Bin Laden's key deputy seen as very hard to replace for al Qaeda
By CNN Terrorism Analyst Paul Cruickshank
The death of al Qaeda's No. 2, Atiyah Abdul Rahman in Pakistan, is a hammer blow to the terrorist organization.
Al Qaeda's second-in-command, Atiya Abdul Rahman, has been killed in Pakistan, a U.S. official said Saturday.
According to a U.S. official, Abdul Rahman, a 43-year-old veteran Libyan operative, rose to the number two spot after the death of Osama bin Laden in May, which saw the Egyptian Ayman al Zawahiri take over the leadership of the terrorist group. In that capacity Rahman ran daily operations for the group, according to the official.
"There's no question this is a major blow to al Qaeda. Atiyah was at the top of al Qaeda's trusted core," the official said.
Intelligence garnered from bin Laden's compound in Abbotabad, Pakistan, showed that Rahman had emerged as bin Laden's key deputy in the years before his death.
It was mainly through Rahman that bin Laden continued to issue instructions to al Qaeda operatives around the world. These messages, U.S. intelligence agencies established, were passed on in the form of draft e–mails copied onto thumb drives that were smuggled out of the compound by a courier. Bin Laden's plans sent on to Rahman included the idea of attacking the United States on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, according to the Washington Post.
Rahman appears to have been killed by a drone strike in the tribal areas of Pakistan, a fate he may have been expecting. According to reports, he sent a message to bin Laden a year before the latter's death complaining of the danger to the organization's operatives by the strikes.
The Libyan will be very hard to replace.
"Rahman has been at the nerve center of al Qaeda's global terrorist operations," Noman Benotman, a former Libyan jihadist acquainted with Rahman, bin Laden and other top al Qaeda leaders, told CNN in an interview earlier this week. "He has become their CEO, the only person that al Qaeda cannot afford to lose."
Rahman has played a growing operational role for al Qaeda in recent years. In 2008 he helped handle Bryant Neal Vinas, an American al Qaeda recruit who helped al Qaeda develop a bomb plot against the Long Island Rail Road in 2008, according to a U.S. counter-terrorism source familiar with Vinas' subsequent interrogation.
An al Qaeda plot to attack Europe with Mumbai-style attacks in the fall of 2010 was approved by bin Laden through communications with Rahman according to several reports.
According to Benotman, now a senior analyst at the Quilliam Foundation, a U.K. counter-terrorism think tank, Rahman was one of the sharpest jihadist operatives he had ever encountered. He said Rahhman and Zawahiri had recently developed a strategy to rebuild al Qaeda by reorganizing its relations with its affiliates, rebranding its message to expand its support base and repositioning its energies to take advantage of the fast pace of events in the Arab world, including in Yemen where al Qaeda's affiliate has taken advantage of chaotic conditions to expand its operations in recent months.
Rahman was one of al Qaeda's earliest members, joining the terrorist organization around 1989, according to Benotman. He often rubbed shoulders with Rahman during the anti-Communist jihad in Afghanistan in the early 1990s and knew him by his real first name, Jamal. (According to U.S. authorities, Rahman is also known as Jamal al-Shitaywi.)
During his student days at the Misrata College for Natural Resources, Rahman had a reputation for being a hardliner in Islamist circles, according to Benotman, causing some friction. When the Gadhafi regime cracked down on Islamists in the late 1980s Rahman left for Afghanistan, like many other Libyans, to fight holy war.
But when he got there, rather than joining the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), a Libyan jihadist outfit founded in 1990 in Afghanistan, Rahman gravitated towards the newly created al Qaeda organization. According to Benotman, a former senior commander of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, al Rahman never joined the LIFG.
By the mid-1990s, Rahman's intellect helped him quickly climb up the al Qaeda chain of command. His religious credentials had been bolstered by a stay in Mauretania, where he undertook religious studies.
In the mid-1990s, al Qaeda entrusted him with a vital mission. According to Benotman, he was sent by al Qaeda to Algeria to explore the possibility of an al Qaeda alliance with the GIA, a jihadist group renowned for its ultra-hardline ideology then engaged in bloody civil war in the country. But the mission was a terrible failure.
According to Benotman, rather than welcoming al Qaeda's emissary, the GIA imprisoned him and three members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group because they considered him too moderate and objected to his criticisms of their strategy. Rahman was incarcerated by the group for eight months while the group searched for a fatwa to justify executing him, according to Benotman.
But in 1997 the Libyans escaped before such a punishment could be handed down. Rahman travelled to Turkey and then eventually back to al Qaeda's base in Afghanistan.
The experience left Rahman greatly disillusioned with the jihadist movement.
"At the time he was in huge doubt about the efficiency of jihadist groups - he thought they needed to rethink their approach," Benotman told CNN.
Rahman resigned from al Qaeda but kept good relations with the group, Benotman said.
In the summer of 2000, Benotnam spent several days with Rahman in the LIFG's safe house in Kabul. Sitting down for long cups of tea on the rugs in the residence, Benotman noticed that Rahman, who was always calm, courteous and soft-spoken, was in a reflective mood. For hours he discussed with Benotman what he saw as a failure of the jihadist movement to mobilize the masses. He had come to believe that some of the harsh tactics used by jihadist groups in places such as Algeria and Egypt were robbing it of popular support in the Arab world. The strident radicalism of his youth had been replaced with a mellower, more thoughtful outlook.
"He was one of the few jihadists who really impressed me with his understanding of armed conflict and how important the intellectual dimension is to this conflict," Benotman recalled.
When al Qaeda launched the 9/11 attacks a year later, Rahman was still outside the al Qaeda fold. But the subsequent U.S. invasion of Afghanistan saw Rahman rejoin bin Laden's terrorist organization.
