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Gunman Opens Fire on U.S. Embassy in Yemen Killing One

Oct. 11, 2012 7:39am Jonathon M. Seidl

SANAA, Yemen (The Blaze/AP) — A masked gunman assassinated a Yemeni security official who worked for the U.S. Embassy in a drive-by shooting near his home in the capital Sanaa on Thursday, officials said.

Yemeni officials said the killing bore the hallmarks of an attack by the al-Qaida offshoot in Yemen, but it was too early to determine whether the group was behind it. The assassination resembles other attacks recently that have targeted Yemeni intelligence, military and security officials. Those attacks are believed to be in retaliation for a military offensive by Yemen’s U.S.-backed government against Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which Washington considers the most dangerous offshoot of the global terror network.

AQAP has called for attacks on U.S. embassies in a bid to exploit the anti-American sentiment that has swept the Middle East and other parts of the Muslim world in the past month over an anti-Islam film produced in the United States.

Initially, the film was linked to an attack on the U.S. Consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi on September 11 which left four Americans dead including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens. U.S. officials said later the attack was not linked to the video. Blame on the film — especially after the Libya attack — has come under intense scrutiny considering the Obama administration was quick to publicly blame an anti-Islam film while privately calling it an unrelated act of terrorism.

AQAP praised the killing of U.S. diplomats in Libya, describing it as “the best example” for those attacking embassies to follow.

Yemeni officials identified the embassy security official as Qassem Aqlani, in his fifties. He was on his way to work when a gunman on a motorcycle opened fire at him and fled the scene. The attack was in western Sanaa, close to Aqlani’s home, while the embassy is located in eastern Sanaa.

Aqlani had been working for the U.S. Embassy for nearly 20 years, said the officials who spoke condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Most recently, he was in charge of investigating a Sept. 12 assault on the U.S. Embassy by angry Yemeni protesters over the anti-Islam film. Protesters stormed the embassy and set fire to a U.S. flag before government forces dispersed them with tear gas. That attack came one day after the killings of the Americans in Benghazi.

AQAP had taken advantage of a security and political vacuum created by last year Arab Spring-inspired uprising and seized territories and cities in the south. The government-led offensive has pushed the militants out to mountainous areas from where they have been staging suicide attacks and assassinations inside cities.

Two weeks ago, a top intelligence official, Col. Abdullah al-Ashwal, was also killed in a drive-by shooting in Sanaa.

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Comments (32)

listeninginVT
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 2:25pm
The fact that this information is only coming from Yemeni Gov’t speaks volumes to the current Administrations lack of leadership

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- Constantine Ivanov
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 3:14pm
  Thank God all this happens with “lack of leadership.”
  Could you imagine how much worse everything would, be if this Administration shows abundance of leadership?
  
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Constantine Ivanov
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 1:48pm
Everybody knows that it is a reaction on the anti-Muslim video filmed by George Bush and Romney/Ryan

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republic2011
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 12:10pm
He must have just seen the youtube movie. That’s what happens when you only check your email once a month.

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Captain139
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 12:04pm
Administration Statement:

“We regret that us simply existing as Americans and America is reprehensible to Muslims. We are sorry for our existence but I am working hard to try to ruin this country for your betterment. And don’t worry, the blame lies squarely on the American people for being American; it is not the fault of you crazy Muslims. Peace by unto you all and please, keep hating us because I, President Obama, hate us as well and I am working hard at my fundamental change of America so that you may one day hate us less”.

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Captain139
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 11:59am
That darned video is at it again. I wonder who in the O Admin will be the first one to blame this on that video? Wait, don’t they now claim they never blamed the video? Make up your mind for petes sake!!

Lies beget more lies; it’s not the lie but the coverup that gets you; lying is lying is lying and this Administration is overly adapt at lying. What really gets me is the MSM and Libs think nothing of the President and his minions lying right to our faces!! My god if this was Bush, we’d never hear the end of it. The Libs would be pushing to impeach Bush if he did what O is doing.

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floridareader
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 10:55am
GOP is getting more ammunition for tonight’s debate.

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ddg7
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 10:00am
This story is all of the news! Nah, just kidding.

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- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 10:28am
  Come obama, Hilary – Blame that darn video again.
  
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ColoradoMaverick
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 9:33am
White House and State Department Response:
First and foremost, we want to make it very clear that we do not support gun rights. We think that the manufacturers of these guns and ammunition are to blame for the violence in the Middle East. We stand beside the misunderstood terrorists who really just want to be heard. Please don’t hurt us!! We will bend over and give you whatever you want. We put “Tolerance” bumper stickers on our cars to show you how much we love you! Please don’t hurt us!!

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noslave
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 9:30am
BUT,BUT THEY LOVE US??according to the obama owned media??they wont even touch these killings it makes their messiah and hillary who wants to run in 2016??both look incompititant,im sure like harry reid?, hillary told obama”im not going to take the fall alone on this one,we got to find a chump, we can throw under the bus,to save our azzes again,like usual??maybe

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oldincarolina
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 9:29am
And just what is our “great president ” going to do about this ? Probably the same thing he did
when four were killed in Libia….nothing …but more lies.

