U.S. Authorizes “Hit” on Suspected Terrorist al-Awlaki

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It would be naive to believe that governments do not engage in assassination. Usually they don’t announce it unless there is a tactical reason and I suspect that is the case with this particular target. While I despise war I see no contradiction in neutralizing a potentially dangerous enemy, and this is one of those enemies. The evidence of his alliance with al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations is overwhelming (he was behind the Fort Hood attacks) and he is known to be Allah-bent on attacking his homeland again. He needs to be whacked. Here is the story from the Associated Press:

The Obama administration has authorized the killing of a radical Muslim cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen believed to be hiding in Yemen and thought to have shifted from encouraging attacks on the U.S. to participating in them, according to published reports.

Al-Awlaki has emerged as a prominent al-Qaida recruiter and has been tied by U.S. intelligence to the 9/11 hijackers, along with Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day, as well as Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 people in November at Fort Hood, Texas.

American counterterrorism officials say they believe al-Awlaki has become a recruiter for al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula terrorist network, feeding prospects into plots aimed at the U.S. and at Americans abroad, the officials told The New York Times in a report posted online late Tuesday.

It is extremely rare, if not unprecedented, for an American to be approved for targeted killing, officials told the newspaper. A former senior legal official in the administration of George W. Bush said he did not know of any American who was approved for targeted killing under the former president.

Al-Awlaki, 38, recently was added to the CIA target list after a special government review of his activities, prompted by his status as a U.S. citizen, U.S. officials told the Los Angeles Times. He is to be captured or killed, the newspaper said.

Al-Awlaki, a U.S. citizen born in New Mexico to Yemeni parents, has used his personal Web site to encourage Muslims around the world to kill U.S. troops in Iraq. Yemeni security officials say they believe he is hiding in a region of the mountainous nation that has become a refuge for Islamic militants.

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Professor Mike

Professor Mike is a left-leaning, dog loving, political junkie. He has written dozens of articles for Substack, Medium, Simily, and Tribel. Professor Mike has been published at Smerconish.com, among others. He is a strong proponent of the environment, and a passionate protector of animals. In addition he is a fierce anti-Trumper. Take a moment and share his work.
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13 years ago

You might could question the reasons for this if it was done under the cover of the CIA, but it wasn’t. I can guarantee from a purely self serving standpoint I doubt Obama, who is one smart guy, would hang himself out there. I’m with Mike. Kill him at least three times.

osori
13 years ago

Do we have proof? So far there’s as much proof shown as we had to prove Iraq had WMD. He says a lot of inflammatory things.So do Ann Coulter, Michele Malkin and Michael Savage-only they say them about Muslims. Should those three be assassinated too? Well actually I think it would be a great idea, but I digress.

His family’s saying he’s not a terrorist, he’s a radical cleric.Maybe yes,maybe no. They’re his parents saying what one would expect parents to say.

Do I believe our intelligence agencies? They’re saying pretty much what I’d expect them to say too. I don’t have a lot of faith in a group that used the proceeds from crack cocaine sold to American citizens to fund terrorism (Gary Webb’s report in San Jose Mercury News-corroborated in congressional testimony by CIA inspector general)or who willing lied about Iraqi weapons.

Could the National Security establishment be telling the truth this time? With their track record I would say it’s certainly possible they are not.I don’t think it’s worth sinking to the level of Israel for.

Reply to  osori
13 years ago

On the strength of Oso’s opposition, maybe I’ll rethink this case of Vigilante Justice. I’m listening to some Anwar al-Awlaki You-Tubes now. Maybe I’ll come out still in favor of offing this creep. Here is another, second opinion.

Reply to  Professor Mike
13 years ago

“The proof is incon­tro­vert­ible and the evi­dence over­whelm­ing.”

Seems to me we heard the same statement about WMDs in Iraq!

osori
Reply to  Professor Mike
13 years ago

Mike, reminds me of that joke about being in a locked room with a rabid dog, Adolf Hitler and (prick of choice) and you’ve got a gun with two bullets, who do you shoot? and of course the answer is to shoot the prick twice!

13 years ago

The most important variable here is collateral damage. We don’t want to kill this one dirtbag and, in the process of doing it, create a couple dozen more. Yeah, let’s do it. But let’s do it smartly.

13 years ago

What if it was George Bush targeting an American citizen?

osori
Reply to  Jerry Critter
13 years ago

Excellent observation Jerry.

Linda
Reply to  Jerry Critter
13 years ago

What if it was George Washington? Abe Lincoln? A terriorist is a terriorist…he will kill you. Don’t try to make this political games we are talking about maybe saving your Mom and Dad or wife or kids.

13 years ago

While I also have no problem with offing this asshole, I share Oso’s mistrust of government after two invasions that haven’t gotten Bin Laden or his top guy Al Zwaheri. We do hear a load of crap from them.

This does beat huge invasions that lead to innocent lives being lost and more hatred of America though. Kill him.

13 years ago

Fig leaves? I think I’m pissed again….nice beer though

13 years ago

He has made himself the enemy of the United States. I say make him play the role completely. Send him to the 42 virgins with the figs leaves, but do it with as little collateral damage as possible.

osori
13 years ago

I disagree. There seems to be an element of desperation here. This one guy is tied in to 9/11, the incompetent Underwear Bomber and also the guy who snapped at Fort Hood? Are there any unsolved homicides on the books they want to throw in as well? These are very disparate activities. The idea that one guy is involved in all of them seems a stretch to me.

Oso
Reply to  Professor Mike
13 years ago

Hi Mike,I don’t disagree with your point.But there just seems to be something amiss here. Like, the guy is just TOO evil? Maybe it’s the whole pot of coffee I drank that has my antennae up on this.

13 years ago

I agree with Mike and Holte. Smoke him, but make it as antiseptic as possible.

13 years ago

He’s a muzzie. Just shoot the git eh?

(and no, I ain’t Islamophobic, I just want any muzzie who wants Islam to rule dead. You don’t like? Live in England and then tell me….)

13 years ago

As long as they don’t send 50,000 troops to track him down, that’s just what they want to happen.

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