Glenn Greenwald: Government terrorism accusations: No evidence needed

[Better Believe It]

Government accusations: No evidence needed
November 1, 2010

The New York Times, October 31:

As investigators on three continents conducted forensic analyses of two bombs shipped from Yemen and intercepted Friday in Britain and Dubai, American officials said evidence was mounting that the top leadership of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, including the radical American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, was behind the attempted attacks. . . .

Reviewing the evidence, American intelligence officials say they believe that the plot may have been blessed by the highest levels of Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen, including Mr. Awlaki. . . . This year, the C.I.A. designated Mr. Awlaki -- an American citizen -- as a high priority for the agency’s campaign of targeted killing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/world/31terror.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=awlaki&st=cse

The administration: Hey: you know that American citizen whom the President has controversially ordered assassinated with no due process? Here's the proof that we were right to do that: he tried to send these bombs from Yemen to the U.S.!! How could anyone possibly object to our killing a murderous monster like this? That accusation -- as intended -- produced worldwide headlines identifying Awlaki as the likely Terrorist behind this plot.

The New York Times, today:

American and Yemeni officials still have little hard evidence about who was involved in the thwarted attack. . . . As for who was behind the plot, evidence remains elusive, though officials believe the bombs bear the hallmarks of Al Qaeda in Yemen's top bomb maker. On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security issued a cable saying that the packages might have been linked to two schools in Yemen. . . . But American and Yemeni investigators are trying to determine whether the schools -- listed as the Yemen-American Institute for Language-Computer Management and the American Center for Training and Development -- even exist. There is a school in Sana called the Yemen American Language Institute, but it is sponsored by the United States State Department.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/world/02terror.html?hp

Wait: I read in the NYT on Sunday that "evidence was mounting that the top leadership of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, including the radical American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, was behind the attempted attacks." Today, however, in that very same paper, I learn that "American and Yemeni officials still have little hard evidence about who was involved in the thwarted attack" and "evidence is elusive." How can evidence of the culprits simultaneously be "mounting" and "elusive"?

In the most predictable development ever, The Atlantic reports: "Foiled Bomb Plot Sparks Calls for Expanded Military Presence in Yemen." The first line reads:

The U.S. is seriously considering sending elite "hunter-killer" teams to Yemen following the foiled mail bombing plot by militants in Yemen. The covert teams would operate under the CIA's authority allowing them to kill or capture targets unilaterally, The Wall Street Journal reports. Support for an expanded U.S. military effort in Yemen has been growing within the military and the Obama administration, according to The Journal.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Foiled-Bomb-Plot-Sparks-Calls-for-Expanded-Military-Presence-in-Yemen-5593

I'm sure that escalated military activity in Yemen along with roving bands of CIA hit squads will go a long way toward solving the problem of anti-American hatred in that country and the Muslim world generally. If only we kill more of them and bring more violence to their country, they'll stop wanting to mail bombs to ours.

Read the full article at:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/11/01/awlaki/index.html

[Better Believe It]

1. The term terrorists is being thrown around and used loosely just like the words fascist and nazi.

[leftstreet]

2. K&InvisibleR