State Dep’t offers condolences to family of … American jihadi killed in Awlaki strike
posted at 9:50 pm on October 7, 2011 by Allahpundit
Via the Jawa Report, the surreal postscript to Obama’s decision to target an American citizen.
An official from the U.S. State Department has called the Charlotte family of al-Qaida propagandist Samir Khan to offer the government’s condolences on his death in a U.S. drone attack last week in Yemen, according to a family spokesman.
“They were very apologetic (for not calling the family sooner) and offered condolences,” Jibril Hough said about the Thursday call from the State Department to Khan’s father, Zafar.
The phone call came a day after the family released a statement through Hough that condemned the “assassination” of their 25-year-old son – a U.S. citizen – and said they were “appalled” that they had not heard from the U.S. government to discuss their son’s remains or answer questions about why Khan was not afforded due process…
Hough said the Thursday conversation lasted a few minutes. “It wasn’t just ‘I’m sorry’ and hang-up,” said Hough, who added that the phone call included no discussion of the status or condition of Khan’s remains.
Khan wasn’t just pals with Awlaki, caught in the crossfire of a drone strike. He was allegedly the editor of Al Qaeda’s magazine “Inspire,” which contained articles on bomb-building and Khan’s own musings on how he’s “proud to be a traitor.” The Jawa Report guys tracked him from the time he was a keyboard commando in North Carolina, fantasizing about jihad, until he actually followed through and decamped for the Middle East, ending up by Anwar al-Awlaki’s side. The fact that the State Department is now apologizing for the fact that collateral damage in the Awlaki strike happened to be an American citizen who ranked as one of Al Qaeda’s chief English-language propagandists tells you two important things. One: They’re very nervous, as they should be, about public reaction to the news of Americans being targeted, no matter how filthy and treacherous they were. There’s simply no way to spin a headline like this. Two: They’re being careful to draw a distinction between people like Awlaki, whom the White House suspected of operational planning, and Khan, who appears to have been exclusively a propagandist. That was a distinction that got lost in the aftermath of the drone strike, I think. Some people thought Awlaki was targeted only because he was an especially effective jihadi messenger, churning out English-language sermons about the kaffir to recruit western Muslims into terrorism. Not so. Obama’s first public comments about Awlaki’s killing took care to describe him as AQAP’s “external operations” chief to emphasize that he was doing more than just talking. If they’re targeting people only for their rhetoric, no matter how toxic that might be, it puts them on even thinner ice with civil libertarians given the very high bar for dangerous speech under the First Amendment. I assume that’s what the call to Khan’s family is about: If he did nothing more than talk, even though he was obviously in cahoots with the guy running AQAP’s external operations, then they’ve got to pretend that they’re sorry. Even though, almost certainly, they’re not sorry.
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This kind of crap will not happen when John Bolton is Sec State.
stefanite on October 8, 2011 at 7:45 AM
I don’t have any problem with them sending condolences since that is not an apology. Actually I wish I knew what they said, that had to be a fascinating conversation. Considering this administration and the fact that they had to be publicly prodded to perform the notification, I assume it was an exercise in covering their hindquarters. There is an election coming after all.
Cindy Munford on October 8, 2011 at 7:52 AM
Remains? From a Hellfire missile strike?
“Yo. Samir. Clean-up on Aisle 3 . . . Gonna need a mop.”
BigAlSouth on October 8, 2011 at 8:09 AM
Like I said, that conversation must have been something.
Cindy Munford on October 8, 2011 at 8:29 AM
Seriously. My question is not why was this American citizen killed, but why was this traitorous terrorist scum still holding an American citizenship in the first place?
AZCoyote on October 8, 2011 at 8:52 AM
This is the kind of crap you get. Nothing makes sense. Nothing you do, no policy, no law, no regulation… nothing. It’s all just insanity because no one in this administration is sane.
JellyToast on October 8, 2011 at 8:57 AM
That’s a good point, is he the only person that can void his citizenship? If the government had revoked it, than these other questions would be moot.
