White House: American, Italian hostages killed in US counterterror operation

[txradioguy]

An American and Italian hostage held by Al Qaeda were killed in a U.S. counterterrorism operation earlier this year, the White House said Thursday.

"No words can fully express our regret over this terrible tragedy," the White House said in a statement.

American development expert Warren Weinstein and Italian national Giovanni Lo Porto were both “accidentally killed” in the operation, the White House said. President Obama is speaking about the incident from the White House Thursday morning.

"The operation targeted an al-Qa'ida-associated compound, where we had no reason to believe either hostage was present, located in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan," the White House said.

The White House also revealed that two Americans working with Al Qaeda were killed as well. Ahmed Farouq, an American Al Qaeda leader, was killed in the same operation in which the hostages died. American-born Al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn was killed in January in a separate incident, according to the White House.

The White House says Farouq and Gadhan were not specifically targeted in the operations, nor did the U.S. have information indicating their presence at the sites.

Weinstein, 73, was an American contractor working in Lahore, Pakistan, when he was snatched outside his home on Aug. 13, 2011, by Al Qaeda operatives. The Maryland resident and professor at State University of New York at Oswego was later seen in four "proof-of-life" videos, the most recent of which was released in December, 2013. In that video, Weinstein appeared in a tan track suit with a wool cap and pleaded with the U.S. to come to his aid.

"And now, when I need my government, it seems that I have been totally abandoned and forgotten," Weinstein says, apparently reading from a script. "I again appeal to you ... to negotiate my release," he said on the tape.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/23/white-house-american-italian-hostages-killed-in-us-counterterror-operation/

[Eupher]

In 2001, he cut off contact with his family in California, and in the years following the 9/11 attacks, became a prominent spokesman for the terrorist group, appearing under the name "Azzam Al-Amriki" with Usama Bin Laden in videos justifying and threatening further attacks.

In 2006, Gadahn was placed on the Bureau of Diplomatic Security Rewards for Justice Program list of wanted criminals. And indicted by a California federal grand jury on charges of treason.

Somebody please explain to me why the **** it took FIVE YEARS to put this scumbag on whatever list the government has for terrorist scumbags.

Apart from that, war is hell. People die. It's regrettable, but there can be NO BACKING DOWN from these animals.

Unless, of course, you're Barry in which you can't bow, scrape, and genuflect enough. 

[txradioguy]

Somebody please explain to me why the **** it took FIVE YEARS to put this scumbag on whatever list the government has for terrorist scumbags.

Because it's the same administration that says (with a straight face) that we can't expect Iran to quit killing Americans or sponsoring terrorism against us as part of any negotiations...and that is actively taking Cuba and FARC off the terrorist list.

What you and I call "terrorists" they consider freedom fighters.

[Eupher]

Because it's the same administration that says (with a straight face) that we can't expect Iran to quit killing Americans or sponsoring terrorism against us as part of any negotiations...and that is actively taking Cuba and FARC off the terrorist list.

What you and I call "terrorists" they consider freedom fighters.

Agreed, about the current administration, but despite GWB's tough talk, it still took HIS administration 5 years to properly "categorize" this particular animal.

And this ties directly back into the overall complaint I have in that the mega-Titanic that is our ****ing government is completely out of control.

[the county]

Why did it take so long for the WH to acknowledge this? This is from last January, no way it could've take this much time to identify the bodies.

Sorry about Weinstein:

"And now, when I need my government, it seems that I have been totally abandoned and forgotten," Weinstein says, apparently reading from a script. "I again appeal to you ... to negotiate my release," he said on the tape

He probably was a liberal and learned the lesson of big government the hard way but that other guy? Good riddance, AQ trash.

[obumazombie]

The number one threat to this country is glow bull warming -owebuma-