Quantcast
Channel: Public Intelligence » Yemen
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 12

Secret DoJ Memo Authorized Killing of Anwar al-Awlaki

0
0

 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lllExoXt-iQ

Secret U.S. memo sanctioned killing of Aulaqi (Washington Post):

The Justice Department wrote a secret memorandum authorizing the lethal targeting of Anwar al-Aulaqi, the American-born radical cleric who was killed by a U.S. drone strike Friday, according to administration officials.

The document was produced following a review of the legal issues raised by striking a U.S. citizen and involved senior lawyers from across the administration. There was no dissent about the legality of killing Aulaqi, the officials said.

“What constitutes due process in this case is a due process in war,” said one of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closely held deliberations within the administration.

The administration has faced a legal challenge and public criticism for targeting Aulaqi, who was born in New Mexico, because of constitutional protections afforded U.S. citizens. The memorandum may represent an attempt to resolve, at least internally, a legal debate over whether a president can order the killing of U.S. citizens overseas as a counterterrorism measure.

The operation to kill Aulaqi involved CIA and military assets under CIA control. A former senior intelligence official said that the CIA would not have killed an American without such a written opinion.

A second American killed in Friday’s attack was Samir Khan, a driving force behind Inspire, the English-language magazine produced by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. An administration official said the CIA did not know Khan was with Aulaqi, but they also considered Khan a belligerent whose presence near the target would not have stopped the attack.

Obama on Awlaki Death at Mullen Retirement Ceremony (New York Times):

Earlier this morning, Anwar Awlaki, the leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was killed in Yemen. The death of Awlaki is a major blow to Al Qaeda’s most active operational affiliate. Awlaki was the leader of external operations for Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. In that role he took the lead in planning and directing the efforts to murder innocent Americans. He directed the failed attempt to blow up an airplane on Christmas day in 2009. He directed the failed attempt to blow up U.S. cargo planes in 2010. And he repeatedly called among individuals in the United States and around the globe to kill innocent men, women and children to advance a murderous agenda.

The death of Awlaki marks another significant milestone in the broader effort to defeat Al Qaeda and its affiliates. Furthermore this success is a tribute to our intelligence community and to the efforts of Yemen and its security forces who have worked closely with the United States over the course of several years.

Awlaki and his organization have been directly responsible for deaths of many Yemeni citizens. His hateful ideology and targeting of innocent civilians has been rejected by the vast majority of Muslims and people of all faiths. And 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.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula remains a dangerous, though weakened terrorist organization. And going forward we will remain vigilant against any threats to the United States or our allies and partners. But make no mistake, this is further proof that Al Qaeda and its affiliates will find no safe haven anywhere in the world.

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 and to build a world in which people everywhere can live in greater peace, prosperity and security.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 12

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images