Fugitive cleric's dad to U.S.: Give me time to talk him out of hiding

[ProSense]

Fugitive cleric's dad to U.S.: Give me time to talk him out of hiding

By Paula Newton

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- The father of a fugitive Muslim-American cleric is asking the United States to suspend its manhunt for his son for three months.

Nasser al-Awlaki, the father of Anwar al-Awlaki, said that if the U.S. suspends the "kill or capture" order on his son, he will do his best to persuade him to come out of hiding.

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A U.S. official confirmed on Wednesday that the U.S. government has targeted Anwar al-Awlaki for killing or capture.

The official, who is not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, said, "We would be remiss if we didn't find ways to pursue someone who is a serious threat to this country and has plotted against Americans."

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The subsequent chain of events was a chilling demonstration of Aulaqi's power as an al-Qaeda facilitator: On Nov. 5, U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Hasan killed 13 of his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Tex.; Hasan had exchanged 18 or more e-mails with Aulaqi in the months before the shootings, according to the Associated Press. Then, on Christmas Day, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian who had been living in Yemen, tried to blow up an airliner bound for Detroit; he is said to have confessed later that Aulaqi was one of his trainers for this mission.

The Aulaqi case is worth revisiting, for several reasons. With the advantage of hindsight, it seems clear that he was indeed a dangerous person. If the United States had helped the Yemenis capture him, this might have disrupted the actions of Hasan and Abdulmutallab. So it's useful to examine the rules that limited action in October and the quality of intelligence that was available for decision-makers.

Such retrospective analysis is unfair, to be sure, but it provides a useful lens for assessing policy choices. After Sept. 11, 2001, there were detailed investigations of the Clinton administration's failure to capture or kill Osama bin Laden in the late 1990s and of the Bush administration's failure to heed warnings before the 2001 terrorist attacks.

What's surprising about the Aulaqi case is just how much information the FBI and CIA already had on him. At least two of the Sept. 11 hijackers had attended a mosque where he preached in San Diego. His phone number was found in the Hamburg apartment of Ramzi Binalshibh, often described as "the 20th hijacker." The FBI was interested in Aulaqi even before Sept. 11, because of his alleged fundraising for Hamas. So there was U.S. intelligence concern about him as a possible al-Qaeda operative dating back nearly a decade.

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Absolutely no sympathy for this guy, just another terrorist.

[Ikonoklast]

1. He made his choices clear.

He can live with the cosequences of those decisions.


If someone is making war against his country, he shouldn't be surprised at the response.

[Hutzpa]

2. Funny how suddenly the right is defending this guy

Is this the booogyman? sounds like it.

[Robb]

3. Word is he's hiding with his family, in Yemen.

So this shouldn't be too tough for his father. I say if dad can turn him up by the weekend, fair enough.

[Phx_Dem]

4. Ditto.

[Ozymanithrax]

5. The government of Yemen and the U.S. is looking for him...

I am sure he could arrange a surrender if he choses.

I do understand how his father feels.

[MUAD_DIB]

9. He should surrender at the very least.

I find it odd that some DUers find that so hard to accept.

[Ozymanithrax]

13. I don't think Duers have a problem with him surrendering...

They seem to have a problem if he doesn't surrender and those pursuing him have no other option than to kill him.

The order was to capture or kill, not assassinate, not put a cap in his ass, not terminate with extreme prejudice, not to go 007 on him.

[MUAD_DIB]

14. I can show you the thread where they do have that problem.

[Ozymanithrax]

15. Well, I don't agree with them. n/t

[cliffordu]

6. Red mist.

[MUAD_DIB]

10. I would actually rather see that he was caught and tried over

the whole 1 shot 1 kill thing. It gives the USA better credibility. On the other hand if this guy is setting up for another try at the brass ring then what other options do we have?

Should we nicely ask him to please stop? I don't believe that will work all that well.

[cliffordu]

11. I'd like to see him on a gurney at some Supermax facililty

while they put him down like a dog, but failing that, a nice fatal burn would be nice.

[vaberella]

16. I don't think anything has suggested 1 shot 1 killing.

That's a rather general presumption. From what I read he's supposed to face a trial if captured.

[MUAD_DIB]

18. Red mist implies that. One shot to the head at long distance with a

sniper riffle.

[vaberella]

19. And for what situation is this?!

This can't be for Awlaki since nothing like that has been been discussed for the guy. He's on a capture-or-kill list.

[MUAD_DIB]

20. Would you please just read up to the top of this sub thread.

cliffordu posted it. I was just responding to it. Nothing more.

[vaberella]

21. Sorry, I think I misunderstood. My apologies. n/t

[jberryhill]

7. It's interesting that many here rejected the "turn yourself in" approach /nt

[MUAD_DIB]

12. Actually I have advocated that on other threads, but

that can only go so far.

In addition, when I advocated that I was met with the "He'll be torture if he turns himself in" crowd.

So killing him is bad. Turning himself in is bad. What else is there?

Should we just hope that we keep on catching the pop flies that he sends our way?


All it's going to take is one of Awlaki's hits to get through and people will be screaming for Obama's head.

Bringing Anwar al-Awlaki to justice shouldn't be done for political purpose, but it should be done to safeguard the lives of those he could care less about taking.

If we can get him alive then great, but if the only way to prevent further deaths is by removing him from planet earth then that is that.


A little history. I knew somebody on flight 11. It had been many years since I had seen him (he was a teacher), but he was a really genuine individual. Both he and his wife were on the fight that day. I would really wish that no more of these kinds of tragedies would happen, but as long as there are lunatics then there is always that possibility.

[vaberella]

17. I don't..that works too; if he's willing.

Nothing said he was until his dad suggested talking to him

[annabanana]

8. kicking because I haven't seen or heard it anywhere else. . n/t