Michelle Malkin » Al-Qaeda leader in Somalia flattened by missile strike; World press fumes, whines

Al-Qaeda leader in Somalia flattened by missile strike; World press fumes, whines

By see-dubya • May 1, 2008 06:28 PM

Here’s a couple of paragraphs from one international News Bureau’s reporting on the airstrikes that killed Al-Qaeda’s leader in Somalia:

U.S. missiles destroyed the house of the man believed to be the top Al Qaeda commander in Somalia, killing him and 10 others Thursday in a pre-dawn attack that analysts warned could torpedo peace talks but have little impact on the Islamic insurgency.

The killing of Aden Hashi Ayro comes amid escalating fighting and a spiraling humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa nation….

The talks offered a slim hope of bringing together the disparate groups in the armed opposition. But Thursday’s attack damages the negotiations before they begin, said Rashid Abdi, an analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank.

It may also undermine the new prime minister, who wished to include more extreme fighters in the talks despite opposition from the president.

“However much the Americans claim the war on terror is one thing and the peace process is another thing, it’s not that clear-cut,” Abdi said. “This will definitely have political repercussions.”…

Analyst Iise Ali Geedi of Somali University said the killings will fuel suspicions that the United States is using the talks as a fig leaf.

“The U.S. is entertaining Somalis with empty diplomatic efforts — and is chasing its terror suspects on the other hand,” he said. “I would like the U.S. to support reconciliation rather than carrying out attacks.”

Here’s another:

A US air raid in Somalia has killed up to 30 people, including two senior leaders of the armed opposition group al-Shabaab.

Four aircraft bombed the town of Dusamareb, 300km north of Mogadishu, on Thursday.

Among the dead was Aden Hashi Eyrow, the military commander of al-Shabaab, the Union of Islamic Courts’ (UIC) former military wing.

Bob Prucha, a US military spokesman, told the [other] news agency that US forces had attacked a “known al-Qaeda target”.

Mukhtar Robow Adumansur, an al-Shabaab spokesman, said: “It is true that infidel planes bombed Dusamareb. This was an unprovoked attack["]…

Somali intelligence sources said Eyrow was trained in Afghanistan as a mujahid and later, worked with the Taliban before Afghanistan was attacked by US-led forces.

He then returned to Somalia to establish al-Shabaab as the military wing of the Islamic courts.

Make your guess and then click through to see which is which: can you tell AP’s reporting from Al-Jazeera’s?

You’d think this ought to be easy, but it’s not.
____________________________

Front-page photo adapted from AP.
{Post by See-Dubya}

~ For the latest breaking news, be sure to join Michelle's e-mail list ~

Posted in: Al Qaeda,Media Bias

Printer Friendly

comments (113)

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments

« Older Comments

#101

On May 2nd, 2008 at 9:00 am, Jimmie said:

Score 770 virgins!!!! for the terrorists…some one has got to think about this……..
#102

On May 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 am, Jimmie said:

Oh Yea…something bothers me about the headline…I don’t think he was so much flattened as dissipated…
#103

On May 2nd, 2008 at 9:49 am, pueblo1032 said:

Well that takes care of 70 VIRGINS, next???
#104

On May 2nd, 2008 at 10:10 am, Laree said:

Dear Al Qeada,

We have a list, please be patient we will get to you, United States Military.
#105

On May 2nd, 2008 at 10:18 am, Yashmak said:

“I would like the U.S. to support reconciliation rather than carrying out attacks.”

The USA gave this particular terrorist ample time to reconcile. He’s had like, 6 years since the announcement that we were coming after terrorists.

Strange that I haven’t heard about him seeking any reconciliation then.

You have to wonder: if you kill one bad guy at the expense of starting a humanitarian crisis (many innocent people dying of starvation), is it worth it?

-lgm

You can’t “start” a humanitarian crisis that’s already been going on for years.
#106

On May 2nd, 2008 at 10:27 am, mojo said:

Coulda had it a while ago if he hadn’t kept hiding like a scared little girl…
#107

On May 2nd, 2008 at 10:29 am, sonofdy said:

What they don’t know is that they get to be the virgins.
#108

On May 2nd, 2008 at 11:03 am, henryinga said:

I’m glad when I read of some scumbag being taken out. I just wish we could start taking them out in bunches, like bananas.
#109

On May 2nd, 2008 at 11:40 am, JBro said:

On May 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 am, Bruce said:

gippergirl (#78) is a freaking moron for thinking that some two-bit thug in Somalia’s death makes her safer. She’s more of the problem, not a solution.

Bruce, consider for just a moment that 20 years ago OBL was just some “two-bit thug”. Had he been killed when LtCol North first addressed him as a terrorist 3000 individuals would not have lost their lives. How many news reports do you have to watch containing bombings throughout Europe and the Middle East before you become aware of the situation? Wake up to the very real fact that we are facing a dangerous enemy that wants to kill us and will come to our country if we refuse to fight him in his.

By the way, I believe you owe the GipperGirl an apology…
#110

On May 2nd, 2008 at 11:51 am, gandolphxx said:

This is for lgm …

Few apart from his small band of fanatical followers will mourn the passing of Aden Hashi Ayro, the leader of Somali’s Islamist insurrection.

Analysis: murderous Islamic leader will not be missed
#111

On May 2nd, 2008 at 1:32 pm, AlohaGuy said:

#46 AJ, what if those ‘virgins’ turn out to be lesbians?

Why do you think there are so many female homicide bombers these days?
#112

On May 2nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm, Pixel_Dust_1776 said:

#86……..
Reconciliation
is in the eyes of the beholder…
…..Reconciliation…..back to the dust!!!. From DUST he was made, and to DUST he WAS returned!!!!.
Those weapons used against that jacka$$ should be called “HXC-PGMS”……Hell Express Cards-Precision Guide Munitions…
When diplomacy fails…
Also, I wonder if those Precision Guided Munitions were sprayed with pig’s blood, would they prevent those Islamic terrorists from reaching their “heaven”?…that would be an interesting Psy Ops take, since I think suicide (homicide) bombers go thru a cleansing procedure to be accepted to “heaven”. Just imagine every Islamic terrorist thinking that every weapon used against them has been tainted with an unclean animal….
LOL!

Rio
Semper Fi!
#113

On May 2nd, 2008 at 3:05 pm, Watcherdownsouth said:

On May 1st, 2008 at 8:08 pm, skysoljr82 said:
#44-lgm.
Your fascination with movies is NOT helping my kids.

Skysoljr82, nobody else commented, but I thought it was funny…

Maybe we can send MO over to chat with them….