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Obama Steady on Combatting Terrorism

By Larry Johnson on September 15, 2009 at 3:43 PM in Current Affairs

President Obama put to bed once and for all the Dick Cheney delusion that Obama is a terrorist sympathizer bent on surrendering America to muslim hordes. As loyal NoQuarter readers know I am no fan of Obama. I think he is too inexperienced and too ill-informed to manage the Federal Government. He’s like George Bush, lacking the goofiness and the prior experience as a Governor. But Obama has done what George Bush failed to do–he authorized US Special Ops forces to kill the terrorist responsible for the bombings of the US Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998.

Justice served. ABC reports:

A U.S. commando attack in Somalia has killed an al Qaeda operative who is on the FBI’s list of most wanted terrorists, sources tell ABC News.

Somali residents said a helicopter raid on Monday by suspected foreign commandos looked to have killed one of the region’s most wanted militants.
(nctc.gov)

The dead terrorist, Saleh Ali Nabhan, is believed to have taken part in the 1998 attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. He is also believed to have orchestrated the 2002 bombing of a resort hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, and a failed missile attack on an Israeli airliner leaving Mombasa airport.

Like it or not, Barack gets to take a victory lap on this. The Bush Administration utterly failed to find and kill this scumbag.

This is the second strike in the region in six months that has put the skills of US Navy SEALS on display. Remember when the SEALS killed two pirates and rescued Captain Phillips in the spring? Obama didn’t flinch in authorizing the military to launch the operation. Now this.

ht_saleh_ali_saleh_nabhan2_090914_mn1

This sends a good message. If you attack us and kill our people we will hunt you down. Barack Obama could have called off the dogs. He did not. Barack Obama could have directed the CIA and the military Special Ops folks to focus on other priorities. He did not.

I hope this will end the nonsense that Barack wants to “read terrorists” their Miranda rights and that only Bush and Cheney wanted to kick ass with the military. Bush and Cheney loved to talk tough but were poor on the execution in many cases. Here is the truth. More often than not we will have to rely on law enforcement and intelligence activities to thwart terrorists. Rarely do we get the opportunity to use military force against a terrorist target because they operate in small numbers and are not easily targeted. However, if we do get the chance we need to be ready to pull the trigger. Barack got the chance and he ordered the shooters to pull the trigger.

Score another one for Barack.

Arabella Trefoil

I’ll wait to give Obama creditwait until I see if he apologizes.

listing starboard

Report on Michelle Malkins site that the four US soldiers killed in Afghanistan may have been the result of Rules Of Engagement. Under Obama’s watch. Still think he is a great guy Mr. Johnson?

tango

Yes, the killing of these terrorists happened on Obamas watch. But I expect it was a continuation of a Bush policy or ongoing military mission the Obama authorized to continue, not a new initiative.

As for the pirate mess, Obama gave the order to use force. But it took him a few days to do so while he considered and consulted. He wasn’t exactly make a command decision until his back was against the wall.

http://NoQuarterUSA.net Larry Johnson

Tango,
Unlike you I have read the classified after action report on the pirate mission. You do not know what the hell you are talking about.

So, even though Bush FAILED, FAILED, FAILED to get this asshole during his entire 8 year term you want to give Bush the credit?

You are hopeless.

candymarl

Agreed Mr. Johnson.

Let’s give him the credit where it is due. This mass murderer has been killed. Good on Obama and those who successfully carried out this mission.

carolhaka

Right. One killed and one returned to Libya with his parade and down pillows.

I’m sure Hillary had to explain it to him in kindergarten terms.

CAROL HAKA

tango

No, I don’t want to give Bush credit. He wasn’t President when this guy was killed. My point is, did or did NOT Bush & his military have a plan/mission in place at any time during his presidency to try to capture Saleh Ali Nabhan? If not, shame on them and good for Obama for implementing a plan that ultimately killed the terrorist. But if there was a plan in place and missions attempted by the military under Bushs authority failed, then it’s unfair to say Bush did nothing.

Trying and failing is not the same as not trying in the first place. The tone of your article makes it sound like the Bush Administration never even attempted to capture or kill Saleh Ali Nabhan. I feel it’s quite possible that this was a continuing mission, initiated before Obama took office but endorsed by him afterwards to continue, rather than one initiated by Obama.

Is that not credible? If you have classified information that Bush and Co just skipped on pursuing Saleh Ali Nabhan and it was up to Obama to ask the military to take care of business, then so be it.

tzada

That person was disposable. Obama rating are falling, so go bag a terrorist …… Smoke and mirrors.