Cindy Munford on October 8, 2011 at 9:28 AM
If I was at State I would have called to give my Condolences, gone a something like this “Mr. Mrs. POS I am happy to inform you from the US gov that we just turned your POS traitor son to red mist in some POS unnamed desert, condolences and ala alai oxen free, ala akbar, ashalakelakem, or whatever peace out.”
Freeking retarded that we have become such a p*ssified nation that we think it necessary to apologize for liquidating admitted proud traitors. There was a time when treason was fitting capitol punishment without debate, sad how far we have fallen.
These pukes should have been tried in absentia found guilty then authorized for execution. Then it would have been all above board and maybe we could have drawn the family more under the knife aswell to both pressure the son and make example for the next.
C-Low on October 8, 2011 at 10:06 AM
No, you imagine.
You think.
You speculate.
Obama has not made it public his reasoning. So, you do not know.
astonerii on October 8, 2011 at 10:11 AM
The one to blame is Awlaki. If “civilians” are killed because enemy combatants hide among them, it is the enemy combatant who is to blame. That’s what the G.C. says.
Blake on October 8, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Question: If I join a foreign army can I still retain my American citizenship? If not, this wormy little POS joined al Queda which is an army and forfeited his citizenship by that action alone.
hip shot on October 8, 2011 at 10:17 AM
I take it they are not thrilled about his 72 virgins and all that stuff?
MikeA on October 8, 2011 at 10:17 AM
I don’t think they forfeit their citizenship. However, as an enemy combatant, Awlaki forfeited his right to live. The other jerk was killed as result of Awlaki hiding with him.
I stole this from S.Weasel: Link
What a shite hole!
Blake on October 8, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Where’s the ACLU on this case? I’m sure someone’s rights were violated somehow. If a state dept spokesman apologized for the killings, does that leave the US(us) on the hook for a lawsuit for wrongful death? This new Death Panel that Zero’s assembled should be troubling for all who believe in the 1st and 2nd amendment.
Kissmygrits on October 8, 2011 at 10:33 AM
First: Cut funding on general principle. Government needs to feel this downturn as much as the taxpayer who pays their bills, if not more so. (And we are feeling it, let me tell you. Just had a termination bloodbath at work. My department is next.) This should be built into every statement emanating from the purse-string-holding US House. Cut funding across the board. Every agency, department and benefit-rich pampered bureaudrone should feel it. Until we start hearing such statements from the segment of the government that the Right does control, we can’t hold out much hope that they’ll take the strong actions necessary for repeal of Obamacare, etc. Second: Cut funding for DoJ because they don’t do their duty with DoMA, sure, but also because they use our money to run operations that arm psycho-killer drug gangs resulting in hundreds of deaths. The US taxpayer should not be funding the double-goal of undermining the 2nd Amendment and, what I believe is the true goal of F&F — of which even the Right is in denial — giving advanced weapons to what amounts to paramilitary groups in an unstable country that shares a border.
curved space on October 8, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Apologies. Wrong post. Had windows open. D’oh!
curved space on October 8, 2011 at 11:11 AM
The only condolence should have been an invoice for one hellfire missile.
bloviator on October 8, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Terry,
I regret to inform you that the circumstances of your son’s death have caused my Attorney General and me a great deal of personal inconvenience. As your President, I have taken the liberty of enclosing draft letters for you to send to Representative Issa, Senator Grassley and Ms. Sharyl Attkisson, expressing your desire as good citizens that they immediately cease and desist from any further unreasonable inquiries into the program known as Fast and Furious. Mr. Holder will be following up to insure that you keep your country’s best interest at heart.
Sincerely,
Barack H. Obama
Barnestormer on October 8, 2011 at 11:14 AM
###spits on sidewalk###
Limerick on October 8, 2011 at 11:15 AM
I hope the HellFire missile had a Hell’s Bells theme song playing (rock on AC/DC !!) before it…ummm.. you know did “its thing” on terrorist scum.
No discussion on the status of Khan’s remains, huh ?? well since he was vaporized, his “remains” have floated into the Yemeni air and increased global warming by one trillionth of one Fahrenheit..sad.. but true.
nagee76 on October 8, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Too bad. Accept. Don’t accept. Nobody cares. We’ve been targeting Americans (as well as foreigners) for death since WW2.