"He was involved in defending Afghanistan and he felt that a Muslim government was being invaded," Benotman told CNN. According to Benotman, who then was in touch with Libyan jihadists in Afghanistan from London, Rahman escaped into the tribal areas of Pakistan after the fall of the Taliban. By the time al Qaeda refound its footing in 2003, he had emerged as a key operative in the terrorist group.
After Abu Musab al-Zarqawi began waging an insurgency against American troops in Iraq, Rahman was one of several al Qaeda operatives who established contact with the Jordanian terrorist, Benotman said.
In 2004, after lengthy negotiations, Zarqawi renamed his organization al Qaeda in Iraq. But Zarqawi's barbaric tactics and mass targeting of civilians soon created a backlash in the Muslim world, including within the jihadist movement itself.
During 2005, alarmed by the course of events, Zawahiri sent a letter to Zarqawi urging him to show restraint. In December of that year, when Zarqawi failed to heed such calls, Rahman sent a much more forceful letter warning Zarqawi that he was at risk of destroying the al Qaeda brand.
"Know that we like all mujahiddin, are still weak," he wrote, "we have not yet reached a level of stability. We have no alternative but not to squander any element of the foundations of strength or any helper or supporter."
Rahman during this period continued to be based for the most part in the tribal areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
In September 2009, Rahman, who had previously worked behind the scenes within the al Qaeda hierarchy, appeared for the first time in an al Qaeda propaganda video released to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the first of many such appearances that saw him emerge as a spokesman for the terrorist group.
According to Benotman, Rahman saw getting out such messages as absolutely vital to al Qaeda's cause.
In recent months, Rahman had made several statements in response to the Arab Spring. Such messages have been very different in tone to previous al Qaeda statements, Benotman said.
"They are much less judgmental in tone - he realized that aggressive messages were putting people off," Benotman told CNN. "Along with Zawahiri, he appears to recently have deliberately downplayed the group's hardline takfiri ideology for tactical purposes."
In 2010 after Shaykh Sa'id al-Masri was killed, Rahman assumed command of daily operations for the terrorist group, according to a U.S. official, before assuming the number two position.
In recent years Rahman had helped manage al Qaeda's relations with its affiliates. According to Benotman, Rahman was determined to build a more cohesive united al Qaeda global effort in which affiliated groups like al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen more closely followed strategic guidance from al Qaeda's top leaders in Pakistan. In order to further this aim, Rahman relied on unique set of contacts that he had built up among other jihadist groups around the world.
In a booklet he released in the summer of 2010 al Rahman stressed the need for jihadists to open multiple fronts and for local elements to be integrated into the global jihadist movement, according to a review by the Jamestown Foundation. He also stated that takfir (the excommunication and sentencing to death of Muslims) should only be decided by religious scholars.
Rahman also concentrated on building up a support network in Iran so that the group could funnel funds and operatives through its territory, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. The Iranian government had colluded with Rahman's Iranian network, Treasury said.
According to U.S. authorities, "al Rahmam was previously appointed by Osama bin Laden to serve as an al Qaeda emissary in Iran, a position that allowed him to travel in and out of Iran with the permission of Iranian officials."
A U.S. official told CNN that Rahman's death will have an impact on al Qaeda's ties to its affiliates as well as Zawahiri's ability to gain complete control over the terrorist group.
"Atiyah was the one affiliates knew and trusted, and he spoke on behalf of both UBL and Zawahiri. He planned the details of al Qaeda operations and its propaganda. His combination of background, experience, and abilities are unique in al Qaeda - without question, they will not be easily replaced," said the official, adding, "Zawahiri needed Atiyah's experience and connections to help manage al Qaeda. Now it will be even harder for him to consolidate control."
CNN's Pam Benson contributed to this report.
@natlsecuritycnn on Twitter
You should complain to ABBE and Citu & Guilds for still offering the qualification. They charge over £300 to approve the course so naturally any provider needs to make money on top. Anything in excess of £1200 is robbery to me though.
Hard to replace? No way – these guys keep popping up faster than whack-a-moles. Just get out of Muslim countries and let them concentrate on killing each other instead of staying there and providing them with a target (us).
al-Qaeda probably should be worried more about their invasion into the United States.......http://thewashingtonfancy.com/2011/09/al-qaeda-led-to-believe-america-was-hit-by-iran-not-irene/
Al Queda is bunch retards. You cannot beat the us (United States) with muscle and violence? We thrive on competition. Put down the sword and pick up the pen. You will do much more damage that way! Sue us in court. Oh you guys are too damn retarded to do that. Hmm thats a shame? Thought I'd give you a chance LMFAO! God bless the United States! Good ridden to Al Queda!
another dead terrorist...keep stacking them like cordwood
I don't think you know what you are talking about. Humans (terrorists or otherwise) stack very differently from cordwood, partially due to differences in compressibility and rigidity (both torsional and lateral).
Yeah Pete you are very correct!!!! Make great bullet barriers to hide behind when you can stack them just right!!! But those f@#$ers are havier than they look and not easy to wrangle into position!!!!!!!!
Since they come with their own sheets it should not be too difficult to wrap them up in a neat little pile.
RIP.......rest in purgatory......
Way to go Wackistan.....home of the innocent.....home of ignorant.....home of the lunatics.....home of the terrorists.......home of al qaeda......home of devil worshipers.....adopted home of the infamous muslim comic book......
I like this comment. Muslims and Islams need to stop. Where in the Koran does is say to kill those who believe in a different way of life?
I see a lunatic peering out through his beady eyes.
Humanity will have no places for the like of this lunatic.
The less of them the better.
I'm hoping that he saw and agonized over how wrong his life was
before he checked out.
well sir you have the right to blog what you believe. nice to be in a free country. no?
