Meet The New Face Of Terror
Islamic cleric Anwar al-Awlaki is an American citizen operating out of Yemen and connected to the two latest 
terrorist attacks on American soil.
Al-Awlaki was an influence for both Fort Hood shooter Malik Nidal Hasan and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Northwest Airlines 'Panty Bomber' who attempted to blow up an airplane on Christmas.
Al-Awlaki, the imam from whom alleged Fort Hood shooter Malik Nidal Hasan sought religious advice, is in the heart of a region that is becoming increasingly volatile. The senior U.S. official told Fox News that the Arabian Peninsula terror network has branched out beyond Yemen and Saudi Arabia and has shown "intent to hit Western targets and the homeland."
So far no evidence has been revealed that the suspect in the Northwest attempt, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, exchanged e-mails or talked one-on-one with al-Awlaki. But collected evidence shows that the suspect was a "big fan" of al-Awlaki, and Web traffic shows Abdulmutallab was a follower of his blog and Web site.
Yemen is becoming a hot bed for breeding terrorism. Two former 'Gitmo' detainees are also operating out of the region.
The volatility of the region has also raised major concerns over the Obama administration's move to release Guantanamo Bay detainees there. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula -- a network led by two former Guantanamo detainees -- claimed responsibility on Monday for the attempted bombing on Christmas Day of a Northwest Airlines flight headed to Detroit.
The two Al Qaeda leaders in question with the Arabian Peninsula network reportedly were released to Saudi Arabia from Guantanamo in 2007 and were then set free after completing a controversial "rehabilitation program."
Senators Lieberman and Specter are suggesting pre-emptive measures be taken in Yemen lest the region escalates into another Iraq or Afghanistan.
The senator's stances could prove to be interesting as the Obama administration, along with Attorney General Holder, are attempting to transform the 'War on Terror' into a law enforcement action.
Permalink | tagged Anwar al-Awlaki, Terrorists 
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Reader Comments (29)
Wait a minute, there is no "War on Terror" that was a Bush/Cheney ruse. These are simply "man caused disasters," as stated by our head of the DHS Napolitano. They're isolated incidents which we will have to suffer on occasion but not to worry. The man pictured above is a Bush/Cheney fabrication. fuhgetaboutit
It will be interesting to hear what former VP Cheney has to say about these folks, since they were released on his watch.
As far as I'm concerned, we do what we've been doing. If we can identify and (relatively) isolate these cretins, let the Predators and/or Hellfires do their thing. It works in Pakistan, it has worked in Yemen in the past, and I see no reason to stop doing it now.
"It will be interesting to hear what former VP Cheney has to say about these folks, since they were released on his watch."
I'd be more interested in hearing from Obama about this, since closing Gitmo was one of his major campaign issues.
"Former Vice President Dick Cheney accused President Barack Obama on Tuesday of “trying to pretend we are not at war” with terrorists, pointing to the White House response to the attempted sky bombing as reflecting a pattern that includes banishing the term “war on terror” and attempting to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/31054.html#ixzz0bBAAELai"
What war on terror?
Terrorist Interrogation, Obama-Style
"Abdulmutallab remains in a Detroit area prison and, after initial debriefings by the FBI, has restricted his cooperation since securing a defense attorney, according to federal officials. Authorities are holding out hope that he will change his mind and cooperate with the probe, the officials said. "
From NRO article by "Marc Thiessen"
That is the picture of a terrorist?? I thought that was the guy who was in Jewel of The NIle!!
Have you seen Iowahawk's article on the Detroit bombing attempt?
No worries!
A guy from the Nation Magazine reminded us yesterday that more people die from hospital infections and auto accidents in a year that would have died on that plane if the 'isolated extremist' had been successful.
We can just celebrate the vicitms martyrdom because they died for the holy cause of our perfected judicial system that shuns 'profiling' even if there are other telltale signs. Learn to step over the bodies.
Oh, yeah, speaking of our justice system...
Seems some are more equal than others. The discussion of constitutional protections rings hollow.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/Obama-gives-Interpol-free-hand-in-U_S_-8697583-80291137.html
Obama has given an international law enforcement organization that is accountable to no other national authority the ability to operate as it pleases within our own borders, and he has freed it from the most basic measure of official transparency and accountability, the FOIA.
Dick Cheney is a coward and a disgrace.
He's probably a source of embarassment even to George W. Colossal Failure Bush.
The Brits weigh in.
Um, Tony Harnden’s not exactly “the Brits,” and that there column is some of the most ridiculous twaddle I’ve read in months—and bear in mind, I read stuff at BL Rag.
