Ruppersberger: Al-Awlaki's Death Big Blow to Al-Qaeda
The American-born terrorist was killed in a predator drone attack in Yemen.
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U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on the death of Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen:
“This is a great day for America. This is the second biggest blow to Al-Qaeda since September 11th, 2001, right behind the elimination of Osama Bin Laden. Anwar al-Awlaki was an extremely dangerous, charismatic leader who actively recruited and inspired people to murder innocent Americans using hate-filled media messages.
"Al-Awlaki was behind several high-profile attacks including the failed attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas Day in 2009 and U.S. bound cargo planes in 2010. Al-Awlaki has now been removed from the battlefield. This is a major accomplishment.
"I applaud our intelligence professionals who work tirelessly, around the clock and around the world, to keep us safe. Al-Qaeda should be on notice. If you come after Americans and try to kill us, we will come after you and bring you to justice.”
Ruppersberger told Patch in May that he was especially worried about al-Awlaki after the death of Osama bin Laden.
The U.S.-born al-Awlaki, 40, was based in Yemen and studied at Colorado State, San Diego State and George Washington University. He was very keen at utilizing social media to spread his message, using Facebook, YouTube and blogs.
Known as “the bin Laden of the Internet,” al-Awalaki helped inspire the Fort Hood shootings by Nidal Malik Hasan along with Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the alleged “underwear bomber” who attempted to detonate plastic explosive while onboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day in 2009.
Al-Awalaki also inspired Faisal Shahzad, who confessed to attempting to set off a car bomb in Times Square in May 2010.
JH
3:30 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011
Good to see our forces continue on the offense. Need to keep after the twisted bigoted fanatics ( and those that support them) that attacked America on 9/11. Now we need Dutch to step up and secure our borders too ---- deal with those thousands and thousands that still enter this Country illegally Don't let us down.
Rob
10:42 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011
JH don't hold your breath, Rupersberger wants as many illegal's as he and the democrat party can get. Maryland is a safe haven for illegal's and will continue to be as longs as people like O'Malley and Rupersberger are in office. Unfortunately in this state that means indefinitely or more likely forever. Doesn't it make you feel all warm inside that people in this state make informed decisions? Before you answer I'm laying the sarcasm on pretty thick.
JDStuts
3:50 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011
Interestingly he sidestepped the fact the US Government ordered the military to kill an American citizen. Clearly al-Aulaqi was no saint - that fact is firmly established and warrants no further discussion. But as a nation of law and precedents, it's a little off putting to see congressman spike the ball when it is so clearly loaded.
Rob
10:43 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011
JD he wasn't an American citizen he was a trader and as far as I'm concerned we can't kill enough of them.
kevin
3:21 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
So why didn't he cover the fact Al-queda is sending all thier top insurgents into Libya to take over that country that we totally destabilized? What kind of committee is he on ? He is talking about old threats. What is your plan for Libya ? This is common knowledge or doesn't his committee get CNN on the TV? I swear he is only suited for cutting the green ribbons of supermarkets opening .Oh my mistake this is 2011 ain't no new stores opening .
kevin
3:24 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011
II apologize this came up across my screen and I thought he made the comment today .I was wrong and very ignorant of me to post without checking the dates .I am sorry .
amdactivist
4:08 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
this seems like a very odd story from ruppersberger who admits on talk radio that the muslim brotherhood are ok people yet he also knows the muslim brotherhood is associated with thousands of terrorst groups.. He panders for votes and campaign dollars at the wierdest inhumane places..