Arabella Trefoil

Speaking of ratings, where does Daily Kos get their numbers? They currently have Obama at 56% favorable. I don’t have the time or the inclination to look at their “study methods” but this number seems grossly inflated.

candymarl

Rasmussen does not agree.
tzada

Zogby Polls maybe? Obama’s CAIR friends….

Terrorist Killed In Afghanistan By Poor Craftsmanship And Inability To Get Good Tax Advice From ACORN But Mostly Poor Craftsmanship

video

http://ace.mu.nu/

Wonder if something like this happened in Somalia?
And how about those Somalia that the current regime is bringing into the USA along with all those Egyptians, Iraqui and Africans.

carolhaka

Larry, I have a feeling you will be the only cheerleader for Obama on this one.

I do not believe for a second that Bush was not looking for this man.

Second, what is going on for the sake of Obama’s sick, twisted, loser mentality on C-Span right now is just another sign of what a worthless character he and his rac*st buddies are.

I hope they all go to hell sooner than later.

Color me fed up with everything having to do with this garbage in Washington!

CAROL HAKA

getfitnow

Ditto, Carol!

carolhaka

Hi getfitnow. Have missed you.

CAROL HAKA

candymarl

I know it’s not popular but sometimes Obama gets it right. Now if he would display the same loyalty to the American people, drop the racism thing, and the Constitution he could be a really good Pres.

Obama: Dubya 2 Electric Boogaloo

Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day. But I still think you’re giving Baracka too much credit.

Tammy

Nice to hear this story, Larry.
Good job SEALS!!!

I find it interesting that the MSM will report this feat but ignore the ACORN scandal, and virtually ignore the march on Washington(or distort the numbers down to nothing while calling those Americans racists).

The only place you can get real news is here on the internet.

Good on you, Obama.

As far as I’m concerned, the only good terrorist is a dead one.
Keep it up.
http://www.missmalevolent.com Miss Malevolent

I don’t have the insider information that you do LJ…but all this smacks of, is George Bush Jr. and Co. talking about, “The number 2 man in Al-Qaeda was killed” and there were like 20, “Number 2 men” Killed.

I will not be happy til, al-Zawahiri and bin Laden are dead. Not captured, DEAD.

Then I will say it has been a success and give the credit that is due.

http://NoQuarterUSA.net Larry Johnson

In this case Nabhan is the real deal. Getting him is important. I share your desire to see the same end for Bin Laden and Zwahiri.

elaine

Let’s give those SEALS a BIG Hooah! And may its echo resonate up the chain of command.
Peggy Sue

If a bad guy was taken out? I say “yes.” If Obama gets credit, I say, “okay, you’ve get the point.”

But I’m not about to say, “Obama, you are the man.”

Because he’s not. But thank God, we still have those in place [and yes, due to Obama keeping the pros in place] who are.

I begrudgingly give the point to the Obama camp. But, I’m keeping count on all fronts, by and large the domestic scene right now [and the score isn't pretty].

And btw, I was never with Bush&Co. Quite the contrary.
http://deleted BuzzisbackLatte

Obama got one right, apparently. Good for him. He has to have a check in the win column once in awhile.

That said, ACORN, czars, SEIU, lack of transparency, missing documents, the possible coverup by the DNC over eligibility, out of control spending, a partisan congress (obviously since the dems voted against Joe Wilson), misstatements (lies?) made during speeches, less than transparent position on healthcare, and other homefront issues are still on the front burner.

The whisper of corruption is overwhelming.

Peggy Sue

Buzz said:

“The whisper of corruption is overwhelming.”

Indeed it is. Before we clean up the world, we need to clean up our own house.

But that being said? I want al-Zawahiri and bin Laden pulverized to smithereens.

With every 9/11 anniversary, the dead cry out for justice.

Ferd Berfle

I have to concede your point, Larry. Irrespective of motive, the experts were allowed to perform their function. He fulfilled the expected duties of his office in this instance. While I am as yet uncertain as to the reason why, that is a question better left for another day, especially since my skepticism meter is still pegged.
Katmoon

Good, for listening and doing what needed to be done; a Hooah to the boots on the ground for doing it, and For Obama who did not get in their way, and to trust what he was advised should be done. Well done.
Obama: Dubya 2 Electric Boogaloo

Clap clap clap..so Obama allowed ONE terrorist and TWO pirates to be captured/killed, meanwhile Obamacus is only “deeply disappointed” that the Lockerbie bomber who killed 260 Americans was released from prison. I wouldn’t be “deeply disappointed”, I’d be pretty goddamned fucking pissed off!