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goahead.makemyday
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 8:24am
WH press release: This was not an act of terrorism. It was a violent response to the hate and anti Mohammed paragraph in an eighth graders speech in his English class, in Arock, OR.
Internal WH Memo: The Presidents policy on denying any act of terrorism committed by Muslims will be enforced, despite the opinions of foreign intelligence agencies or American Media

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- Rajabear1
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 9:54am
  you forgot to mention that they would swoop in and arrest the 8th grader to give the impression that the US gov will be insuring that there is no more anti musl-im rhetoric.
  
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Jenasus
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 8:14am
Al-Qaeda is a black-op of the CIA.
Why do you think Joe Biden said Al-Qaeda is our friend?
Obama has dug himself into a hole that he will not get out of.
Al-Qaeda is also escalating the war in Syria while Obama is supporting Al-Qaeda with money to buy weapons.
The Middle East is going to back fire on whatever NATO has planned for the Middle East and the Luciferian New World Order will back fire on the globalists as well in America when the time comes for the Freedom War that is brewing in America or World War III.

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- Fubared
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 9:21am
  Black op is racist in nature.
  
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- loriann12
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 9:35am
  It’s to make the security details scared to protect us.
  
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- Max jones
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 10:30am
  I believe that FEAR is the left’s primary motivation for all they do. I think the reason for this is the fact the left is mainly secular. The assurance and security that Christian people own, is missing anywhere else.
  A worldly person has only this world….over-populated, polluted, heavily armed, and dangerous on many, many levels. A very scary place for the earthbound. To feel better about their situation, they must either act to remove the threats in their existence, or they must “distract” themselves with hedonistic entertainment. This is why the sexually deviant cadre “evangelizes” in favor of deviant lifestyles. Also the reason leftist government is suicidally controlling. This is a good example of the practice of ‘collective salvation”. Trying to save themselves, They surrender to authority. Laying their lives down for a few more years, putting faith and hope onto the works of men.
  Higher education, science and technology are worshiped to provide security and celebrity and entertainment for “spirituality”. And don’t leave out narcotics and liquor, as palliative sacraments.
  Progressive philosophy has always had a religious overtone. This world is their be all and end all….it is all they have…. there is no more. They have got to control it, to save their lives.
  To not adhere to the progressive agenda is seen as blasphemous, and destructive. All driven by fear.
  
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- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 10:58am
  Max Jones, that is a very interesting theory. I never really thought about it that way, but I can’t find any fault in what you said. It rings very true to me, and I commend you for the astute observation.
  
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Pray_For_Us_All
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 8:12am
That damn video is causing all kinds violence in the middle east. WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ricckky
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 8:00am
Let’s see what the LIAR has to say about this killing–BUSH,VIDEO,NOT COMPASSIONATE ENOUGH TOWARDS AL-QAIDA, NEED TO PAY MORE TAXES TO THE MIDDLE EAST, NEED TO BUY MORE OIL FROM FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, NEED TO BRING SHARIA LAW TO THE U.S. AND ON AND ON!!!!!!—Disgusting this man is!!!! He is a POSH—–T LIAR!!!!

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pma_guy
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 7:55am
the shooter was Big Bird

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Yaya2
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 7:53am
You gotta love these savages! They don’t care who or what they shoot…What Obama has caused to happen to innocent people, he will have to answer for someday. This administration has put way too many people in harm’s way and we will all have to pay. Shame on Obama!

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Gonzo
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 7:51am
No comment from the Obama administration. Meanwhile, here’s the latest from the POTUS on Big Bird….

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- justangry
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 8:42am
  Well you think he’s going to tell people the truth? That whacking people with drones actually ****** off the indigenous population. Nah, it has to be Al-Queda, terrorists and/or “evil doers” lol
  
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- Fubared
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 9:19am
  Big bird makes me just angry. Math makes me just angrier, than just angry. Rrrrrr. But Muslims offing each other is cool as long as I can change any topic to Paul’s Johnson. Beautiful fall day…. Rrrrr so angry over a swell fall day when doc Paul is not on the throne rrrrrr.
  
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- justangry
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 11:58am
  I don’t care who is on the “throne” as long as they think our rights don’t come from Washington, but I guess when you can’t argue the point ridicule just like the lefties. Douche bag! Whose funding Obama’s drone war in Yemen, stupid?
  
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- Fubared
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 6:36pm
  Apple and anheiser bush? I am writing everything off and not paying any taxes this year in protest of your protestations.
  
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mike_trivisonno
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 7:47am
Oh well. He was assisting the infidels and according to Islamic culture and Sharia law, he was an apostate. Apostates are killed in Islam. Part of their culture of death.

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dublinthewagons
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 7:45am
Uh oh the administration will blame this on a video of big bird.

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- mgh999
  Posted on October 11, 2012 at 9:10am
  It has to be BIG BIRD, I mean with Sesame Street worth $360 million – he’s obviously a 1%, and with all that access to TV and video you know he was watching that innocence of Muslims video. Spontaneous outrage.
  
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jackact
Posted on October 11, 2012 at 7:44am
…Don’t believe a video was involved Mr. Pretender-in-Chief?

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