Published June 04, 2012 – UPDATE: June 05, 2012
BREAKING: Abu Yahya Al-Libi, considered a ‘rock star’ in the jihadist world, is killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan, as officials say it will be hard for Al Qaeda to replace one of its most experienced and versatile leaders.
This file image from video and provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, shows Abu Yahia al-Libi. (AP/SITE INTEL GROUP)
Abu Yahya Al-Libi is a rock star in the jihadist world. With his videos and lectures going viral on the Web, he is Al Qaeda’s Mr. YouTube.
On Monday, the top Al Qaeda operative reportedly was the intended target of the latest U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, strikes that have been increasingly unpopular among Pakistanis but successful in recent years at taking out terrorist leaders.
The latest strike reportedly killed eight militants in the tribal region of North Waziristan. U.S. and Pakistani government sources told Reuters that Al-Libi was the intended target, but they could not confirm whether he had been hit.
June 4, 2012 | Categories: Government, War on Terror, New Media News, Foreign Policy, National Security, Congress: Inquiries & Committees, America's Freedoms, Politics, Middle East Affairs, America's National Security, Terrorism, Deficit, Economic Security, Corruption, International Politics, Treason, Freedom Justice and Liberty, America's Disarmament | Tags: War on Terror, politics, Culture of Corruption, Al Qaeda, Pakistan, religion, Libya, undefined, No. 2 Al Qaeda leader, reportedly targeted, abu yahya, al libi, bagram afghanistan, North Waziristan, Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahri, Usama bin Laden's death | Leave A Comment »
Published September 14, 2011
Al Qaeda in Yemen is focused on attacks outside of the region, and as the Arab Spring unfolded across the Middle East the terror network’s most active and lethal affiliate took advantage of the political instability to further expand its operations in Yemen, senior Pentagon officials say.
“We are more concerned today than we were in December 2009,” a defense official said, referring to the failed underwear bomb attack by the Al Qaeda affiliate on Christmas Day.
The group, also known as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula or AQAP, has found a way to pursue both its regional goals of establishing an Islamic state along with its external operations. “They are not seen as mutually exclusive,” the defense official added.
September 15, 2011 | Categories: Agency Regulation, America's Freedoms, American Exceptionalism, Classified Intelligence, Congress, Congress: Inquiries & Committees, Constitutional Responsibilities, Corruption in Government, Cyber Security, Economic Security, Elections Politics, Foreign Insurrection, Foreign Oil, Foreign Trade, Freedom Justice and Liberty, Government, House of Representatives, Immigration, Intelligence, International Affairs, International News, Media Corruption, Middle East Affairs, Most Americans Reject Socialism, National Security, New Media News, Nuclear Security, Politics, POTUS Elibility Issue, Radical Liberal Progressive Left, Redistribution of Wealth, Religion, Senate, Terrorism, Terrorists Threats, War on Terror | Tags: Al Qaeda, al-Qaeda recuritment of Americans, Anwar al-Awlaki, AQAP, Arab Spring, Cathrine Herridge, DHS Senate Committee, Dir. Robert Mueller, FBI, Jihad, Matt Olsen, Middle East, National Counterterrorism Center, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, taking advantage of Arab Spring fallout, Yemen | Leave A Comment »
Barack Obama has difficult decisions ahead of him this summer as he mulls over his pledge to draw down American troop levels after the late 2009 surge and a new, aggressive COIN strategy has made progress in Afghanistan. His main partner in the NATO coalition has complicated the problem for the US. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has demanded an immediate drawdown of hundreds of British troops and will apparently insist that his country will exit entirely by 2014:
Following the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, the Prime Minister is increasingly determined to start bringing the Afghan mission to an end. He has told defence chiefs he wants to start the withdrawal this summer, as the US begins to reduce its troop numbers.
May 12, 2011 | Categories: 2012 Election, America's Freedoms, Americans Reject Sharia and Islamic Supremacism, Congress, Constitutional Responsibilities, Corruption, Corruption in Government, Deficit, Diplomacy, Economic Security, Elections Politics, Energy and Oil, Excessive Government Spending, Foreign Policy, Freedom Justice and Liberty, Fuel Prices, Government, International Affairs, International News, International Politics, Media Corruption, Middle East Affairs, National Security, New Media News, Political Incompetence, Politics, Progressives pushing for Marxism/Socialism, Terrorism, The Economy, War on Drugs, War on Terror | Tags: Afghanistan, Americans reject Socialism, Barack Obama, Congress, David Cameron, Marxists in the White House, NATO, Pakistan, UK, War on Terror | Leave A Comment »
By Doug McKelway
Published February 15, 2011
The arrest of a U.S. diplomat in Pakistan on murder charges threatens to worsen a difficult relationship with Pakistan, a strategic ally in the war on terror.
Raymond Davis, a U.S. consular staffer in the Lahore region of Pakistan, was arrested on Jan. 27 after he allegedly shot and killed two armed men on motor bikes whom, Davis claims, were trying to rob him. A third man, a bystander, apparently died when he was run-over by a U.S. Embassy van that was en route to rescue Davis.