I’m “deeply disappointed” when I lose the football pool at work!
Docelder

It is great to see Obama act like the President. After all that is what he is… the President. GOD knows we need the leadership. The cards are stacked in his favor for Obama to be a great President. The country is ripe for a third way President. That third way President could ride on the third party sentiment. If only he could stand up to his own party. If only he didn’t have so many friends that he owes promises to. If only. But that is totally up to him whether he can capitalize or not. We shall see.

Ferd Berfle

But that is totally up to him whether he can capitalize or not.

Well, docelder, Judging from what we little know of his past and the way he handled the election, it would appear to me that the only thing That One does is capitalize. Capitalize on the spilt in the electorate; capitalize on public sentiment running against an unpopular war; capitalize on a weakened economy; and capitalize on the gullibility of the average American voter. All this emphasis on capitalization is demonstrated by his cynically calculated and often telegraphed response to anything that might bring him continued adoration. I believe the old expression for one such as him was, “a dandy” in the most negative sense of the word.

Docelder

I never supported him, didn’t vote for him and have been very hard toward him overall. Based on how he has handled these first nine months he has given me little to make me want to change my mind. But, my mind is changeable if he could start acting like a President and a leader. He is in a position to be that centrist we need… not in 2012, but starting tomorrow if he wanted to do that. Nothing would make me happier, though I could be knocked over with a feather if it happened. But, if it happens it will happen one small gesture at a time.

Ferd Berfle

I never supported him, didn’t vote for him and have been very hard toward him overall

I know you have docelder and I agree with you in those sentiments. I suppose my comment was mainly centered on his more than apparent and transparent modus operandi, which gives me little hope that he will change. His continued silence regarding ACORN but his willingness to leap before looking into that tempest in a teapot at Harvard also make my skeptic meter peg. That he may be “learning” how to be a president of all is of no comfort especially since we had a candidate or two or three who were actually ready on day one. We have no time for training wheels.

He is in a position to be that centrist we need… not in 2012, but starting tomorrow if he wanted to do that.

That is where I think he’ll fail. What he wants does not coincide with what the country needs and certainly not what a great number of people are demanding.

That being said, I am the optimist, ultimately, and will take any good news I can get and do hope that you are correct. Besides, we did make it through 8 years of Bush II and am certain we can make it through 4 years of Barry.

Docelder

If he were to redeem himself, we would need to allow him to do that. I am willing to let him have that path. On the other hand, he will need to forge that path by himself. We don’t need to be trying to cut it for him. He is after all a big boy.

Ferd Berfle

I am willing to let him have that path. On the other hand, he will need to forge that path by himself.

Spot on. That would suffice for me, too.

wbboei

His whole history augers against it. He is a cut and run kind of guy. That czar structure is unmanageable. The very best we can hope for is that somehow he will muddle on through to 2012. That which does not kill us makes us stronger–sometimes.

Wisewoman

I agree 100% Ferd. Since he is the ultimate know nothing president he occasionally lets others do their jobs since he has no answers or solutions. That is the only thing I can give him credit for and I am an AA. I am so sick of his enablers accusing everyone of racism I could puke. President Carter came out today with the same lame accusation applying it to whites. Well I am black and I think he is unqualified for the presidency. Does that make me a racist?

Ferd Berfle

Well I am black and I think he is unqualified for the presidency. Does that make me a racist?

That would be a resounding no–it makes you a wisewoman, wisewoman. I can think of no better thing for a person to be.

TeakWoodKite

I thank the Ops team for thier service. LJ, what is promising, irrspective of BO, is that the US had the intel to act.

Let BO get the notch ’cause I was getting really depressed watching Ashcroft give interviews and have this turd still up on the target list. I can only hope that the signals Luminol picked up other leads.

Whoever it was that busted ass to get the intel on this Thanks. Ya done good.

WHO’s NEXT?
Jay L

Larry,

Thanks for being consistent and praising where praise is due and calling him out on the carpet when needed.
armymom

My son is special forces, and they always have been on the look out for the bad guys. Sorry, I won’t be giving this ass clown any kudos for this. I will blame him for the ROE change in Afghanistan that got 4 marines killed a few days ago because we couldn’t/wouldn’t give air support when they got ambushed. Seems to me that children and women helping to load weapons are more important than our soldiers who are pinned down. Now where’s that angry icon when you need it.

http://NoQuarterUSA.net Larry Johnson

Obama is not interfering in the Afghan ROE. That is coming from McCrystal, who understands that we cannot continue to kill civilians and win the hearts and minds of the Afghans.