Don't believe anything that comes out of Washington and especially the Pentagon. Lies nothing but lies. Like China, Russia and North. Missleading teh public is the Nr. 1 job of the Government.
i did my duty and blogged my thoughts on the matter. something i rarely do when it comes to this. but after reading a few of the blogs i was motivated to clarify some left out details.
yes sir i am.
when you see a child filthy and bomb shocked and the people who arent involved look at you with compassion and caution because they dont know if you will do the same to them what they have been living with all their lives. to see the animals emaciated and wounded, to smell and see rubble and burn out cars and blown up bodies. these scenes would tramatize anyone seeing them for the first time. you can watch shows about it, but to actually be there, a person cant understand it. ive killed and seen my brothers killed. its hell but it needs to be done. its a responsibility and duty. not for oil or dominon over a country but as a humanitarian necessity. we helped rebuild japan and germany and they are now valued allies and business partners. the generation during WWll has been said to be the best, which i agree. i believe years from now this generation will be right up close to it.
Well said!!!!! Been there done that and got the teeshirt!!!!!! Rangers lead the way!
1st SFOD-D.
I'm sorry to say, but 9/11 was inside job
You can't be serious.
I'm sorry you said it as well
Puff puff pass....you must have some really good stuff....
You, sir, are a tinfoil-hat wearing fruitloop.
You people who think 9-11 was an insiide job are morons plain an simple.
This '9/11 was an inside job' nonsense is such an embarrassment to us lefties. For people who are supposed to be rooted in science and reason to buy the completely flawed logic and incorrect analysis of the evidence of the 'inside job' theory just proves that these people (including the very apt named 'yabadabadoo') are more interested in bending evidence to their preconceived beliefs than in actually using the scientific method to arrive at a conclusion of the facts, which is that airplanes destroyed the twin towers and damaged the pentagon. Any other theory has no basis in fact. Sorry. Just cause we hated Bush doesn't mean we can abandon logic and twist facts to create fiction. I mean these 'inside job' people would probably have us believe that Popular Mechanics and the National Institute of Standards were both in on it. Just ridiculous.
Science surely you cant beleave in science!!!!!! I read today where michele bachman said that the us was blessed with huge ammounts of oil and gas by God!!!!! She was in florida and wants to drill for oil in the everglades.That was done in the 40,s and only low grade crude was found. Guess god did not bless FL. with oil and gas! Maybe we can pray on it and it will appear! Beware of false prophets.......!!!!!!!
just google WTC 7 and watch how that building implodes on itself. That WAS an inside job, pure and
simple!!
I envy you, Yaba, for the scorn you have heaped upon yourself. Nice.
OH NO, Not another nut job who still believes in their same old sorry dribble. I suppose you still think that President Kennedy was a inside job by the CIA as well ? Please go find a rock and slider back under it along with your other brothers and sisters.
Are you high, or just Michael Moore?
No doubt that Mad Dog Gadhafi helped bank role these terrorists.
I've been reading about the thinking of the top terrorists for years now, and this analysis makes them all seem so incredibly stupid, because they have no ability to process COMMON SENSE. So it was a big breakthrough for this "intellectual" #2 leader to realize that mass killing of innocent Muslim civilians might just be working against them! Duh!... Incredible. If this is the best and the brightest of these emotionally blinded butchers, we can rest assured they will never win the ultimate battle: Winning the hearts and minds of the Muslim millions they so badly want to lead.
Sorry but surely if what you say is true, the US killing of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan which easily tops the totals of the suicide bombers also has the effect of alienating hearts and minds. We are still waiting for that duh moment.
Don't forget to include Saddam's killing of hundreds of thousands of his fellow Muslims in your total. In that case, the US won't even come close. There's a "DUH" moment for ya.
Here is another duh moment for you, the US does not deliberately target women and children. People like you are funny, they never think stuff through. I bet you think if we got rid of the military, the whole world would come together and sing Kumbiya, right. Or better yet that the military, and therefore by extension the Fine Soldiers, sailors, Marines, and Airmen that make it up are just uneducated baby killers, is that your view on it? Oh well, the military protects all of our rights, even a twit like you.
I'm on the side of the gawd and country bumpkins who heap lavish praise upon our hero killers. We are now the world's Empirical power. We are sooooooo awesome!
Remember, intellectuals start and perpetuate wars to benefit themselves.
What?
Got exactly what he deserved!! Take them all out i say! Anyone that endangers the innocent lives of my family and friends can rot in hell!! Go USA!
HELL YEAH!
oh em gee, a "hammer blow." christ.
Obama has really pushed Al Qaeda into the dustbin of history. Whatever happens in the next election, he should be widely credited with refocusing our military and intelligence resources on consistently and surgically devastating that organization and, consequently, reducing the threat of serious terrorist attacks on Americans.
Get bent, those systems were in place before he ever took over, and the very same administration you are praising is the one that admitted that those systems were put in place by Bush, just can't give credit where credit is do can you.
I think what he is trying to say is that many people predicted that President Obama wouldn't have the will to carry on what the previous president was doing with the military actions. Many Republicans were saying that the president was soft. Contrary to that prediction however, there has been success in taking out "key" figures in the terrorist network.
al Qaeda started out in early 2009 mocking newly elected, Barack Obama. Big Mistake, al Qaeda. Actually the new sheriff in town has been your worst nightmare.
Nice! Now lets see how many are willing to step in. LMAO! Funny how this President who is suppose to be weak, but he has Al-Quida on the run.. I personally enjoy the 50 cal sniper rifle kills on You Tube where the insurgent looks like he spontanously explodes from the sniper round.. I like that more than the drone because it's more personal from us to them..
I know this comment won't make it, but fuck you. You're a stupid, hateful fucking cunt.
Johnny,please clariy....
Clarify..
You are the reason the world thinks America is full of idiots, im a U.S. Marine and killing people is part of our job but at no time have i ever heard another human being say i enjoy seeing people get blown to pieces, thats whats wrong with the world today i understand your trying to be patriotic but the crap that comes out of your mouth not only makes you look like an idiot it makes Americans look dumb as well. On the other hand your probably a 23 year old that spends his time playing call of duty becuase ur to lazy and unmotivated to actually go to one of the branches of military and go out and see the shit in real life so if i were you ide stick to what i know which is likely how to make enogh money to by top raman and pay for xbox live.