Davis says he was forced to open fire in self-defense. But Pakistani authorities have rejected that claim. “He gave no chance to them to survive. It was cold-blooded murder,” says Lahore police chief Aslam Tareen.
The incident is now threatening to ignite a full-blown international crisis.
February 15, 2011 | Categories: Armed Forces, Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, Government, Intelligence, International Affairs, International News, International Politics, Middle East Affairs, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Progressives pushing for Marxism/Socialism | Tags: allegedly shot two armed men, holding U. S. diplomat, January 27, Pakistan, Raymond Davis, relations, strained, U. S., U. S. counsular staffer | 1 Comment »
By Jennifer Griffin
Published January 07, 2011
“It is the fastest growing nuclear arsenal in the world and it has more terrorists per square mile than any other country in the world,” Bruce Riedel, author of “Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the Future of Global Jihad” tells FOX News in an exclusive interview. “Pakistan is our most important partner in the war against Al Qaeda and the most difficult partner in the war against Al Qaeda.”
January 7, 2011 | Categories: America's Freedoms, America's National Security, Americans Reject Sharia and Islamic Supremacism, Foreign Policy, Intelligence, International News, International Politics, Middle East Affairs, Most Americans Reject Socialism, National Security, New Media News, Nuclear Proliferation, Nuclear Security, Politics, Progressives pushing for Marxism/Socialism, Radical Liberal Progressive Left, Terrorism, War on Terror | Tags: CIA, civilian government, deep concerns, internal divisions, Pakistan, top national security priority, turmoil, U. S. Ally | Leave A Comment »
Lawyer for Assange says case against WikiLeaks founder is ‘persecution and not a prosecution’
The lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange charged Wednesday that his client is being persecuted by Swedish authorities whose accusations of sex crimes have prompted an Interpol alert for his arrest.
Swedish officials say they issued the international alert because the 39-year-old Australian has not made himself available for a meeting with prosecutors. Assange’s lawyer, Mark Stephens, said that Swedish officials have turned down repeated offers to speak to Assange.
Assange’s secret-spilling group has leaked a series of confidential U.S. intelligence and diplomatic reports this year, including the disclosure earlier this week of hundreds of classified State Department cables. U.S. officials have reacted with outrage, with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton accusing WikiLeaks of acting illegally and promising “aggressive steps to hold responsible those who stole this information.”
Clinton said she discussed the leak with her colleagues at a security summit in Kazakhstan and the revelations will not hurt American diplomacy. The leaks include unflattering descriptions of some foreign leaders and requests for U.S. diplomats to gather personal information on others. They have revealed Western concerns that Islamist militants might get access to Pakistan’s nuclear material and American skepticism that Islamabad will sever ties to Taliban factions fighting in Afghanistan. They also showed U.S. doubts over the abilities of Pakistan’s weak, unpopular civilian government
“I have certainly raised the issue of the leaks in order to assure our colleagues that it will not in any way interfere with American diplomacy or our commitment to continuing important work that is ongoing,” Clinton said. “I have not any had any concerns expressed about whether any nation will not continue to work with and discuss matters of importance to us both going forward.”
Several officials at the summit echoed her comments.
December 1, 2010 | Categories: America's Freedoms, Armed Forces, Classified Intelligence, Congress: Inquiries & Committees, Corruption, Corruption in Government, Economic Security, Election 2012, Elections Politics, Foreign Policy, Government, International Affairs, International News, International Politics, Media Corruption, Middle East Affairs, Most Americans Reject Socialism, National Security, New Media News, Nuclear Proliferation, Nuclear Security, Political Incompetence, Politics, Radical Liberal Progressive Left, Terrorism, War on Terror | Tags: George Soros, Interpol, Islamist militants, Julian Assange, london, nuclear material, Pakistan, Sec. Clinton, State Department, U. S. classified information, Wikileaks | Leave A Comment »
Published November 29, 2010
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is shown on Capitol Hill in Washington Nov. 17. (AP Photo)
A top Republican congressman is calling on the State Department to designate WikiLeaks a “foreign terrorist organization,” as he and several other lawmakers demand the Obama administration find a way to prosecute founder Julian Assange in the wake of the group’s latest document dump.
WikiLeaks’ weekend release of more than 250,000 classified State Department documents has outraged Washington officials. The spilling of secrets this time deals with a trove of candid diplomatic cables and other missives spanning everything from Pakistan to Iran to North Korea and could jeopardize the United States’ sensitive foreign policy dealings.
November 29, 2010 | Categories: Classified Intelligence, Congress: Inquiries & Committees, Corruption, Corruption in Government, Elections Politics, Foreign Policy, Government, International News, International Politics, Media Corruption, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Progressives pushing for Marxism/Socialism, Radical Liberal Progressive Left, Terrorism, War on Terror | Tags: Angela Merkel, DHS, Gov. Affairs Committee, Hillary Clinton, North Korea, Pakistan, Sen. Joe Lieberman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, State Department, Wikileaks | Leave A Comment »
Published November 10, 2010
The United Nations on Wednesday rejected Iran‘s bid for a seat to the board of the new U.N. agency to promote equality for women after fierce opposition from the United States and human rights groups to Tehran’s treatment of women.