Steve Benen, John Cole, and Roy Edroso have been all over Nooshan Nation’s pathetic, whiny, thoroughly predictable efforts to politicize a national security incident, Roy raising the rhetorical question, “Do they EVER cease pissing their pants?” . The answer, of course, is no they don’t, and thanks for playing another edition of Simple Answers to Simple Questions.
I am so sick to death of tiresomely predictable Nooshan hissy fits. Someone should restore an Embarassment Gland to the Republican Party, so there might again be behavior too supremely cynical and dishonest even for them.
' Um, Tony Harnden’s not exactly “the Brits,” and that there column is some of the most ridiculous twaddle I’ve read in months—and bear in mind, I read stuff at BL Rag.'
lmao Well that sure does give one a warm fuzzy feeling. :)
I know that I certainly feel warm and fuzzy...could be the fleece pullover, though.
Could be the Snug Wow, GR. I haven't gotten up since Christmas!
"I am so sick to death of tiresomely predictable Nooshan hissy fits"
Yeah, right windy........
And better a "no embarrassment" gland than a "no shame" gland.
"I am so sick to death of tiresomely predictable Nooshan hissy fits."
You mean nooshans like Maureen Dowd?
Okay Maureen Dowd is on a plane of her own. She's hard to describe, like that old uncle in your family that pretty much hates to whole family.
You mean kinda like Obama described Jeremiah Wright?
Are you saying Maureen Dowd (and the NY Times) hates the whole Dem party?
Stuart Smalley must be coaching them in comedy.
Nah, I think she loves the Democratic party but she hates democrats.
I wish i could adequately covey how much I loathe Maureen Dowd, who never met a Republican talking pioint she didn't like and wouldn't mindlessly parrot. To the extent that column of hers is even coherent, I think it parrots the current Cheney/GOP talking point that the administration is insufficiently hysterical about terrorism. It's funny, isn't it, that the goal of terrorists is to create and foster hysteria, and Republicans seem to be falling all over themselves to help?
It really makes one wonder.
How ridiculous a statement is that! Their goal is to mass murder those that reject Islam! Clueless, ah tellz ya...
Are you a frequent flyer windy? I doubt it but I kinda hope so. Don't wish you any harm, just an experience.
Ladies and Gentleman;
A few months after the 9/11 attack, George Will described the fundamental Islamists as a "cult of blood" founded and steered by aristocrats averse to change. He compared their radicalism to the same attitude of those in the South that fomented and drug out the US Civil War. That war was a bloody mess. I live in Virginia and I walk on the bones of those aristocrats and the minions they drove to their needless deaths everyday day. It's just one big boneyard. That is what a cult of blood wants. Eradication of species, genocide if you will, is a human trait. The Assyrians, Persians, Huns, Tatars, Mongols, Hans, Thugees, Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler, and now bin Laden are just part of a family tradition.
What we must be alert to are the "irrational" leaders. According to Max Weber (you know, the bureaucracy guy?) an irrational leader is not crazy, he is quite sane and calculating. But his actions are for an irrational purpose. Some of the BL Rag editors equivocate Cheney as an irrational leader. Cheney is no member of the cult of blood. In fact, America has fought in enough wars (it seems we are always mixing it up somewhere) that we have little taste for killing unless it is a family member, a member of a rival gang, or another motorist. Besides, our government system of checks and balances prevents cults of personality which are a key trait of irrational leaders. So it is good that half of us hate what the other half loves. Where a government is weak and the population is of a single mind, beware!
NPR ran an interview with the Yemeni Ambassador to the UN on Wednesday. Ambassador Salih (probably the prime minister's cousin) was quite adamant about Yemen's desire to oust al Quaeda from his country and was quite firm that Yemen could do it with aid and intelligence. But even he did not who was in charge of al Quaeda in Yemen. He, like Lieberman, believes that taking out al Quaeda leadership will prevent the cult for growing. But new intelligence is telling our leaders that that old policy is not working as well as it used to. Al Quaeda is showing that it can quickly recover its leadership. The reason is that this cult of blood is already established and it must be eradicated completely. There can be no victory except complete annihilation. It is up to us to decide who will be annihilated, us or them.
You choose.
B
Z
Now that the panty bomber has been Mirandized and can't give any intel, perhaps we would have been better served if an air marshal or armed pilot would have shot him in the head and killed him.
Rasmussen: 58% favor waterboarding panty bomber for info.
"It's funny, isn't it, that the goal of terrorists is to create and foster hysteria, and Republicans seem to be falling all over themselves to help?"
Translation: If you want terrorism treated as a serious matter, then you're letting the terrorists win.