New York Times: 2 Qaeda Hostages Were Accidentally Killed in U.S. Strike, White House Says
WASHINGTON — The White House acknowledged on Thursday that two hostages held by Al Qaeda were accidentally killed in an American government counterterrorism operation in January and said President Obama “takes full responsibility.”
In an extraordinary statement, the White House said intelligence agencies had confirmed that Warren Weinstein, an American held by Al Qaeda since 2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian held since 2012, died during the operation.
“The operation targeted an al-Qaeda-associated compound, where we had no reason to believe either hostage was present, located in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the statement said. “No words can fully express our regret over this tragedy.”
WNU Editor: I am suspicious with the timing of this news. It happened in January but they are reporting it now with the Clinton Foundation story just breaking out this morning. Makes you wonder on what is really happening. Wag the dog .... or a warning to the Clintons to get out of the Presidential race? As to what is my take .... I am astounded that the main stream media is doing something that I never thought they would do .... go after the Clintons and report (gasp) the news.
More News On 2 Qaeda Hostages Who Were Accidentally Killed In A January U.S. Drone Strike
American, Italian hostages inadvertently killed in U.S. operation: Obama -- Reuters
US admits al Qaeda operation killed an American and an Italian hostage -- France 24
American, Italian hostages killed in US drone strike -- AP
Obama: 'I profoundly regret' deaths of U.S., Italian hostages -- Reuters
U.S. drone strike killed al-Qaeda hostages, including American -- Washington Post
White House: American, Italian hostages killed in US counterterror operation -- FOX News
U.S. drone strike accidentally killed 2 hostages -- CNN
Obama: ‘I Take Full Responsibility’ For US Operation That Killed Innocent Hostages Held By Al Qaeda -- ABC News
White House: U.S. drone strikes killed two al Qaeda hostages -- CBS News
Obama takes 'full responsibility' for deaths of two hostages -- The Hill
US admits two hostages killed in al-Qaeda raid -- BBC
US drone strike killed American and Italian citizens held captive by al-Qaida -- The Guardian
Warren Weinstein Begged Obama to Save Him Four Years Before U.S. Drone Killed Him -- Daily Beast
SoCal Man Among Al-Qaida Operatives Killed In US Strike -- CBS
Family of American al-Qaeda hostage 'devastated' by his death -- USA Today
Wife criticizes U.S. approach to hostages' families -- CBS News
4 comments:
Obama said that was a mistake. Obama maybe for the 1st time called America an exceptional country when he owned up for a 'mistake' on its' behalf. such a left handed compliment. With presidents like Obama the USA does not need enemies.
The military did not know the hostages were there.
Since when has it been possible for a human or a human organization to be omniscient?
Economist talk in terms of information. Depending on how much information people know people make different decisions. Don't they say lack of information is friction?
Is the the military is not to make any moves unless it has 100% information, it would make no moves at all.
If it makes no moves at all, nothing is accomplished. (maybe that is the point).
That is not leadership. that is abdication of it.
Who is the CINC? Oh yeah, some chicken little named Obama.
I listened to Obama's speech live while driving back home from the city. POTUS does a decent job of reading from TOTUS. Off the cuff not so good.
Obama and his staff could not say, where the action took place. It was somewhere in the nebulous Afghan-Pakistan border region or frontier.
He did not want to say what side of the border it was, so he could escape the press conference without the question being asked. It will eventually be know or asked, but he will not have to answer that question today nor take heat from friendly fire from his side. By the time it is asked or known widely, it will be described as old news and there will be a suggestion to move on.
Why did the fearless Obama not trade Warren Weinstein and the Italian hostage for the 5 Taliban instead of trading for a deserter?
Are they not more deserving?
Maybe the point was to trade 5 upper echelon Taliban for a deserter to rub our nose in it.
A little less than 21 months to go and many people dread each day under this worthless CINC.
From Firedoglake, the money quote:
As the ACLU’s Jameel Jaffer reacted, “These new disclosures raise troubling questions about the reliability of the intelligence that the government is using to justify drone strikes. In each of the operations acknowledged today, the US quite literally didn’t know who it was killing.”
Excellent point Jay .... I did not even think about that. It puts into question the entire drone program and on how targets are selected.
The Kill Chain incident should have done that, back in 2008.
Tracking a "militant" "convoy" by drones and helecopter gunships for over 3 hours before "taking the shot", only to find out on the ground that it was unarmed old men, women and children.
Hundreds of reviews of the drone strikes all point out that they are counterproductive, but no US President will give them up, or require effective policies and procedures.
They are too much a "perk" of the Presidency, push button killing from a distance.
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