home

Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Sun Jul 03, 2005 at 01:02:00 PM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Moroccan Younis Mohammed Ibrahim al-Hayari was killed in a gun battle this morning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This strikes me as more of a press release than an AP news article, but here are the details:

In a swift and telling victory, Saudi anti-terror forces killed al-Qaeda's top leader in the key U.S. ally in a gunbattle Sunday, but experts warn the kingdom still faces a surge in attacks despite its two-year crackdown on militants.

The 90-minute battle in the eastern Rawdah district, an upscale neighborhood in the capital Riyadh, was the latest blow dealt to Osama bin Laden's group in Saudi Arabia, whose leaders have either been killed or captured since authorities launched an unrelenting offensive against it in 2003.

Victory? Isn't this just one more person who won't be telling us where Osama is?

< O'Donnell Snaps Back at Rove's Lawyer | Teachers and the Fashion Police >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash | 21 comments (21 topical)
    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#1)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    Reading further into the article:
    "I think al-Qaeda in the kingdom may be going into a new period of activity. They were dormant for a long, long time, and suddenly they've become active. I don't think al-Hayari's death will end it. There additional individuals who are being trained in Iraq, crossing back and forth into Saudi Arabia," he said. Kohlmann said Iraqis were fed up with foreign fighters on their soil, and "it's only a matter of time before these guys start heading back. You're talking about thousands of their nationals who are across the border in Iraq and that's an army."
    Bush's Iraq adventure is creating a terrorist army that will leave a long lasting violent legacy. Thank you Neocons!

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#2)
    by ras on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    Stripping away the rhetoric we find that Iraqis are indeed embracing democracy - they risked their lives just to vote - and rejecting terrorism. And, oh yes, the so-called insurgency was never anything more than foreign terrorists temporarily teaming up with local Baath Socialist thugs bent on reclaiming their thugocracy. Ain't gonna happen, no thanks to the Left.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#3)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    Ernesto - I hope you are right. Whaty we need is an army to fight rather than terrorists blowing up car bombs in town squares, parks, hospitals, mosques, etc.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#4)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    ras...the only thing real deomcracy will bring to Iraq is a Shi'ite theocracy aligned with Iran. Which is why we won't allow real democracy and which is another reason why the U.S. military ain't leaving anytime soon. Meanwhile, Iraq has been made into a terrorist training camp that will plague the world for years and perhaps decades, which it certainly wasn't under the previous regime. You lose on all counts.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#5)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    PPJ...I wish I had a bevy of gorgeous babes feeding me grapes and fanning me with palm fronds. But we have to deal with what life doles out. And in Iraq it's an army of car bombers and jihadists drawn there to fight the Great Satan, who couldn't leave well enough (in the form of millions of barrels of oil) alone.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#6)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    Just would like to say this is great news, death to the rats who kill little kids and old woman, i only wish i could have cut his head off. happys days. "oh yes",you to bush.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    Culture of life. The violent and unnecessary death of any us is tragic. The bloodlust on either side of this culture war is a mirror image of itself. I think that's what Pogo meant when he said, we have me the enemy and he is us.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    "And, oh yes, the so-called insurgency was never anything more than foreign terrorists temporarily teaming up with local Baath Socialist thugs bent on reclaiming their thugocracy. Ain't gonna happen, no thanks to the Left." And you DO realize that if we'd never even gotten into this half baked Iraq/PNAC venture, none of this would have even happened, don't you?

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#9)
    by ras on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    Ernesto, You insist, but do not argue. My point stands. And yes, there is indeed real democracy in Iraq now, whether you want it or not, or even whether you want to admit it or not. Ask the Iraqis themselves. They didn't risk their lives to vote in a cosmetic election, now, did they? As for Shiite theocracy - um, Shiites are a minority there; Kurds are Sunnis, too, y'know. Or maybe you didn't. Keep insisting. Fenria, If the US were not in the ME, the terrorists and their sponsoring states would have had no reason not to continue their attacks worldwide, and at a much higher pace. And Saddam's mass graves would have continued to fill up. Yes, luv, I do realize that. And you? Both, It seems to be stressing some on the Left to acknowledge success, but the successes themselves are as real as they are admirable. Their existence also means the Left was wrong on the big picture. So what? Get over it; it's not about you.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#10)
    by soccerdad on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    ras , o ignorant one. Anyone who claims that kurds=sunnis is demonstrating how litle they know or are willing to say anything to make their delusional point

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#11)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    et al - Again we have some good news, and I find no joy among you. That tell's me so much about you.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    A Saudi Press Agency press release, quoting an anonymous security officer, an unnamed interior ministry official, another unidentified official, about a guy whose name, Al-Hayari, topped a list issued on Tuesday. On Tuesday?