Hey teabaggers gotta say from this soliders point of view op,s have been streamlined and are more effective under Obama and his crew.Proof is in the pudding so to speak!!!!!!! Under bush we did alot more baby kissing and mosque painting instead of terrorist killing.You are never,and I repeat never gonna win the hearts and minds of these people.
Obama cut the bullshit and sticks to the objective and you see the results!!!!Had nothing to do with Bush sorry to piss on your parade.
Hey Cody P. You are so right!!!!! I bet hes never been nelt in the middle of some dusty street with his finger stuck in the chest of some kid crying for his mother.Yeah not as fun as watching youtube!!!! Every sniper I ever knew was quiet and to themselves,even to members of their same unit.Ever wonder why!!!!!!! Shit is not funny when you can smell it taste it and have to wash it off you!!!!! So do like cody says and stop making us look like idiots and stick to x-box and freezer burritos leave the war fighting to the big boys. Thanks xoxoxo
To vrim... hey rim job, you really think obama had direct responsibility of that? obama is only the puppet of a much much much larger animal so to speak.
Good, hope it hurt.
@ Rory: I'm not going to "hate" on you for thinking "forgive and forget" will actually work. You're probably a good-hearted person that truly believes that such an approach can succeed. I doubt you've lived in a Muslim society before. It's not just that Islamic fundamentalists hate "us," they hate almost everyone. Despite what all the moderate Muslims suggest about terrorists "not being real Muslims," the Quran clearly states that Muslims must show allegiance to other Muslims even if they have committed crimes. This is why I never feel bad about Palestinian women and children being blown to bits by the Israelis. Muslims tolerate fundamentalism in their communities more than "we" tolerate fundamentalism. That is never, ever going to change. Thus, it really is "us against them." I urge any reader of this blog to spend a few months living in a Muslim community and see how you are treated. Better yet, for all you guys out there, try living in a Muslim community with a hot American girlfriend and you'll see how moderate Muslims will turn the other way when the fundamentalists are making you and you girl wish you had never listened to my idea.
I'm not sure what your point is but regardless, you should be ashamed that you wrote this sentence: "This is why I never feel bad about Palestinian women and children being blown to bits by the Israelis." Shame on you. That is a totally un-American sentiment. And why do you say we don't tolerate fundamentalism when we have a very comparably sized fundamentalist, irrational movement in the US. Its called the Tea Party. While I have a deep dislike of the tenets of Islamic law and the lack of personal freedom and individuality in Islamic society or Muslim communities, I feel almost as strongly about Christian fundamentalism and the destructive effect it is having on my country. But regardless of this, as a member of the human race we should have compassion for any innocent person who is killed whether they are Palestinian Muslims or American fundamentalist Christians.
HOW ABOUT WE BRING ALL OUR TROOPS BACK HOME CUT ALL TIES WITH THE ARABWORLD AND IRAN ,LET ISRAEL FIGHT THIER OWN WAR AND THEN YOULL SEE WELL HAVE NOMORE BEEF WITH THEM SINCE THIER THE BAD GUYS AND WERE THE THE PEACESEEKERS I THOUGHT SO THEN SHUT UP
You do realize that this method you describe is very similar to the method used after our involvement in Afghanistan at the height of the Cold war? Undoubtedly this will only cause future retaliation from a country we pulled out on leaving them with a weak infrastructure and practically anarchy until the rebellious fundamentalists seize control.
I say burn Mecca! And when they set up camp somewhere else, burn it down again.
Yes, this is also the approach taken by the US leading up to WWII. Isolationism has never been an intelligent policy prescription – especially as the effects of globalization create a smaller geopolitical playing field.
oil
What good is keeping a thermonuclear arsenal if it is not going to be used once in a while? Send B2's armed with 25 megaton hydrogen devices to Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, and every other shit hole that is hostile, and erase them from history.
HOW ABOUT WE BRING ALL OUR TROOPS BACK HOME CUT ALL TIES WITH THE ARABWORLD AND IRAN ,LET ISRAEL FIGHT THIER OWN WAR AND THEN YOULL SEE WELL HAVE NOMORE BEEF WITH THEM SINCE THIER THE BAD GUYS AND WERE THE THE PEACESEEKERS I THOUGHT SO THEN SHUT UP OUR FOREIGN POLICY SUCKS THATS ANOTHER REASON WERE BANKRUPT
HOW ABOUT WE BRING ALL OUR TROOPS BACK HOME CUT ALL TIES WITH THE ARABWORLD AND IRAN ,LET ISRAEL FIGHT THIER OWN WAR AND THEN YOULL SEE WELL HAVE NOMORE BEEF WITH THEM SINCE THIER THE BAD GUYS AND WERE THE THE PEACESEEKERS I THOUGHT SO THEN SHUT UP OUR FOREIGN POLICY SUCKS THATS ANOTHER REASON WERE BANKRUPT FIGHTING OTHER PEOPLES WARS
Your illiteracy amazes me.
maybe .....but he is still right..................
I think that's a quote made by Ron Paul, during his Iowa debate (2 weeks ago). what a great man, yet no one gives him credit nor attention for just simply speaking the truth.
That's because he's not radical enough. He doesn't invoke a "god" or speak religion enough for the wackos. I mean the American right wing seems to want an American Taliban, if they aren't radical enough like those in the muslim world then they don't get the coverage they deserve.
Yeah all he has to do is jump on the ultra religious christian band wagon.The muslims flock to the mosque and blindly beleave what they are told!!!!!These ultra bible thumpers flock to the church and blindly vote for who they are told! Whats the difference? Ther is not any thats my point!!!!!!! Wake up America!!!! Seperation of church and state there was a reason for this !!!!!!!!!!