If you want information about the warrants for Sammy’s death, I suggest you petition the FISA court. Maybe they’ll open up for you.
If you feel really, really bad about the whole thing, send some flowers to Sammy’s mom.
Solaratov on October 8, 2011 at 11:54 AM
My turn to play.
.
First:
.
My recollection is that observant Muslims make it a point to get all dead bodies in the ground within 24 hours … so, what discussion, exactly, could Sammi’s parrents have about their son’s remains? Location(s)?
.
.
Next:
.
The angst about whacking an American citizen, who voluntarily went overseas to associate with and otherwise assist known, publicly-proclaimed enemies of the United States who have, in fact, declared war in their own fashion against the US, and have actively engaged in armed violence against the US.
.
Everyone here accepts the fact that Americans in the US, accused of a crime in the US, must be provided due process … with exceptions. One of those exceptions is when the fool in question is activly engaged in violent, possibly armed, behavior, like armed assault, robbery, home (or other) invasion, bombings or arson, and a police officer or possibly a citizen, must deal with the situation. In any of these cases, there may be no due process prior to killing the perp.
.
Everyone here also knows that the Constitution and other US laws stop at our borders … try asserting your 1st amendment rights in, say, the Sudan or North Korea, and see what happens. Say something in a very public way about Islam and terrorism (using an unapproved point-of-view) in, say Austria, or Norway, or … and see what happens.
.
It’s also true that Americans who travel overseas retain their US citizenship … but there are ways to lose citizenship overseas, and even your passport lists some common ways … joining a foreign military organization is one of them.
.
.
Now the case(s) of A. Awlaki and S. Kahn. Apparently both were US Citizens. And apparently, both left the US, voluntarily and intentionally, to go overseas. And by their own voluntary and intentional public words and actions, and maybe a deed or two (or more, each), they joined a foreign military organization (Al Qaeda). This foreign military organization may have no recognizable (to my / US / Western / etc. eyes) uniforms, but they apparently have chosen to forego such niceties and they seem to recognize each other, and they also have a clear command and control structure that they recognize. And, in joining this foreign military organization, Awlaki and Kahn then assisted it in waging war on the US … and killing, or attempting to kill, US Citizens.
.
… [they] then assisted it in waging war on the US. At this point, it seems clear that due process was no longer needed for either Awlaki or Kahn, as is the case with any assailant, unless Awlaki or Kahn were captured or physically surrendered themselves to US authority (when due process might then become necessary).
.
.
The citizenship status of either; is it relevant? Their voluntary and intentional actions removed any need for due process, and neither of them took any steps to try to recover this right.
.
.
Finally, the claim that US Citizens could be targeted for assassination, based on this precedent or something … is there any evidence for this claim? How about an argument for it?
.
Within the US, the argument(s) against this claim are strong; we still have effective law enforcement and a judiciary that would not allow such activities.
.
External to the US … US laws do not apply there, local laws and customs do. Are you going oveseas, voluntarily and intentionally? Consider where you go, what you do, and who you do it with.
.
Once you leave the US, the problems, of maintaining your US citizenship, civil rights, body integrity, continued ability to breathe and maintain body temperature of about 98deg F., etc., while living in the quarters of, and/or traveling in the motorcade of, and/or generally associating with, known members of an actively hostile foreign military organization, become yours and yours alone.
Arbalest on October 8, 2011 at 12:29 PM
The Congress shall have Power To… define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations…
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions…
Congress approved fighting Al Qaeda “by whatever means necessary.” So, State is expressing sympathy with a class of person congress has authorized to be whacked.
Akzed on October 8, 2011 at 1:12 PM
Will the State Department offer condolences for the murder of Brian Terry at the hands of Eric Holder and Janet Napolitano and prexnixt Obama’s Fast and Furious operation? No?
Okay then.
Key West Reader on October 8, 2011 at 1:37 PM
I believe that the POTUS took an oath….something about protecting us from enemies without And within.
