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Osama bin Laden’s son Hamza, who was his heir apparent to running al-Qaeda, is apparently dead.
United States officials aren’t saying much, even President Trump, except to confirm the death of Hamza bin Laden. (And if Trump is declining to comment on the details, then you know that something important must have happened.) This bin Laden son was not at the Abbottabad compound when the Navy SEALs came calling back in 2011. However, the United States wanted Hamza accounted for and out of the picture.
In a September 2017 article, counterterror expert and former FBI agent Ali Soufan said, “Hamza is being prepared for a leadership role in the organization his father founded” and is “likely to be perceived favorably by the jihadi rank-and-file. With the Islamic State’s ‘caliphate’ apparently on the verge of collapse, Hamza is now the figure best placed to reunify the global jihadi movement.”
In February, the State Department announced it would pay as much as $1 million for information on Hamza bin Laden’s whereabouts.”
The department’s Rewards for Justice Program described the younger bin Laden on Twitter as “an emerging al Qaeda leader” who “has threatened attacks against the United States and allies.”
What we do know is that sources are saying that it was serendipitous that Hamza bin Laden is dead.
One official tells CBS News bin Laden is believed to have been killed in a military operation, although he was not the target of the operation and was not even known to be at that location.”
Sometime later, officials say, U.S. intelligence monitored conversations among al Qaeda members about whether they should try to keep bin Laden’s death a secret or acknowledge it and celebrate him as a martyr. It is unclear when or where the operation took place, although bin Laden was reported to be in either Pakistan or Afghanistan.”
This news was breaking during the Democrat debate last night. And apparently, no one filled in the candidates on the news of the moment. Which led Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to make a complete fool of herself.
Tulsi Gabbard: "This current President is continuing to betray us. We were supposed to be going after al Qaeda, but over years now, not only have we not gone after al Qaeda … our President is supporting al Qaeda" #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/RM5q7yb5aE
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 1, 2019
In the moment, this was an incredibly inflammatory and stupid comment.
Gabbard: "Donald Trump is supporting Al Qaeda."
Next time President Trump makes an over the top accusation against a Democrat, remember what Gabbard said tonight. And the fact that Don Lemon let her get away with it.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) August 1, 2019
With 20/20 hindsight, this looks like a pretty epic blunder.
Let’s not forget that Tulsi Gabbard should know all about terrorists, having hung out with Bashar al-Assad in Syria, AFTER he gassed his own people. She STILL won’t call him a “war criminal.” So despite landing a solid hit on Kamala Harris during the debate, Gabbard comes away looking like a complete idiot.
There are many things one can say about Donald Trump. That he supports al-Qaeda is NOT one of them. And not only did Gabbard try and smear him that way, she ended up putting her foot all the way down her throat because no one on her team bothered to let her know that we (most likely, but of course we won’t say it out loud) took the purported heir of al-Qaeda out. Tulsi, you need better staff. Also, you might need to see a doctor to remove your shoe from your digestive tract.
Welcome Instapundit Readers!
Featured image: Tulsi Gabbard at Democrat debate, July 31, 2019 (screenshot via CNN on YouTube)
GWB says: I think it was at Instapundit, where someone commented they would celebrate with an “Osama” – two shots and a splash of water.
Heh.
Dave says: That was a drink made up by Micheal Z Williamson. He likes to do those for all sorts of folks. Only criterion (a la Pancho Barnes’ wall of photos) is you have to be dead.
Mad Celt says: Heir. I thought you said hair.
Joe R. says: Did gabbard mention Ohole’s release of 7 of GITMO’s “Do not release until JESUS comes back” jihadis? [along with 20 + others who just barely failed to make the cut].
Ohole did for the enemy that which they could not EVER have done for themselves. That’s treason. She, and all the tyrannical satanic-communist POS (D) are the same.
And they can SVCK-it and #NaCl.
Nicki says: If you’re talking about the exchange for that worthless piece of shit Bergdahl, there were five – the Taliban Five – with whom our administration is now negotiating on the future of Afghanistan.
Just fucking fantastic.
Versatile says: Gabbard: “Trump supports Al Qaeda.”
Moderator: “Could you expand on that? How is he supporting am Qaeda?”
Gabbard: “Wait. What? We can’t just make Orange Man Bad statements? Since when?”
Nicki says: This administration is definitely not PRO al-Qa’ida. But unfortunately, the group is no longer a priority despite being a threat and continuing to plot attacks.
lord garth says: Rep. Gabbard may believe in the ‘common mudpit’ theory in which you allow the Taliban to take Afghanistan (or all but a piece of it) and then let the Taliban, Al Q and ISIS fight it out for supremacy in that area. This is similar, in some ways to what many urban police departments do by allowing various criminal gangs to fight it out among themselves and only coming down hard when some bystanders get whacked. The theory has some obvious weakness but the alternate of ‘final and complete victory’ is tough to get to.
SDN says: When I was growing up, cops referred to neighborhoods like that as “self-cleaning ovens”.
GWB says: The main difference being that we have no actual moral or legal responsibility for Afghanistan or its neighbors. We are NOT (at least we SHOULD NOT be) the world’s policeman. And we never should have tried to do nation-building there (or anywhere, really).
David says: It’s hard to get your foot down your throat when your head is up your a$$.
WJ says: You should drop the neocuck garbage. Assad ddin’t gas his own people. Your link goes to a WaPo writer for God’s sake. That silly child has no credibility.
Assad was the best of bad options. He actually is fighting against filthy jihadi lunatics and the Obama clown show supported those lunatics.
With the help of the Russians, fortunately he has turned the tide in Syria but neocons never rest. Expect some other nonsensical gas attack claim.
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