TESTING
Test
I find it odd that Iran would harbour in any way a sunni terrorist group which has sworn to eradicate the apostate shi'a sect that the ayatollahs belong to. Also the Quaeda has worked with Jundallah which is a Pakistani based militant group which often attacks high-level government and military targets in Iran. Something doesn't add up here.
Hammer Blow. Mmmm. Come up with something better please. Sounds like the title of a bad adult film.
KUDOS CNN on an excellent, in-depth piece. @YO YO MA, fine commentary, IMO. I, too, think something is going on here that has gone unmentioned.
As we continue to consistently take out "No.2s", we also sustain what basically has become one war with two fronts (Iraq and Afghanistan), thus tying up the world's most sophisticated and well-trained militia across two locations, increasing their vulnerability, in an extremely expensive "war against terrorism."
Periodically, our young, brave, bright, talented men and women at arms make a big score – like this "No.2" operative, in which we take great pride.
But these critical advances that remove key lynchpins of the Al Quaeda terrorist network or that of the Taliban come about through superb intelligence, skillfully deployed special ops, black ops, drones or other unmanned weaponry such as "smart bombs", etc. – all tactics that, strictly speaking, lie OUTSIDE the purvey of the troops on the fronts.
Because this enemy -terrorism – lurks in the souls of men, not the borders of a country. The enemy is EVERY NOOK, CRANNY, CREVICE, each 11-year-old suicide bomber, an innocent-looking clod of dirt in the roadway that ROARS up through the heavy steel gut-plated bottom of the Bradley armored tank and tears away our sons and daughters.
And still we maintain two fronts as if it were a regular war, a normal enemy.
Sometimes I think the Joint Chiefs keep the war(s) just to psychologically comfort themselves, the American people, as if to say, "Yeah, we know where the bad guy is, and we are right ON TOP of him!", when in fact we should end the charade, bring everyone but the tactical, special ops, black ops forces, and support units, etc., home. We need to face facts about what we are up against – a WAY OF THINKING, not a NATION-STATE.
Tremendous post JehseaLynn. You have a grasp of strategic thinking
JehseaLynn- So didn't the Nazi's have the same kind of extremist ideology that was wide spread but wasn't our business to get into that. Right?
Dude your missing her point take it from me she,s on point! We are trying to fight an uncoventional war in a predictable and coventional manner.Recently things are changing and sucesses have been made.No longer do you see these large scale operation,s all,ah Quick draw George and tricky dick cheaney who alot of my fellow soliders still hold great distain for!!!!!!! Dummies!!!!!! Now you see how this fight should have been handeled from the get go!!!!! I.e. (JSOC) and Drones. The proof is in the pudding so to speak.no nation building nor the winning of hearts and minds,wich you will never accomplish by the way!!!!!! Sorry to say as a Repub none of this new stratagy had anything to do with dumbass Bush.
From the looks of Perry and Bachman Im seriously considering changing my status to independant!!!!!! The stalling in congress further bringing the country to her knees the incompitance of leadership when I did my three tours in Iraq
Standing on the deck of an aircraft carrier and proclaiming mission accomplished while I was getting my ass half shot off.That was my first purple heart,I have three by the way two in Iraq and one in Assghanistan.The constant pandering to the religeous right in this country who beleave praying is the answer to all their problems, Who want to tell all americans how they should run their lives as if they know best for everyone.Relegion should be personal and should have no place in politics.You see how well Religeous politics has worked in Iran etc.etc.These people make us look as wacko as the muslims.Relegion has killed more people over the course of history than anthing else!!!! Feable weak minded people who need to beleave in a higher power. I have had enough of the scare tactics and coning americans into giving up their rights for fear of a terrorist around every corner.These are the repubs. Games and we see through the bullshit.You repubs and tea baggers are so easily decieved by these idiots flag waving and bible tumping I think you have all gone retarded.These people are the american version of the taliban!!!!!!
I think he will be as hard to replace as a drug dealer in the other failed war.
government propoganda. take one religious kook out, another one pops up.
I'm probably going to get a lot of haters for saying this. We need to stop all of this right now. We have to stop thinking like it's us vs them. Always pursuing justice. We're always finding someone to blame. Always seeking revenge that causes even more problems. It's better to forgive and let go. Get on with life because it's short. Ignore the fear that is being broadcasted nationwide
You talking to America or Islam?
@just saying – obviously you do not get his point!
I quit buying Rahman noodles – why should I support those creeps?
Lopping off the head is not effective, because like the Hydra, two more take it's place. This a problem that requires a much more planetary, permanent solution.
no 3 is already no 2.and 2 billion stand in line
yea, haji.. stand in line all of you, makes it easier for us to nuke you pigs
If you really want to stop terrorists, stop using gasoline, their principal source of funding. I drive a Chevy Volt and buy five gallons per month. You drive a pickup or SUV and burn five gallons per day.
Stop paying for the bombs and bullets that are killing our sons and daughters. Stop funding Iran's nuclear program. Or don't you care?
Why not adopt a sane foreign policy in the Middle East. Its not about money. How much did 9/11 cost al queda?
I believe you mean to say "oil" funds. Anyhow, no one but you cares about your Chevy Volt, so pipe down on that issue. You sound like a righteous fool with your standardized and boring comment.
Mike,
Do you really think buying Volts will end terrorism? How incredibly naive of you. How about developing fossil fuel resources in the U.S.? There will never be in your lifetime the elimination of fossil fuels as our primary source of energy and contrary to popular belief, there is sufficient supply of fossil fuels to last hundreds of years.
Before you start spouting "drill baby drill", learn a little about global energy commodities. It matters not where the oil is taken from as all oil is sold on a global market. Therefore, oil drilled in the USA is added to the oil drlled in the UEA, Venezuela, Canada, Russia, etc. We do not have the option of choosing which oil is used, but we do have the option of using less.