But the U.N. accepted the bid of Saudi Arabia, which is also opposed by human rights groups.
Iran, which has been criticized for its record on women’s rights, received only 19 votes — short of the necessary 28 votes for approval.
In recent months, Iran sparked an international outcry by sentencing to death by stoning a woman convicted of adultery.
In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive and are barred from many facilities used by men.
The new agency was formed after a General Assembly resolution adopted in July merged four U.N. bodies dealing with women’s issues into one with greater clout to represent half the world’s population. The resolution calls for a 41-member executive board, with 35 members chosen by regional groups and six representing donor nations.
The Asian group put forward an uncontested 10-nation slate that included Iran and Saudi Arabia,selected for one of two slots for emerging donor nations. The other nations selected by the Asian group for the board are Bangladesh, India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
November 10, 2010 | Categories: America's Freedoms, Americans Reject Sharia and Islamic Supremacism, Corruption in Government, Elections Politics, Foreign Policy, Government, Immigration, Individual Rights and Freedoms, International Affairs, Media Corruption, Middle East Affairs, Most Americans Reject Socialism, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Radical Liberal Progressive Left, Terrorism, War on Terror | Tags: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, international politics, Iran bids for seat, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, shari'a impeding, South Korea, U. N., women's rights, Women's Rights Panel | Leave A Comment »
November 8, 2010 Updated 14h 47m
By Calum MacLeod, USA TODAY
These were some of the Indians whom President Obama met Sunday on the second day of his four-nation Asia tour. The issues raised highlight the massive challenges facing this poor but fast-growing nation of 1.1 billion people, to whom Obama promised he would elevate the U.S.-India partnership “to an entirely new level.”
He also faced the sensitive question of Pakistan-based terrorism, when asked, at a town-hall-style meeting with students, the question on many Indians’ minds: Why hasn’t the USA declared Pakistan a terrorist state? Obama stressed the need to work with Islamabad “to eradicate this extremism that we consider a cancer within the country that can potentially engulf the country.”
His answers satisfied Swetha Anandhan, a microbiology student at Mumbai‘s St. Xavier’s College, which hosted the event.
“You have to accept his need for diplomacy. I think he’s doing a good job, but I will wait for a year or two” to see whether he can really deepen Indian-U.S. ties, said Anandhan, 20.
November 8, 2010 | Categories: America's Freedoms, Cap and Tax, Cloward and Piven Strategy, Elections Politics, Foreign Policy, Government, Immigration, International Affairs, Liberals Big Spending and Taxes, Media Corruption, Middle East Affairs, National Debt, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Progressives pushing for Marxism/Socialism, Radical Liberal Progressive Left, Recovery, Terrorism, The Economy, The Environment, Unfunded Union Pensions, UNIONS ACORN and SEIU, War on Terror | Tags: diplomacy, Diwali, India, Islamabad, Mumbai, Obama agenda, Pakistan, President Pratibha Atil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh | 2 Comments »
New “credible” terror threat has CIA bombarding Pakistan jihadis with drone strikes; Update: Plot “severely disrupted”
At least 20 separate strikes in 28 days this month so far, an unprecedented pace. And it’s paid off: According to Bill Roggio, a missile attack a few days ago might have killed Al Qaeda’s new operational commander in Pakistan. Follow the first link to the Journal and you’ll find only a few bare details about the terror plot they’re trying to disrupt — the main target is Europe, the Haqqani network in Afghanistan might be involved, but very little beyond that. Luckily, ABC has been digging and has new info:
US and European officials said Tuesday they have detected a plot to carry out a major, coordinated series of new terror attacks in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and possibly the United States…
Intelligence and law enforcement authorities in the US and Europe said the threat information is based on the interrogation of a suspected German terrorist allegedly captured on his way to Europe in late summer and now being held at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.
US law enforcement officials say they have been told the terrorists were planning a series of “Mumbai-style” commando raids on what were termed “economic or soft” targets in the countries…
The captured German reportedly said several teams of attackers, all with European passports, had been trained and dispatched from training camps in Waziristan and Pakistan. Officials say the German claimed the attack plan had been approved by Osama Bin Laden.
September 28, 2010 | Categories: America's Freedoms, Americans Reject Sharia and Islamic Supremacism, Elections Politics, Foreign Policy, Government, International Affairs, Media Corruption, Middle East Affairs, Most Americans Reject Socialism, National Security, New Media News, Politics, Radical Liberal Progressive Left, Terrorism, War on Terror | Tags: ABC, Allahpundit, Bill Roggio, CIA bombarding, jihadis, new "credible" terror threat, Pakistan, War on Terror | Leave A Comment »
posted at 11:47 am on May 28, 2010 by Laura Curtis
On Monday, President Obama signed S. 1067, the “Taliban Disarmament and Afghanistan/Pakistan Recovery Act.” In his Signing Statement, the President said: “The legislation crystallizes the commitment of the United States to help bring an end to the brutality and destruction that have been a hallmark of the Taliban across several countries for two decades, and to pursue a future of greater security and hope for the people of the middle east.”