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US counterterrorism operations killed Americans held by and working with al-Qaida.

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V

Vanillalite

Ask me about the GAF Notebook
@AP

BREAKING: White House: US counterterrorism operations killed Americans held by and working with al-Qaida.

Will update as news comes across the wire!!!

AP Big Story

The White House says U.S. counterterrorism operations killed American and Italian hostages held by al-Qaida, as well as two Americans who were working with the terror organization.

It says the U.S. recently concluded that American Warren Weinstein and Italian national Giovanni Lo Porto, hostages held by al Qaida, were killed in a January operation in a border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The White House says it also believes two other Americans were recently killed in a counterterrorism operation in the same region.

The White House believes that Ahmed Farouq, an American who was an al-Qaida leader, was killed in the same January operation that resulted in the hostages' deaths. And it has also concluded that American Adam Gadahn was likely killed in a separate U.S. mission.
Click to expand...
 
S

suaveric

Member
It is with tremendous sorrow that we recently concluded that a U.S. Government counterterrorism operation in January killed two innocent hostages held by al-Qa’ida. Our hearts go out to the families of Dr. Warren Weinstein, an American held by al-Qa’ida since 2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian national who had been an al-Qa’ida hostage since 2012. Analysis of all available information has led the Intelligence Community to judge with high confidence that the operation accidentally killed both hostages. The operation targeted an al-Qa’ida-associated compound, where we had no reason to believe either hostage was present, located in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. No words can fully express our regret over this terrible tragedy.
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Sucks, whoever went in there wasn't even looking for hostages.
 
Zalusithix

Zalusithix

Member
Well, in the case of the American hostage, he was basically consigned to death anyhow if not rescued. Not like we barter with terrorists. Might very well have preferred his death to come with the deaths of his captors than death by his captors.
 
pants

pants

Member
So is the only time Americans are gonna care if they kill innocents going to be when they are Americans?

On that note, going by thread activity, it's sad that there isnt much caring going on here even when they are Americans :/
 
J

Jimmyfenix

Member
pants said:
So is the only time Americans are gonna care if they kill innocents going to be when they are Americans?

On that note, going by thread activity, it's sad that there isnt much caring going on here even when they are Americans :/
Click to expand...

An Italian hostage was killed as well.
 
pants

pants

Member
soundscream said:
Wasn't this already known?

I could have sworn I read about the hostage deaths in the botched rescue operation months ago.
Click to expand...

Well the article says it happened back in January

EDIT: Mistake re-read, a separate mission happened in January

EDIT 2 : No it is January. Damn this article for referencing a separate incident also in January

The White House said that Warren Weinstein, an American held by al-Qaida since 2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian held since 2012, were killed in a January operation in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The operation targeted an al-Qaida-associated compound and there was no reason to believe either hostage was present, the White House said.

In addition, the U.S. believes that Ahmed Farouq, an American who the White House says was an al-Qaida leader, was killed in the same operation. U.S. officials have also concluded that Adam Gadahn, an American who had served as a spokesman for the terror network, was killed in a separate operation in January.
Click to expand...
 
V

Vanillalite

Ask me about the GAF Notebook
numble said:
Source? There are some sources like Time and the Guardian. I'm not watching the video, though.
Click to expand...

I left the ? for a reason cause I'm not sure. I've just come to the same conclusion others have in this thread going by the evidence.
 
A

Arkeband

Banned
Couldn't they have just lied and said that the terrorists shot the hostages as one final act of cowardice?

I wonder what the motivation is for clearing the air, maybe documents were leaked and they wanted to get ahead of it?
 
S

Sho_Nuff82

Member
Arkeband said:
Couldn't they have just lied and said that the terrorists shot the hostages as one final act of cowardice?

I wonder what the motivation is for clearing the air, maybe documents were leaked and they wanted to get ahead of it?
Click to expand...

It does everyone a disservice to constantly lie about things that might later be disproven.

How could you confirm that they were killed by terrorists if a) you had no intelligence they were there beforehand and b) you had no boots on the ground?
 
F

foxtrot3d

Banned
Arkeband said:
Couldn't they have just lied and said that the terrorists shot the hostages as one final act of cowardice?

I wonder what the motivation is for clearing the air, maybe documents were leaked and they wanted to get ahead of it?
Click to expand...

Despite what you may think the government isn't there to inherently lie to you about things.
 
T

Tallshortman

Member
Grover Cleveland said:
Yep.

Sounds like a ground op where the operatives didn't have intel that hostages were present in the compound and just shot everyone, including the hostages by accident.
Click to expand...

Guess I spoke too soon CNN now reporting multiple sources day it was a drone strike which makes more sense from a standpoint of how it happened.
 
A

AndyD

aka andydumi
Arkeband said:
Couldn't they have just lied and said that the terrorists shot the hostages as one final act of cowardice?

I wonder what the motivation is for clearing the air, maybe documents were leaked and they wanted to get ahead of it?
Click to expand...

What would be the point of that? Sure this way it highlights the imprecise nature of drone strikes, but they also said they had no reason to believe the hostages were there.

The point they might lie about is whether they maybe knew about hostages and did a cost/benefit analysis that it would be better to strike to get their target at the cost of hostages.
 
C

Coriolanus

Banned
Zalusithix said:
Well, in the case of the American hostage, he was basically consigned to death anyhow if not rescued. Not like we barter with terrorists. Might very well have preferred his death to come with the deaths of his captors than death by his captors.
Click to expand...

... are you serious?
 
G

Grasshopper

Neo Member
RIP two brave man.

I liked Obama owing up to his mistake. However, the "But one of the things that sets America apart from many other nations. One of the things that makes us exceptional. Is our willingness to confront squarely our imperfections and to learn from our mistakes" bit seems a little weird to me. Its like saying "I take full responsibility, but look how great I am doing so". It somewhat negates the owing up part for me.

Still a nice speech tho.
 
N

ntropy

Member
pants said:
So is the only time Americans are gonna care if they kill innocents going to be when they are Americans?

On that note, going by thread activity, it's sad that there isnt much caring going on here even when they are Americans :/
Click to expand...
because nothing expresses caring more than posting on an internet forum!
 
Z

ZZMitch

Member
Apparently Adam Gadahn (US born AlQaida spokesman) was killed in the attack as well?

Ah yes its at the bottom of the OP there. Was reading his Wikipedia article, pretty insane.
 
Rentahamster

Rentahamster

Rodent Whores
Grover Cleveland said:
Yep.

Sounds like a ground op where the operatives didn't have intel that hostages were present in the compound and just shot everyone, including the hostages by accident.
Click to expand...

I find it hard to believe that even in a stressful situation like that, trained operatives would not be able to recognize non-hostiles who look like hostages.
 
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