UhHuh – You're wrong. A lot of us drive good mileage cars and have to put up with people who want to drive 19 mpg hemi-engine trucks, etc, driving the price of oil up and shoveling money toward our enemies.
hey micky....when your volt can tow my boat and snowmobile I might by one...but until then just plug it in your ear.......
Mike,
How is your Chevy Volt getting recharged each night? What kind of fuel is used to power your local power plant?
And for those questioning the efficacy of drilling more at home, does the oil drilled at home enter the world market? If yes, how does adding more to the supply not impact prices? Perhaps a little research into supply and demand is in order.
Militants led by terrorist kingpin who fought against U.S. troops in Afghanistan occupy Gaddafi compounds.
Evil begets evil. War begets war. This is true.
Don't worry. The shell game will continue. As soon as a new gov't is established in Libya, the US will begin covert operation for regime change.
GREAT we got the number one and about 50 number 2's. Time to bring our troops home!
Is anyone keeping count of the "death blows" we have struck on al qaeda?
I know they keep count of the death blows to us and western society. Not that it's right.
No. But they are probably still ahead.
Amazing the things that can be accomplished when an administration starts focusing on the real problem - the terrorist organizations - and moves away from using the military to fight for Iraqi oil contracts for your Texas Big Oil campaign sponsors.
Please shut up now.
This person should shut up? It's called freedom of speech. Perhaps you should move on and let someone express his or her opinion.
I love how everyone thinks that G. W. just lined his pockets with oil money from Iraq and Obama just "focuses" attention to the real problem. Chew on this factoid: maybe the US troops, after identifying how these guys operate, have figured out how to hit them where it hurts. The President gets briefed by the Joint Chiefs, who are briefed by the units on the ground and in the air, it's not like the Prez is sitting here next to me in Afghanistan making the daily decisions. So naive..
Keith,
Please identify which Texas oil companies have received Iraqi oil contracts and identify the amount in profits they've made from those contract. That data would be useful in determining the truth of your accusation.
Please also tell me how Saddam Hussein was better for the people of Iraq than the current Iraqi government.
Well said,These people are like sheep being lead to the slaughter by their false prophets!!!!!!!
Every terrorist we kill (and we should not stop until they are all killed or surrender) is one less killing my brothers and sisters in the sand box...so if I have to give up some of my freedoms, and some of my tax dollars to save one drop of American blood...even those who are against what I believe I will give up that freedom and pay the extra tax dollars to buy more drones or any other ammo or weapons to do the job. God bless my brothers and sisters in harms way and God bless America.
I appreciate what you said and how you said. It is my desire as well to give up something I like to if that means joy to thousands of my fellow Americans. We create. We are the most passionate and the kindest. Love you AMERICA.
Those who would trade freedom for safety deserve neither – Benjamin Franklin
God save the Republic!
I absolutely agree with you, this quote says it all. America has fallen victim to this fear campaign that was inaugurated after the false flag terror attacks. You have lost what ever freedom you had giving it up for the so called security. It is time to wake up, listen to Ron Paul!!! This man is the answer to your problems. Think out of the shell, don't just believe what you hear on the TV. Research for yourself and WAKE UP AMERICA!! Throw out this Tyrannical government and take back your country!!!!!
We need to have a conference call with Benjamin Franklin to make sure we are all in the same page as it relates to the twenty first century.
Very true words indeed. Unfortunately so many are too glued to American Idol and their Ipads to pay attention to the chains being tied around their ankles.
hey, benny never had to deal with turd swinging hajis...
My father GOD must be very proud of you loving war so much in his name...
Out of the hundreds of millions of galaxies in our universe, and the billions and billions of stars among them. The big magic guy in the sky can surely take a few moments to cast a few magic spells to grants a bonus to armor class and saving throws and protection from evil for some nation state on little old planet Earth. Ya think? God Bless America, because GOD prefers "US" over THEM.
I'm happy to hear that you retired from the business of killing.
those guys were'nt forced to go and fight ,they signed up. Some to stay out of jail. I don't think anybody "likes" anbody getting killed, but we are on their land. If we had armies of people from other countries attacking us her in the USA i would be standing in my doorway shooting at them.
Ok genius, 90% of the people fighting the Coalition forces in Fghanistan are NOT AFGHANI !!! They don't live here, they are simply hardline Muslims that want to see uneducated, enslaved women all the while killing Jews and Christians simply on the basis that they are not Muslim. read the Quran, it will blow your mind. BTW, I'm not a follower of any religion, I simply hate stupid people of all religions (or non-religions for that matter) who kill each other for the sak of believeing in a different version of events that may or may not have happened over 2000 years ago!!!
A hammer blow? Who are you trying to convince, us or you?
If you want a better approval rating, pretending to catch terrorists just isn't going to cut it anymore, fool. Do something good at home for a change.
Blayze Kohime, if this is not a hammer blow then what is. The fact is a fact and needs to be reported. I don't at all see this as a way to move the the approval ratings up.
It's not like the white house held a special news conference. Even when Bin Laden was killed there was no celebration by the white house like there was in the press.
You should try practicing as you preach.
I don't see a big stack of applicants for that position, seeing as how the world's most sophisticated military and intelligence apparatus is constantly seeking out the person for death.
What a wonderful time to be alive. You are all witness to the fall. Does anyone know why this war really started? Not the war on natures weed or coco plants which were losing for some odd reason... Did some guys on the other side of the world really just get together one day in their patch of desert and say, " you know what Abdulamalaochaaachaa, I really hate freedom and people who have it. What you do you say we learn how to fly planes and crash them into a building I know nothing about because I dont have a tv"? Some of the first reasons were because they hated freedom... lol. I still laugh at that one. Now they are all dead or being dunked in a bucket of water for life while listening to bad music really really loud but were still there. Why?? OH yes thats is right, because there are thousands of them all over the place in every hole, nook and cranny of the world. How about the new slogan, if you see something say something haha.