McCrystal’s ROEs have been frequent and hardhitting in limiting what our guys can and cannot do.

armymom

I’m sorry, but who put McCrystal in that position? Also, what about the fact that if your guys are taking fire, being ambushed, commander on the ground calls for air support, begs for air support, women and kids are loading artillary for the taliban, are you going to try and tell me that we’re going to leave our guys on our own? And that will win the hearts and minds of the afghan’s but kill the hell out of our guys. Sorry, as a mother of a soldier, that is NOT acceptable to me at all, nor to the group of military moms that I belong to. If that is all we’re going to do, then get the hell out of there. It’s hard to fight a war with both hands behind your back.

listingstarboard

God bless your son armymom, and all of the soldiers. They are truly the best and bravest Americans. Lavish praise on Obama for not interfering WTF?? Obama is releasing terrorists, Obama is punishing Honduras for trying to remain free, Obama is licking the boots of Chavez–dang how can you even begin to praise this monster??? Unbelievable.
carolhaka

That’s the recent history of this country. “They” get to play dirty, “We” have to ask them if they understand their rights before they blow or slice our heads off.

I say f*ck winning hearts and minds. When they get their *sses blown off frequently enough, maybe they will start to govern their own terror*sts out of existence.

Works for me.

They can’t all make it to hell fast enough for me.

CAROL HAKA

wbboei

whooah–I am with ya armymom!

elaine

Larry, when do civilians cease being civilians & become combatants, apparently not when loading artillery. Just how far can they take it & still be “civilians” in Gen McCrystal’s ROE?
Just Me

Sad…. For all you “kill’em all let God sort them out” and “Bush’s Afgan strategerie”…. types… Read The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War. Then tell us how easy this combat theater is ….

carolhaka

Tell Mika thanks for her daddies role in the world of terror.

Multiple well placed nukes, and I will sleep very well. I have no sympathy for drug lords funding terror*st enterprises.

CAROL HAKA

Just Me

Well placed nukes eh? Making light of the use of nuclear weapons is not even funny. I can assure you of one thing if we did that.

No one would sleep well….

elaine

Just Me, I don’t think anyone thinks the Afghan theater is “easy.” I never read the book you referenced but I’ve listened to enough Afghans brag about torturing Soviets to get the idea. I think we would all love to win hearts & minds, just not at the expense of our own troops.

Just Me

“I think we would all love to win hearts & minds, just not at the expense of our own troops.”

Your comment is well taken but this is the price of war and the additional expense of not planning it out right in the first place and not following through to its conclusion…

Of course Rummy and Wolfie should have read that book. Its introduction is by USMC Commandant telling his Marines that the book was a must read… Of course that part like our lessons learned fell on deaf ears, or worse it fell on Rummy’s and Wolfie’s ears….

armymom

I’m sorry, but we’re not talking about Bush, Rummy or Wolfie anymore. This is OBAMA”S war, whether you like it or not. And he’s failing miserbly on it. We now “buzz” over before we do an airstrike so as to make sure the “civilians” get out before we strike. Well guess who else gets to get out? But to let 4 marines die because there was not to be air support. Who the hell has our soldiers backs? Certainly not our governments. It wouldn’t be politically correct for our Messiah.

I want you to for just one minute, pretend that you’re one of these guys, whose trust you’ve put into your commanders. You’re hit, you’re hurt badly, you hear your commander call for air support, but you also hear that it’s not the “right time”. Might hurt civilians. You tell me as a mother or for that matter an American citizen how you cope with what was done? And for what? So that these taliban can fight another day and have their children and wifes help them, knowing that we won’t strike? Sounds like a losing strategy to me.

Right now, I’m thankful, my son returned a week and a half ago, but he will be going again, his 5th tour. But my heart breaks for the family of those 4 marines. It has broken before for the other families who have loved ones serving, but I can’t even imagine what those 4 families are going through. Probably what the families of the USS Cole, 9/11 families are going through. The difference? We did this to our own men.

EWard

armymom

I agree with you. Saving the lives of our military personnel has to be our number one priority. McCrystal has changed the rules of engagement. He said, “there will be plenty of opportunities to kill Taliban, and we’re pretty good at that. But the focus here, the reason we’re here, is the people, not the Taliban.”

McCrystal sounds like Jimmy Carter. By McCrystal forcing the military to break contact with the enemy with civilians involved, it gives the Taliban a propaganda tool that we won’t fight. This is crazy.

