careYemeni warplanes took aim at a secret meeting of top al Qaeda leaders Thursday, killing “scores,” officials said.
Among those believed slain was Anwar al-Awlaki, the influential American-born radical cleric who egged on the US Army major who shot up Fort Hood last month.
White House spokesman Bill Burton would not comment specifically on the report, saying only, “The President supports the government of Yemen and their efforts to take out terrorist elements in their country.”
http://tinyurl.com/ye8c6s5
Funny, these articles keep using terms like “linked to” and “tied to” to describe Anwar al-Awlaki’s connection to the Ft Hood shootings, yet the “connection” amounts to little more than a couple or few emails, (depending on what news site you read), none of which showed any complicity in the Ft Hood shootings.
And the death of Anwar al-Awlaki??? “Believed to have been”, “un-named sources”, “unconfirmed reports”, etc.. So, if he turns up alive somewhere in the next week, month, year, you think that will make the front page?
And do you think Taylor and Secular will have the humanity, the common sense, or the intelligence to ask; “Then just who the hell did we kill, and why?”
Well, my guess is that they won’t. Because if they haven’t learned anything over the course of the last decade, odds are, they’ll NEVER get it.
Al Jazeera interviewed Anwar al-Awlaki. Was Anwar al-Awlaki arrested, seeing as how he was obviously not in hiding? Did the FBI have warrants for this clerics arrest? Obviously not. So now, we see so called “progressives” arguing that we kill Muslim religious leaders because they have websites that are visited by, and emailed by, future perpetrators of crimes or terorist acts. Considering that some of these emails were intercepted by US intelligence sources, who KNEW that Hasan was asking al-Awlaki about “Muslims that kill american GIs”, aren’t the US intelligence sources more culpable than al-Awaki is in what occurred at Ft Hood? But the “intelligence officials” decided that Hasan’s questions were relevent to the research he was doing on Muslim soldiers, rather than actual premeditation of an actual act. At no time did this cleric help plan or execute Hasan’s future actions. But obviously Secular isn’t going to let simple FACTS get in the way of his dissingenuous and misleading assertions.
Taylor is obviously too smart to level direct and inaccurate accusations like Secular does. Instead, she is content to take her technique right out of the “Message Force Multiplier Handbook Of Insinuation”.
Taylor states “also had connections to the gunman who (allegedly) massacred soldiers at Fort Hood”. Connections???? Define, EXACTLY what those “connections” are, Taylor. And tell this blog if such “connections” justify assasination. We now justify assasinating Muslim clerics because someone visits their website and exchanges a few emails with them? And you differ from Cheney, Bolton, or Wolfowitz how????
On a earlier thread from last week, I cite the insane advocations of some wackjob rabbi in Israel, who supports the settler’s terrorist acts against Palestinians, and the continued theft of their land. Tell me, Taylor, how do you think the Israelis, and our own Congress will react if Hamas assasinates this rabbi?
And, uh, do you consider YOURSELF responsible for Angel’s threats upon my person? Because if not, their is NO WAY you can advocate for the morality of assasinating this cleric based upon his tenous “connections” to Hasan.
Yemen Looked to Assassinate Cleric in US-Backed Attack
At Least 34 Dead in Aftermath of Air Strikes, Identities Unknown
by Jason Ditz, December 24, 2009
The Yemeni government has confirmed that today’s US-backed air strike was aimed at assassinating US-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, and officials speculated that he might have been slain in the attack.
US-born Cleric Anwar al-AwlakiAwlaki’s home was targeted during what the government called a “suspected al-Qaeda gathering,” and at least 34 people were killed, all of whom the Yemenis immediately labeled “suspects.” The identities of the slain were unclear.
The US, however, expressed hope that Awlaki and two “al-Qaeda leaders” were among the slain.
But according to Nasser al-Awlaki, the cleric’s father and a former government minister, the cleric wasn’t even home at the time and was visiting his uncle in a different city. He slammed the US for supporting the attack however, noting that his son was not accused of any crimes in the US and it was inappropriate for the American government to attempt to assassinate him.
Though US officials have repeatedly labeled Awlaki an al-Qaeda sympathizer and potentially even a member of the terrorist group, they have so far provided no evidence linking him conclusively with them.
continues…
Wordy lil sucker ain’tcha?!
Not as wordy as you are a blustery shallow asshole. And that ain’t no conspiracy theory, either.
Ma GOODNESS but we have our panties all bunched up in our lil ol intelectual crack DON’T we.
Does it bother you so not having an audience that accepts the gruel that dribbles from your lips as gospel that you lay yourself out as a liar and a buffoon that just can’t stay away? That someone dares point out yer fulla shit and a posterchild that the wingnuts use against all things Democratic, liberal and progressive even though you make quite a few folks cringe in embarrassment when they have to accept that to the broader audience you get lumped in with them and their politicol views?
I understand your frustration, I really, really do. But some day you’ll grow up emotionaly just a little bit and hopefully you’ll have acquired the emotional maturety to look back and cringe yourself when you think about these days.
Maybe…if yer lucky.
But I doubt it.
This is the best this blog can do? Some fuckin’ asshole like Secular shits his ignorant venom on every single thread?
Read this thread. Not one of you has the balls, the dignity, or the common sense to tell this blustering asshole, Secular, to shut the hell up?
And just what the hell is Taylor’s “warning” all about??
You people think this ashole is “cute”??? Some sort of asset here?
What a fuckin’ joke.
The last time I was banned from this site it was right after Secular accused me of anti-semitism. I responded by asking the ignorant buffoon to direct us to ANY comment of mine that was anti-semitic. What did Taylor do? She left Secular’s accusation intact, deleted my response, and banned me.
Do you people REALLY want this asshole Secular doing this on every thread? Read my comments on this thread. Read Secular’s. Are you people a bunch of idiots and assholes?
No wonder Taylor’s comment section has less and less people participating.
Well Ms. Marsh and us trembling peons can always count on you to keep commin back and enlightening us with your stellar explosions of insight and wisdom can’t we?!.
“Well Ms. Marsh and us trembling peons can always count on you to keep commin back and enlightening us with your stellar explosions of insight and wisdom can’t we?!”
Actually, no. Sooner or later, I’ll give up. Note that I have linked to Taylor’s site numerous times on TWN, and other blogs I post at, over the course of the last 18 months. See any regular TWN posters contributing here? No??? Are you too fuckin’ stupid and self centered to ask yourself why?
Note too, Secular, that the poster’s exodus from this site has occured DURING MY ABSENCE. I don’t imagine that gives you a clue, but it should probably ring some chimes in Taylor’s head.
SO THAT’S IT!!! YER JUST A HUMANITARIAN trying to take Ms. marsh under your wing and help her out! I am SOOOOOO sorry, my bad. I thought you were just some full of yourself, egomanic that just LOVES to read your own dreck!! THANKS fer clearing that up!
I am SURE Ms. Marsh will be eternally gratefull for your mentoring her. CLEARLY she never will get ANYWHERE without your kind guidence!
On the contrary, you self centered piece of shit, I was not implying my absence conbtributed to the exodus, my point was that your presence may well be the major contributing factor.