Confirmed: U.S.-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki Who Emailed Fort Hood Shooter Hassan Killed in Yemen
Another major victory on the anti-terrorism front: it has been confirmed that American-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki has been killed in Yemen and, CNN reports, this is now confirmed by American officials. He was pitchforked into the headlines this year in a major story when it was revealed that he exchanged emails with accused Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Hassan:
American-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, the public face of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, has been killed in Yemen, the nation’s Defense Ministry said Friday.
The U.S. regards al-Awlaki, who was believed to be hiding in Yemen, as the biggest threat to its homeland security. Western intelligence officials believe al-Awlaki is a senior leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), one of the most active al Qaeda affiliates.
Al-Awlaki was killed about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the Yemeni town of Khashef, east of the capital city of Sanaa, Mohammed Basha, a Yemen Embassy spokesman in Washington D.C., told CNN. Basha said the operation was launched at about 9:55 a.m. local time, though he did not say what type of operation was conducted or how al-Awlaki was killed.
A senior U.S. administration official confirmed al-Awlaki was dead, though no details surrounding the operation that led to the cleric’s death were released. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to CNN. The official was not authorized to release the information.Born in New Mexico, al-Awlaki preached at a mosque in Virginia before leaving the United States for the Middle East.
U.S. officials say al-Awlaki helped recruit Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, the Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a transatlantic flight as it landed in Detroit on December 25, 2009.
The militant cleric is also said to have exchanged emails with accused Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Hassan who killed a dozen fellow soldiers and a civilian in a rampage at the Texas base.
Throughout the years there have been reports that would come out trumpeting the deaths of major terrorist figures, but some turned out not to be confirmed and later proved not to be accurate. This one has been confirmed which makes it far more trustworthy. Most likely details are not being revealed because the operation is over or details might reveal too much about how this was done and interfere with success in future targets.
12 Responses to “Confirmed: U.S.-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki Who Emailed Fort Hood Shooter Hassan Killed in Yemen”
And there went the last shreds of the rule of law…
A precedent has been set, a US citizen can now be targeted for assassination without as much as a speedy trial by a jury of their peers.
Many more Americans will die that way in the future.
ROTFLMAO, the people who don’t trust government to run a healthcare system trust government not to abuse the power to order assassinations.
On the other hand… good riddance. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
I’m glad he is dead… dead dead dead.
More rat killin’!
May the Lord have mercy on his miserable soul.
I see he wears the head gear of one of the outlaying hillbilly tribes in Yemen. Bit different that what he wore here. Must be a fashion statement.
Oh dear ! He was targeted without a trial.
Oh-oh-oh.
I shall cry myself to sleep.
Later.
Much later.
The was a very bad man, but I am deeply troubles as are some commenters that he was offed without the benefit of a trial.
Maybe the Republicans can take some time off from their war on women and the poor to help congressional Democrats craft some guidelines.
“Maybe the Republicans can take some time off from their war on women and the poor to help congressional Democrats craft some guidelines.”
Never let a good story escape a chance to slip it to the other guys. Well done.
I’m not crazy about assassinating people, legally or not, but if nothing else, I HOPE, it at least has some deterrent effect on future terrorists targeting civilians. AND, our homegrown potential terrorists have to be looking over their shoulder what with mega buck stings and possible entrapment programs.
Let’s see: to bring this fine “citizen” to trial, one would have to engage in the extra-legal process of “rendition”, would they not ?
Would some of us not scream like ravished anthropoids if said rendition were carried out ?
Finally,is one who has left the country,given allegiance to another political entity,and waged war upon the US a “citizen” ? Is any person, who is far from removed from our boundaries, and engaged in warfare against us, entitled to constitutional rights not afforded other combatants ?
from the boys who actually study the law…….
“The US government sees him as taking part in hostilities, part of the operational leadership of an associated force with Al Qaeda, the AQAP.
Insofar as Al-Aulaqi was targeted for taking operational part in groups engaged in armed conflict with the United States, historically the fact of citizenship has been neither here nor there. And to reiterate what is said above, the US government has been very careful to rely not upon “internet preacher shooting his mouth off,” but instead on distinct operational roles.”
According to the New York Times:
“Praise flowed in to the White House from normally critical quarters after it announced the killing of the Al Qaeda leader.”
“But for how long?”