Armymom – Will say my prayers for our military and families. God Bless…..
wbboei

Armymom: precisely.
Just Me

This is not Obama’s war right now but it could become Obama’s war if it get out of control and he is not failing yet.

This is still Bush’s war and after the initial phase it walked right into mission creep because we took our eyes off the ball and went into Iraq for one reason only, to finish some conventional military business and that is all. WMD’s my fanny.

We made a mess in Afghanistan because of Iraq and we owe the people of Afghanistan a working government now. Morally we cannot walk away and Obama is not saying that we should.

Our weapon systems are pretty good and if we needed to extract a wounded solider we do not need to drop a daisy cutter to get the job done. As long as the assets are in Theater and right now they are not. That is not Obama;s fault that is the Bush Administrations fault and still is. You cope as anyone who is on the ground or has family on the ground, as best you can. But is one life worth saving if it means taking other innocent lives? I would never want to be the decision maker.

I don’t know what the answer is in Afghanistan but we need to be very careful but we own the pople of that country a working government..finally
Just Me

This is not Obama’s war right now but it could become Obama’s war if it get out of control and he is not failing yet.

This is still Bush’s war and after the initial phase it walked right into mission creep because we took our eyes off the ball and went into Iraq for one reason only, to finish some conventional military business and that is all. WMD’s my fanny.

We made a mess in Afghanistan because of Iraq and we owe the people of Afghanistan a working government now. Morally we cannot walk away and Obama is not saying that we should.

Our weapon systems are pretty good and if we needed to extract a wounded solider we do not need to drop a daisy cutter to get the job done. As long as the assets are in Theater and right now they are not. That is not Obama;s fault that is the Bush Administrations fault and still is. You cope as anyone who is on the ground or has family on the ground, as best you can. But is one life worth saving if it means taking other innocent lives? I would never want to be the decision maker.

I don’t know what the answer is in Afghanistan but we need to be very careful but we own the people of that country a working government..finally

armymom

It most certainly is Obama’s war. He owns it now. What part of him being president don’t you understand, or do you just want to pick and choose what Obama gets to take credit for?

Just Me

Let me put it this way. I am not a huge Obama supporter and he has his faults. But I am willing to give the man a chance just like I did for Bush. Yes he owns the war that “Bush” started and I will add for just cause, unlike Iraq. However Afghanistan as a nation is in a league all by itself and is extremely unpredictable.

To bad we did not focus on Afghanistan like we did on Iraq thing might have turned out differently.

As far as cheery picking is concerned. Take a good look in the mirror before you accuse anyone else of doing that.

Just Me

Sorry for the typos… old age has an effect on the eyes…

Retired

I quote from the Fleet Marine Force Manual, “A Commander is responsible for everything that his command does or fails to do.” It’s just that simple, no matter what the level of command, a fire team or the entire armed forces. A great metric that has served us well in the past and will serve us well now, if we will only use it.
wbboei

Larry–I would prefer to give credit to the men on the ground. They earned it.
http://! stodgie

obama isn’t doing well in afghanistan and doesn’t have the necessary equipment in his head and heart to get it done. it will be a fiasco.
mel

Why praise a politically drowning politician for doing things that if leaked out he didn’t do would destroy his political life and career?

The Pirate actions by Obama politcal motivation of do nothing when the entire country was watching would destroy Obama!

This thug now, political motivation based on potential leaking of information as always.

Thus to praise for saving your political ass is not scoring anything! It is though for the special forces and intel in finding and eliminating this guy!
Mr.Murder

If anything it may end up that Obama goes after people strongly enough to have collateral concerns, but it is certain he’s had military commanders place rules in effect. His efforts in hard prosecutions are followed to exact details when it comes to force deplyoment outside of theater.

It’s that kind of energy and attention to detail that makes them so likely to succeed. That doesn’t remove the fact that any negative result will be magnified.

This is clearly a great win and a morale boost. Taken from the time he was inaugurated it establishes a timeline for working effectiveness and those wishing us harm had better take note.

That result should empower those willing to help us fight terror within their own borders or their region of the world, so we should embolden allies in this.

The collateral effects may magnify, but positive results do the same, ten score. There will come other success stories, some perhaps inspired by this result.
http://www.bloglifetime.com/ Bloglifetime

They’re not looking for Bin Laden. It takes all those people to listen to our phone calls and read through all of our emails and comments we post online. Then they have to make files, lots of files. It’s a big operation to spy on every American.