So when does it end my friends? When do we Americans cross the finish line? All the people running for office are a joke. The TSA got what it wanted and will continue, the military gets to play with all their new toys and scare the world, were the virus reaping natural resources and more, our economy and structure is falling apart and on and on and on...
Something is coming folks..
What a completely useless rant.
The end of your diatribe we hope.
Yo Ma Ma!
@YO YO MAMA Post from the 29th. I agree with you. To think that something big and drastic is not coming and coming soon is to be naive. China is expanding everything they have; Military, technology. Russia is reorganizing their military to be tenfolds more effective. Europe is in a whole so deep they can't even see daylight. And, sad but true, the US is hanging by her fingers. I hate to say that because I am a Soldier defending this great nation. But for people not to see the Stage is set. Just a matter of what spark lights the match. Hey people, think of what started WW1 for Christ sake.
Thank you President Obama for continuing to order our troops kill these murderers. Keep up the good work and don't give in to those who say we should not be usingour drones in other countries to kill terrorists. Terrorists should not be safe in any country!.
I think we can stick a fork in Al Qaeda. Even while bin Laden was alive in his final years they sucked.
But it's the up and coming terror groups we have not heard of that should be watched.
And how do we watch groups that we've not heard of? We should invent a cure for cancer too.
Yes Don.You are correct.
If I comumintcaed I could thank you enough for this, I'd be lying.
IQoDLt desiwvfskrbz
When I hear of big shot al Qaeda members being killed, I'm reminded of the exagerated body count of Vietmamese in that war, overstated to make the U.S. citizens think we are winning! Just because we are told something by an "unknown source" doesn't make it factual!
Only 12 more days – then we'll see if it's BS or not!
Not the same kind of war – so to compre Viet Nam with battling Al Qaeda is really an apples-to-oranges argument.
Seems you should have known that. Viet Nam was ground positioned, more-or-less defined "lines" and/or campaign positional battles. Not so with fighting a those of Al Qaeda way of attacking.
Vietnam was a body count war. Aside from the DMZ and to a lesser extent the border with Cambodia, I'm not sure what defined "lines" you are talking about. Thousands of GIs were killed taking the same hill or village over and over.
I wouldn't call a report on the death of one man an exaggerated body count.
do these people just run around all day wanting to kill us? why? did we do something to offend them? or are they just murderous muslims by nature?
No. We have killed a lot of people in the middle east and we are the terrorist to them. We have killed more innocent people trying to find these guys then we lost in the attacks. Don't get me wrong they are violent by nature. The fact that we have been there for many years doesn't help either. I would take all that money spent out there and build bases that are permanent and cheaper to operate and spend billions here at home strengthen infrastructure and out defenses. So much money has been pissed away.
Dictators teach their subjects to hate America by blaming America for the poor conditions that the dictators themselves have caused.
said dictators are often put in place by the USA. We reap what we sow
They hate our govt more than the average American. It is getting harder for the Gov to hide the corruption and behind the scenes control of this country as well as others. war = $$.
you wanted to give the United States of America a gift for our 9/11 anniversary & your death was exactly the giant turd we were hoping to see circling the toliet bowel.
In hell you will be a little boy 'bacha bazi,' engaged in eternal bouts of dancing and intercourse with adult male muslims. At least it will hearken you back to your formative years, as a typical muslim boy, so it will likely be a reward for you.
It's comments like that that ensure someone with more hatred will take his place, thanks for making sure I have to keep coming back to this hell hole. Hearts and minds can and will be won when people like you learn that not every Muslim is evil and that making fun of them as a whole is ridiculous and offensive.
keep hammerin
Now it is proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the Paki rag heads harbor Al Qaeda terrorists. These Paki rag heads need to stop complaining about collateral damage from drones. If you hide terrorists, then you are a part of terrorism.
Hey, bummer. I met him at a seedy gay bar in Karchi and let him suck me off. He had really soft lips and good suction, he sure love that cock.
Here we are .. playing whack-a-mole with terrorists.
As long as the same mole doesn't pop up twice.
Most of the Al Qaeda's terrorists were found in Pakistan....
– Bin Laden was found and killed in Pakistan.
– Atiyah Abdul Rahman was found and killed in Pakistan.
– Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was caught in Pakistan.
Why all these monsters attracted to Pakistan?
Why is our so called ally Pakistan giving them a safe haven there?
Hinduism (propaganda) western hindus (terrorist) no one ever existed by this name.
They are all in Pakistan because Bush waited 6 weeks to go into Afghanistan, giving all the Al Queda leaders more than enough time to establish safe haven in Pakistan. Ironically if Obama even thought about trying to pull a maneuver like that he would be accused of treason.
Yeah.....maybe check your facts on how to declare war in the U.S. CONGRESS waited six weeks, not Bush. The same people you elected in your state, you can't blame Bush for everything, some things yes, but most he just became the scapegoat for.
According to that evaluation and Bush era logic. We should now attack Iceland.
"SAFE" haven? Read what you wrote. (But, shhhh, don't tell the terrorists about your conclusions; the more that show up in Pakistan, the merrier.)
Mission Accomplished was Bush..
He told the truth. From his perspective. His mission was for massive war profits for his buddies. Mission accomplished in that respect.
Hey..no 2...no. 3.. or no. 4 in line..doesn't matter we already got the No. 1 scum bastard back in May...we'll keep plucking the bastards off one by one.....Obama should be re-elected for that one accomplishment alone– for putting Osama out of commission...
Yes! I agree 100% we took out number 1 and hopefully the rest of those bast-ards soon enough!
who got them Obama?? give me a brake... brave and fearless soldiers killed bin Laden not Obama
Maybe turn Afhanistan into glass?? Pak too while you're at it.
