Obama: Al-Awlaki Killing a ‘Major Blow to Al Qaeda’
EmailIn the first White House reaction to the killing of radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, President Obama said this morning that his death “is a major blow to al Qaeda’s most active operational affiliate.”
“Make no mistake, this is further proof that al Qaeda and its affiliates will find no safe haven anywhere in the world,” Obama said of the news that Awlaki was killed in Yemen overnight. “Working with Yemen and our other allies, we will be determined, we will be deliberate, we will be relentless, we will be resolute in our commitment to destroy terrorist networks that aim to kill Americans.”
The U.S.-born jihadist rose to prominence as chief of external operations for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and was instrumental in motivating several attacks on the United States, including the Fort Hood Massacre, the attempted Christmas Day bombing and the foiled Times Square bomb plot.
“He took the lead in planning and directing efforts to murder innocent Americans,” Obama said at a the “Change of Office” ceremony for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at Fort Myer in Virginia.
The Obama administration has had Awlaki in its sights for some time and initially thought it might kill him on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In April 2010, the American became the first U.S. citizen ever placed on a White House-approved list for targeted killing.
The president praised the intelligence community for this success and the efforts of Yemen and its security forces, which have worked closely with the United States. “[Awlaki's] hateful ideology and targeting of innocent civilians have been rejected by the vast majority of Muslims and peoples of all faiths. He has met his demise because the government and the people of Yemen have joined the international community in a common effort against al Qaeda,” Obama said.
Awlaki now joins a long list of terrorists killed under Obama’s watch, including most notably Osama bin Laden.
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Washington Post reports:
“Anwar al-Aulaqi (AP/Muhammad ud-Deen) U.S. officials have given Anwar al-Aulaqi a newly elevated designation on the day of his death by drone strike, describing him as “chief of external operations” for al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen.
The new title, cited by officials at the White House and the CIA, reflects Aulaqi’s evolution from Muslim cleric to alleged terrorist plotter, as well as a desire by American officials to persuade the public that the extraordinary killing of a U.S. citizen overseas was warranted.”
Posted by: wheresmymoney | September 30, 2011, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
If our enemy is al Qaeda, this is excellent news.
Posted by: Kirk | September 30, 2011, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
Thank you to the Obama Administration, The CIA, and the US military. This is good news, indeed.
Posted by: jacksmith0110 | September 30, 2011, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
I know why Republicans are ticked. It’s because they can’t USE the phoney excuse that THEY are the only people that can protect our Nation from the terrorists. It’s OK Cons, you made up plenty of other lies to use – chin up now. Go President Obama!!!
Posted by: demnme | September 30, 2011, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
Obama should have this guy’s body brought back so he can drag it around with him on the campaign trail.
Posted by: andy | September 30, 2011, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
Demnme, your right, policies put into place by Pres. Bush and his administration. Please tell us the lies we tell. I’m sure you can make up a few.
Posted by: Lizzie | September 30, 2011, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
When Bush was killing these guys 50 at a time, the leftists screamed ‘war criminal!”
Posted by: xxxxx | September 30, 2011, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
Thank you to the Obama Administration, The CIA, and the US military. This is good news, indeed.
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You do realize as you said that about 100 popped out the wombs underneath a burka?
Posted by: Mintgreen | September 30, 2011, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
At least this time Obama gave credit to the intelligence community and used less I’s and more we’s.
Posted by: newcountryman | September 30, 2011, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
Obama is hoping there will be a movie about this one as well!!!
Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | September 30, 2011, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
Killing an American? Is this legal???
Posted by: billy bob | September 30, 2011, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
Its funny that repugs will try and put Obama down for killing enemies of our country that wants to kill American citizens. Talk about being unAmerican and hypocrites, its honorable when bush was doing it but a campaign ploy when its during Obamas watch. You ignorant repugs can’t have it both ways and exudes your racist ways.
Posted by: achillies | September 30, 2011, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
For anyone who wants to think “killing an American?”…listen, Al-Awlaki gave up his American RIGHTS of trial and ANYTHING just by being a part of the most vicious terror group known to man !!!! So I applaud PRESIDENT Obama and team on the kill. Proud of you all. For those of you who want to say “President had nothing to do with it”, who would it have been to have signed the ORDER for the go ahead for ANY Al Qaeda member to BE killed ? (If thinking serves me right, the PRESIDENT may have to sign an order to kill someone unless they’re on an “ARREST or kill” order……even if it’s international, because he was a well known terrorist who was a supplier of finances to the jerks !!!!! GO TROOPS AND MR. PRESIDENT !!!!! :) (that’s one comment I just said that signifies that we don’t need to put blame on anyone, but come together as ONE and unite as a whole in good times like this.)
Posted by: Kyle | September 30, 2011, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
Where are all the people that were screaming about the water boarding of terrorist to get life saving info but thinks it’s OK just to kill someone and get nothing.
Posted by: Freedom | October 1, 2011, 9:03 am 9:03 am
Today one in every four people on the earth are of the Islamic faith and that number is increasing daily. There are several voices in our world that are shouting out a warning to humankind to be alert to the global designs of Islam. One such voice is that of the Dutch politician Geert Wilders who with his documentary film and lectures around the world, is warning the world that there may be moderate Moslems, the people of Islam, but there is no moderate Islam, the religion. Wilders says that the Islamic holy book, the Koran, calls for a worldwide kingdom under the god of Islam, Allah, and Islamic jihad, holy war, as the means to reaching that goal.
Bible prophecy itself calls for a worldwide kingdom under Jesus Christ, the holy One of the Holy Bible. In fact, God made a promise to King David many years ago that that would happen. It is called the Davidic Covenant recorded in II Samuel 7. The Bible says that there will be a kingdom headquartered in Jerusalem (Zechariah 6:12-13) and it will last for 1000 years (Revelation 20:4-6). The Bible actually contradicts the Koran. The Koran says that the Islamic god Allah had no son. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the coming King of the worldwide kingdom.
The liberal politicians helping the spread of Islam is indeed helping to set the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
Posted by: Joe | October 1, 2011, 9:29 am 9:29 am