Job done. Move on.
bridgetown on October 8, 2011 at 1:43 PM
“Dear Mrs Khan, the U.S. Government offers its condolences for the untimely death of your son in the misslie attack. But we want you to know his death was not a total waste since his remains (what could be found of them) have been donated to an Iowa hog farm in order to keep the pigs strong and healthy.”
MaiDee on October 8, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Because if Obama says so in a “public statement,” that makes it true, huh AP?
No need for due process of any kind. Or rules of evidence. Just start vaporizing American citizens because the president says he needs killin’.
CTD on October 8, 2011 at 2:41 PM
WTF????????
i leave you all for a little bit and I see this crapola….
holy macaronies
cmsinaz on October 8, 2011 at 3:08 PM
Awlaki…
“Don’t consult with anybody in killing the Americans, fighting the devil doesn’t require consultation or prayers seeking divine guidance. They are the party of the devils.”
With the American invasion of Iraq and continued U.S. aggression against Muslims, I could not reconcile between living in the U.S. and being a Muslim, and I eventually came to the conclusion that jihad against America is binding upon myself just as it is binding on every other Muslim….
To the Muslims in America, I have this to say: How can your conscience allow you to live in peaceful coexistence with a nation that is responsible for the tyranny and crimes committed against your own brothers and sisters?
Awlaki said: “Our mujahideen brothers in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and the rest of the Muslim world will get a chance to breathe again after three decades of suffocation,”
“The American people in their entirety take part in the war, because they’ve elected this administration and finance this war,” al-Awlaki said
Yes indeed, no need for due process of any kind. He was treated as an enemy belligerent for a reason. This guy was at war with the United States according to his own words.
Do you think he was lying about that?
sharrukin on October 8, 2011 at 3:20 PM
Is this actually being floated?
/oh please God, let it be so……
roy_batty on October 8, 2011 at 9:55 PM
The only way this makes sense is if they State Department flack offered the apology in a “We are soooooooo, soooooorry……” sarcastic tone of voice followed by LOLZ.
roy_batty on October 8, 2011 at 9:57 PM
I commonly hear people speaking up for Hillary Clinton as being some kind of acceptable alternative to PBHO. Madame Smart Power has done nothing but screw up in her role of SoS from day 1. From Honduras to Iran to Israel to Russia to China there is not a place on earth where she has not reduced our influence and compromised our ideals.
MJBrutus on October 9, 2011 at 8:56 AM
She is Obama’s Secretary of State. This actually means she is an absolute success.
Clinton is not someone I would ever vote into office, but she is a competent person. I really dislike it when people work overtime to make up false memes about people they do not like. Stick with the facts, it is easier to win a debate when your not spending your time defending your lies.
astonerii on October 9, 2011 at 12:35 PM
I think it is finally clear that the “State Department” has morphed into an anti-American think-tank that is divorced from reality! This rougue agency has not been led by a competent secretary for decades and there are so many career untouchables that I wonder if it ever can be brought back under control. A statement to this family such as this defies all logic and exemplifies the foolishness that defines the “State Department” nowadays! What fools and idiots now call themselves State Department employees!!!
JonR on October 10, 2011 at 11:45 AM
The Obama administration has no reason to be nervous about killing either one of those scumbags. They were both terrorists and traitors who were responsible for killing Americans. Killing them was a good call, just as killing bin laden was a good call.
Ron Paul is being an idiot about this and I like him and cannot stand obama, but on this Paul is wrong.
woodNfish on October 10, 2011 at 4:36 PM
Any and all individuals involved with this “apology” should lose their jobs representing this country in the so-called “State Department”! This is an unconscionable act that demeans and undermines each and every member of the Armed Services and shows our country to be weak and divided. There is NO excuse for this stupidity! The State Department has been out of control for years and is infested with career socialists that have no business in government. John Bolton, as Secretary of State, has got to clean house and start over! The State Department for all practical purposes is just an extension of the worthless and corrupt UN!
JonR on October 11, 2011 at 11:40 AM
This explains SO much about you…now I get it…
Apologize.
runawayyyy on October 11, 2011 at 4:17 PM
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