Posted on 11/04/2002 2:40:09 PM PST by Pharmboy
Official: CIA Killed Al Qaeda Suspects in Yemen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A missile fired by an unmanned CIA (news - web sites) drone hit a car believed to be carrying suspected al Qaeda members in Yemen Sunday and killed several occupants, a U.S. official said Monday.
Mon Nov 4, 5:18 PM ET A Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is seen with a Hellfire-C laser guided missile under one wing in this file photo from a February 21, 2001 test flight at Nellis Airforce Base in Nevada. A missile fired by an unmanned CIA (news - web sites) drone hit a car believed to be carrying suspected al Qaeda members in Yemen November 4, 2002 and killed several occupants a U.S. official said November 5. Six alleged al Qaeda members were believed killed including a key suspect in the bombing of the USS Cole (news - web sites). While the CIA is known to operate armed Predator aircraft, it could not be confirmed if the Predator was used in this attack. (USAFMC/Reuters)
The official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters the American military was not involved in the attack, which reports from Sanaa said killed six alleged al Qaeda members, including a key suspect in a bombing attack on the U.S. warship Cole in Aden two years ago.
"As I understand it, it was an agency drone" that conducted the weekend strike, said the U.S. official, who did not provide any details.
The Defense Department and CIA refused to comment on the incident, but Yemen's news agency reported in Sanaa that a car explosion had killed six alleged members of al Qaeda. The radical Muslin group led by fugitive Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) is blamed by Washington for the devastating attacks on America in September of last year.
PERHAPS RON KIRK WILL COMPAIN THAT IT WAS A "WHITE AIRCRAFT" WHICH DID THE ATTACK.
You think the CIA waited until JUST before an election to execut a terrorist? That would certainly be politicizing the war on terror, and it would be unfortunate.
In any case, good riddance.
RQ-1 PREDATOR® HELLFIRE MISSILE TESTS “TOTALLY SUCCESSFUL”
Aerospace history was made Feb. 21 with the successful launch of a live missile from an unmanned aerial vehicle. The Air Force’s Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) program is evolving from a non-lethal, reconnaissance asset, to an armed, highly accurate tank-killer, according to senior program officials from Air Combat Command (ACC) at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) here.
“Capping a three-part series of demonstration flight tests on Feb. 21, Predator successfully aimed and launched a ‘live’ Hellfire-C, laser-guided missile that struck an unmanned, stationary Army tank on the ground at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Airfield near Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.,” said Major Ray Pry, Predator program manager, Big Safari Program Office at ASC’s Reconnaissance Aircraft System Program Office (SPO).
“Flown by two ACC crew-members, a pilot and sensor-operator from the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group at Nellis, who were located in a nearby Ground Control Station (GCS), Predator launched the missile using Line-of-Sight (LOS) communication, inflicting heavy damage to the tank,” Major Pry said. The final flight, part of a Phase I feasibility demonstration that began in August 2000, was preceded by two similar, completely successful Hellfire launches on Feb. 16 and earlier on Feb. 21, according to the major.
“This first recorded missile launch from a UAV took place on Feb. 16 at approximately 11:05 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT),” he said. “Equipped with a single, inert Hellfire-C missile, the Predator, using its LOS communication band and infrared ‘Kosovo’ laser-ball, aimed and struck the tank-turret about six inches to the right of dead-center, spinning the turret around about 30 degrees. It made a big, gray dent in the turret— just beautiful.”
Hellfire I and II. The last one being experienced by the Jihadists as we speak.
Thanks for the follow up.
No I certainly don't think it was politically timed. These opportunities are fleeting at best, and it is harder still to get the JAG to approve it like they goofed with Omar).
I just meant that it reflected very well on the Bush team and they should mention it.
In a single strike, Bush achieved more against terrorist than Clinton did in 8 full years. Sickening.
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