Wish of a hindu (stupid) in his hinduism (stupidity) from hinered (gutter) called India. It will never happen hindu (ignorent)
I'm just wondering, is English your first language? Or are you from Alabama?
Atiyah Abdul Rahman is dead. That is great news. Can we go visit his dead body so we can p!ss on it. True facts: Atiyah Abdul Rahman's mother was a prostitute and his father had sex with camels. Atiyah Abdul Rahman himself loved pictures of little boys.
How many times have I heard this before??? Hammerblow? Yeah right, till the next guy fills the place. Btw, all these top AQ leaders are always killed by drone strikes or special ops, so why do we have an entire occupying army in two countries again???? What a waste....
It all works in tandem. You have to deny freedom of movement throughout the theater of operations. Drones pick them off in the buidlings they hide in. Ground forces also keep the drones in the air, if they are able to set up air defense sites – the drones get shot down. While I agree, its almost time to let them stand on their own feet, the Afghans may not be ready. To leave now would turn the last 10 years into an actual "waste". Have a great day!!!
The "war on terror" is as laughable as the "war on drugs", "war against the spread of communsim", etc.. One would have to have the mental capacity of a teabagger to subscribe to any of this BS.
USAUSAUSAUSA!!!!
Yet ppl keep volunteering for this bs, thinking they're keeping America safe, when all this crap actually does is just drains us of resources and create more targets.....but if you speak out against these wars, idiots will tell you to shut up cuz they're defending your freedom of speech, as if the Taliban were trying to take away our freedom of speech....this is all lunacy, and almost unbelievable to know this is still going on 10 years later
Gotta love those drone strikes... So what is your solution? Reason with them? I agree Iraq/Afghanistan wars are a boondoggle, but this is how we should have been engaging Al Qaeda for the past ten years. Intelligence, Special Ops, and Drones. The ground wars are unsustainable, but we can police those fanatics indefinitely...
Well let's start at the bottom, then when we get to the 158th #2 there won't be anyone left to move up. K
K
Keep up the good work.
Whats this the 157th #2 we've killed since 2001? They have less turnover flipping burgers at McDonald's.
Thanks for all the background. In our drive by news world, it's refreshing to get more detail.
Such stupid proclamations. Hammer blow? Till the next 100-1000 Number TWOS take over. What idiocy.
Yeah, you make a perfect point. How many "#2 guys" have we offed so far? A dozen? Two?
But each time they snuff a top guy, the guy taking his place will be less and less experienced and less and less capable. So let Al Qaeda keep promoting them up and let the US/CIA keep knocking 'em down.
Yes, it's a hammer blow. Killing the new #2 so soon after killing their prolific #1 is devastating. It's kicking them while their down, and in the case of Al Qaeda it's is a very good thing.
All this means is that there's now a job opening at the Carlyle Group. I hear they pay fairly well, but not for very long....
And remember, NO REHEARSALS AT SUICIDE BOMBER CAMP!!
"Rahman also concentrated on building up a support network in Iran so that the group could funnel funds and operatives through its territory, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. The Iranian government had colluded with Rahman's Iranian network, Treasury said.
According to U.S. authorities, "al Rahmam was previously appointed by Osama bin Laden to serve as an al Qaeda emissary in Iran, a position that allowed him to travel in and out of Iran with the permission of Iranian officials.""
Nice little addition there to help the media's next big cash cow: "Iran: The Road to War" the valiant never-have-served chicken hawks lead the charge against Iran to capture their imaginary WMDs, and overtheir government which hates us because we are free!
Say what?
I guess we'll learn shortly that once again the Obama Administration only succeeded in nailing this No. 2 because some Bush "no bid" contract torturers half-drowned men stripped naked in Gitmo in 2003.
You're way behind if you are trying to bring that up.
Good. If we keep doing this maybe someday we will get to the point where they can't get anybody else to accept the position.
Yeah right. They have an endless supply of idiots who would gladly get blown up tomorrow. They would do anything to make Allah happy.
The Al-queda "brand"? Do they sell their own line of products or something?
I just love my "AL Quada" no-iron denim slacks and dress shirts. My girlfriend has the Al Queada designer shoes – great for shopping, dancing, and even suicide bombing. Next year I'm saving up for the AL Quada Harley Davidson Terrorist-X motorcycle. Its great for running border crossings. I hear their sunglasses are to die for honey!
Working in that organization, a promotion to Vice President, COO, or whatever the #2 position is called should include a "golden flack jacket" and the key to the executive outhouse for as long as one can stay in the position.
Obama is going to need more "Mission Accomplished Signs"
He only needs one... and it won't be a lie.
HEY WHERE DO WE GO TO HAVE A PARADE THAT THIS TOWELHEAD PIECE OF CRAP IS DEAD!!!?? i WANT TO BUY THE GUY WHO KILLED HIM A DRINK!
Those drones are like shooting fish in a barrel. Keep up the pressure on those cowards. They are
the killers of innocent men, women and children. Even their own muslim people. A Drone is lurking BOOM.
Semper Fi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can't tell you how many times since America entered the Middle East that I've read No.2 Leader killed and other quotations similar to that.
Tune in next week when they killed the No.2 Leader again.
Al Qaeda is a sandbox organization, where one person dies, another takes his place. We just have to keep killing them off till there's no more left. Mission accomplished.
Going to have to kill around a billion Mooslims then.
Pretty soon they'll get down to the "last kid to be picked" and they'll just say "F'k it! We aren't playing anymore!"
Yeah, but each time someone new is promoted to "number 2" that person has increasingly less institutional knowledge and history. Someone new will always get promoted (as this guy was when bin Laden was killed). His presence in that position alone reveals how deep they're digging. The proposal to equip farm equipment with blades as a terrorist attack reveals how weakened they are now.