Petraeus: Airline Bomb Plot Had Roots in Yemen

Voice Of America ^ | 1/1/2010 | Voice Of America

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

One of America's top military leaders says Yemen-based terrorists helped plan the Christmas Day, December 25, plot to blow up a U.S. bound airplane.

General David Petraeus told reporters in Baghdad Friday that the U.S. and Yemen have been sharing information about al-Qaida in the country, including activity that "resulted in the failed attack on the airliner."

The head of the U.S. Central Command said Yemen has carried out "very significant" operations against al-Qaida, some of which prevented a series of suicide bombings.

General Petraeus said the United States is helping Yemen, but that its neighbors have also provided significant assistance.

Earlier this week, a group known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attempted bombing of a flight from Amsterdam to the U.S. city of Detroit, saying it was in retaliation for U.S. support of operations against al-Qaida militants in Yemen.

The suspect in the case, 23-year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has told U.S. investigators he got training and explosives in Yemen.

Yemen has been intensifying its campaign against rebels and suspected al-Qaida terrorists, conducting a series of airstrikes and other raids that it says resulted in militant deaths and arrests.

On Wednesday, Yemeni forces clashed with al-Qaida militants in Yemen's western Hudaydah province, wounding several suspected militants and capturing at least one.

A spokesman for Yemen's ruling party, Tarek al-Shami, said the government will continue to coordinate with the U.S. to target al-Qaida throughout Yemen.

Yemen is the ancestral home of al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden.

[onyx]

Guess I should make a new years resolution to start posting materials and organize what I have.....There are so many dots there. Just wish there would be more arrests....Maybe they’re waiting till after to twenty-ten election so they will have enough votes to impeach.

Sounds like a plan and a GOOD New Years's resolution. I hate to organize material. Not good at it.

[Lancey Howard]

Bad Idea. So the Yemen government releases them back into Ql-Qaeda.

I guess somebody needs to tell the Kenyan communist Ubama:

Fmr. CIA Operative Wayne Simmons Outraged Obama Would Transfer Gitmo Detainees to Yemen

[onyx]

hmm, that sound like a veiled attempt to call me a chikenhawk. I took the same oath as him. I carried a rifle and stood post. I’m involved in the peaceful lawsuits and am willing to move past that. And when it comes to that, you shouldn’t feel safe either. Oh, and complete BS on the Nixon shrill. Treason is still a hangable offense.

I shouldn't fell safe? From you? Why is THAT? You'd better get a grip. You started this by posting foolishly about General Petraeus and it's been pointed out to you by other members that it is not his duty to call out the "elected civilian commander-in-chief" for (your claim) "BEING AN INDONESIAN".

BTW: I said nothing about Nixon. You mistaken your posters. Try again.

[TigersEye]

I carried a rifle and stood post. I’m involved in the peaceful lawsuits and am willing to move past that. And when it comes to that, you shouldn’t feel safe either.

Are you threatening a poster here? You had better explain that and it had better be quick.

[ccruse456]

No I am not threatening anybody. It’s appropriate to call me out. My point is we are not living in normal times. If you’re relying on politicians to give you answers you are looking in the wrong direction and putting yourself and your loved ones in danger. Petraeus (and Palin) is another politician. Happy New Year!

[onyx]

Thank you, TigersEye.

[TigersEye]

No I am not threatening anybody.

That's good to hear.

[TigersEye]

Not a problem. ;-)

[Candor7]

Not that I know of! Rahm is Obamas lead guy as a go between COngress and the WH.If Rahm had Sh_t for brains he would be a toilet.

[Candor7]

Not that I know of! Rahm is Obamas lead guy as a go between COngress and the WH.If Rahm had Sh_t for brains he would be a toilet.

[rodguy911]

Palin/Petraeus,Petraeus/Palin, doesn't really matter they would get the job done, IMHO.

[Mila]

You have to remember that our General and “our” military guys (not Weasley Clark and Obama’s lackeys) are wholly against closing GITMO and repatriating the detainees back to their countries of origin”

Does that mean that General Petraeus has changed his mind from his earlier response to the plan? I looked for a more recent statement from him on the subject, but I couldn’t find one.

Petraeus Backs Closing Gitmo
May 27, 2009
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

http://www.military.com/news/article/petraeus-backs-closing-gitmo.html

Petraeus supports closure of Guantanamo

By Greg Bluestein - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jun 1, 2009 11:22:16 EDT

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/05/ap_petraeus_gitmoclosing_052909w/

[onyx]

Damn. Shame is mine for not remembering that John McCain stood behind General Petraeus when he went haywire on us with his Geneva Convention stuff regarding torture. I had completely forgotten (or shut-out) Petraeus’ speech regarding the closing of GITMO for “world opinion”. It was so out of character and I don’t recall the media picking it up and running with it.

FWIW, I never took issue with McCain on torture because he experienced torture, but I wanted to, because our own troops undergo waterboarding as part of training and waterboarding proved effective if VP Cheney is to be believed and I believe VP Cheney.

Thank you for setting me and the record straight.

[maggief]

btt

[Bahbah]

!...a series of suicide bombers....mmm mmm mmm.

LOL.