    Sounds just like the sort of "press releases" we get here from the likes of Rumsfeld 'n friends.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#13)
    by soccerdad on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    ppj - keep rearranging those deck chairs. When we hear news of substance then we will be happy.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    Jim, you think a gun battle and violent death somewhere is good news. That tells me much about you as well. It reminds me of the insensitivity of some people who hate us who applauded and celebrated when airplanes were hijacked. Or people who killed and brutalized American contractors captured in Fallujah. I take no joy in any of it. Many people rejoice when they think their enemies are being killed and brutalized, but the wars stop when a majority of people are sickened by the slaughter. It's surprising and disappointing to me that human beings have not evolved an understanding and loathing for war. Cheerleaders for slaughter and mayhem such as yourself do not make such an evolution more likely.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#16)
    by ras on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    Soccerdad, The reference to the Kurds as Sunnis was in the context of a purported "Shiite theocracy." It's right there, up above this comment. Just scroll up to see. Kurds are indeed Sunnis - you can fact-check the assertion yourself. Let me know what you find. Kurds are not, however, Arabs. So while they will not join with Arab Sunnis of the Baath Socialist persuasion - and most clearly have already demonstrated as much - neither will they help to create a Shiite theocracy. Yeesh. It must be exausting for you to have to dodge the point all the time. I mean that. Take a break, sweetie; enjoy the holiday and get some rest. Happy 4th.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#17)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    CA writes;
    but the wars stop when a majority of people are sickened by the slaughter.
    Actually wars stop when enough of the enemy is killed.
    It reminds me of the insensitivity of some people who hate us who applauded and celebrated when airplanes were hijacked.
    Weren't you one of the people telling me that was just an unrbanm legend? DA - Like I said, no happiness.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#18)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    You insist, but do not argue. My point stands.
    What's your point again? I am insisting that history will prove you wrong on all counts, as it already is beginning to. The Iraq regime we are propping up has as much chance of surviving as the Soviet-supported Afghan regime of the 1980s. And the real pisser in this is that Bush is throwing so many lives away to save face for the Neocons. As he continues to loot the U.S. treasury for Blackwater, Halliburton,etc.
    And yes, there is indeed real democracy in Iraq now, whether you want it or not, or even whether you want to admit it or not. Ask the Iraqis themselves. They didn't risk their lives to vote in a cosmetic election, now, did they?
    The Shi'ites knew they had the numbers and that voting would give them a theocracy. If you want to crow about that, go ahead. But is it worth killing so many people and spending so much money to produce a theocracy aligned with Iran? ras meet King Pyrrhus.
    As for Shiite theocracy - um, Shiites are a minority there; Kurds are Sunnis, too, y'know. Or maybe you didn't. Keep insisting.
    Yes, ras the Kurds and Sunnis vote as a bloc, don't they? The fact is the Shi'ites won a clear majority in the election. So I will keep insisting you're essentially clueless and you will keep confirming it.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    If the US were not in the ME, the terrorists and their sponsoring states would have had no reason not to continue their attacks worldwide, and at a much higher pace. And Saddam's mass graves would have continued to fill up. Yes, luv, I do realize that. And you?
    Are you COMPLETELY blind to the fact that our current actions in the ME have militarized an entire segment of the population, both Iraqi and otherwise, that, without our "intervention", might have still strongly disliked us, but would have probably stayed non violent about it? And you DO realize that this much has been recognized by our own government as they acknowledge the fact that the insurgency is indeed, not in it's last throes by tacking more and more years onto this campaign. What are we up to now....12 at last count? I mean, is the theory of cause and effect REALLY that hard for you to grasp?

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#21)
    by Sailor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:51 PM EST
    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:51 PM EST
    Ernesto... Bush's Iraq adventure is creating a terrorist army that will leave a long lasting violent legacy. Thank you Neocons! Dude...I hate to burst your (let's blame everything on GW) bubble, but here were terrorists there (hating the US) long before GW was around. And, if you think for one second that ignoring them...& pulling out of Iraq will change things...I have a bridge I'd like to sell you! In fact, ignoring them (like Mr. Clinton seemed to do) is what led us into 9/11.

    Re: Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash (none / 0) (#23)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:51 PM EST
    bb...yes, there has always been anti-american sentiment in the ME, at least the last fifty years or so (when we started meddling). The Iraq mistake has just made more of the crazies militant and violent, and given them a place to easily access Americans to kill. I believe the occupation of Iraq has motivated more of the crazies to strap on a bomb. Terrorism is on the rise in Iraq, it would not be if we weren't staging an occupation. Remember what setoff AQ in the first place, the presence of American troops in Saudi Arabia. The presence of troops in Saudi Arabia AND Iraq will not improve matters.

    Leader of Saudi al-Qaeda Killed in Clash | 21 comments (21 topical)