Biden Announces ‘Successful Counterterrorism Op’; Ayman Al-Zawahiri Killed

 

Osama bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

President Joe Biden will speak at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) on what the White House called “a successful counterterrorism operation” against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

“Over the weekend, the United States conducted a counterterrorism operation against a significant Al Qaeda target in Afghanistan. The operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties,” a senior administration official said.

Early unconfirmed reports indicate the target killed was Al Qaeda leader and Bin Laden successor Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

The 71-year-old Al-Zawahiri began as an Egyptian terrorist and has lead Al-Qaeda since June 2011. He is thought to have orchestrated attacks in Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe. The U.S. State Department has offered a $25 million reward for information or intelligence leading to Ayman al-Zawahiri’s capture. There have been rumors of ill health (and even death) for the past few years.

Published in General
Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 67 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    If true, I will have to say that Biden has been a disaster, other than Ukraine and now killing Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

    • #1
  2. WI Con Member
    WI Con
    @WICon

    Well good if it happened and the US Military was responsible for it. Surprised that  they were still even being pursued. 

    Hopefully, we’ll be spared funeral arrangments more fit for a head of state vs. a terrorist a la Bin Laden.

    • #2
  3. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    WI Con (View Comment):

    Well good if it happened and the US Military was responsible for it. Surprised that they were still even being pursued.

    Hopefully, we’ll be spared funeral arrangments more fit for a head of state vs. a terrorist a la Bin Laden.

    It would be great if his body could simply be dumped into the ocean, so it can’t become a shrine for true believers.

    • #3
  4. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Did we get some innocent civilians too? Won’t feel like an Obama-Biden drone strike if innocents aren’t killed. 

    • #4
  5. DaveSchmidt Coolidge
    DaveSchmidt
    @DaveSchmidt

    WI Con (View Comment):

    Well good if it happened and the US Military was responsible for it. Surprised that they were still even being pursued.

    Hopefully, we’ll be spared funeral arrangments more fit for a head of state vs. a terrorist a la Bin Laden.

    Funerals are intellegence (and target) rich. 

    • #5
  6. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    The 71-year-old Al-Zawahiri began as an Egyptian terrorist and has lead Al-Qaeda since June 2011. He is thought to have orchestrated attacks in Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe. The U.S. State Department has offered a $25 million reward for information or intelligence leading to Ayman al-Zawahiri’s capture. There have been rumors of ill health (and even death) for the past few years.

    He doesn’t have to worry about his health issues anymore. A Hellfire missile is definitely a Covid preventative, not just a therapeutic.

    • #6
  7. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Doug Watt (View Comment):

    The 71-year-old Al-Zawahiri began as an Egyptian terrorist and has lead Al-Qaeda since June 2011. He is thought to have orchestrated attacks in Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe. The U.S. State Department has offered a $25 million reward for information or intelligence leading to Ayman al-Zawahiri’s capture. There have been rumors of ill health (and even death) for the past few years.

    He doesn’t have to worry about his health issues anymore. A Hellfire missile is definitely a Covid preventative, not just a therapeutic.

    This is only about the fifth or sixth time we’ve killed this bird. I haven’t heard how they verified this yet. Given how the US intelligence services have been performing of late, maybe someone should ask some professionals.

    • #7
  8. mildlyo Member
    mildlyo
    @mildlyo

    Look forward to reading the WaPo death notice.

    • #8
  9. Franz Drumlin Inactive
    Franz Drumlin
    @FranzDrumlin

    Speculating out loud here but did the Taliban maybe nod in the direction of the house Zawahiri was staying in? Their protests at the drone strike seem rather pro forma. 

    • #9
  10. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Adam Kinzinger celebrating Al-Zawahiri’s death.

    • #10
  11. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Adam Kinzinger celebrating Al-Zawahiri’s death.

    What are you posting that future has-been for?

    • #11
  12. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    What’s the over/under that Biden will claim to have taken Al-Zawahiri out behind the barn and killed him himself, with his bare hands?  While Cornpop kept watch.

    • #12
  13. db25db Inactive
    db25db
    @db25db

    mildlyo (View Comment):

    Look forward to reading the WaPo death

    “In the midst of a severe doctor shortage, Egypt loses respected practitioner.”

     

    • #13
  14. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Percival (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Adam Kinzinger celebrating Al-Zawahiri’s death.

    What are you posting that future has-been for?

    Hasn’t he always been more of a never-was?

    • #14
  15. db25db Inactive
    db25db
    @db25db

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    If true, I will have to say that Biden has been a disaster, other than Ukraine and now killing Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

    Biden advised against the killing of Al Queda #1 so my guess is they kept him out of the decision making process on #2

    • #15
  16. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    Well, I am not going to consider this a successful operation unless it involved at least two gender-nonbinary individuals.

    • #16
  17. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Alright, I had to look this up.  I thought that maybe it was Jon G playing at Biden announcing the death of somebody long-dead, or pretending to have killed some miscreant long behind bars.  Well, it looks like this guy just bought it, and apparently (apparently) at the hands of the US.  I threw a like on this just to help Jon’s post make it to the main feed (I’m good like that), but I have to wonder:

    What do we care about Zamahama Uzbeki-beki-bekistan-stan anymore?  We gave up on this thing for a decade straight while we continued to spend American blood (hope you don’t mind me arrogating that position to myself, Instugator), so I famously do not give a rat’s rear-end about the fate of any particular bad guy over there, nor the whole damned thing.

    Zawhatever.

    • #17
  18. Dotorimuk Coolidge
    Dotorimuk
    @Dotorimuk

    kedavis (View Comment):

    What’s the over/under that Biden will claim to have taken Al-Zawahiri out behind the barn and killed him himself, with his bare hands? While Cornpop kept watch.

    He’ll put on a bomber jacket and those aviator sunglasses.

    • #18
  19. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    BDB (View Comment):
    I threw a like on this just to help Jon’s post make it to the main feed (I’m good like that),

    It was posted to the main feed to start with.

    • #19
  20. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    kedavis (View Comment):

    BDB (View Comment):
    I threw a like on this just to help Jon’s post make it to the main feed (I’m good like that),

    It was posted to the main feed to start with.

    When Norm MacDonald explains the joke, it’s funny.

    • #20
  21. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    I belong to the sometimes-it’s-just-good-to-blow-someone-up school of foreign policy, so I’ll give Brandon a nod for this one, just like I applauded Trump when he did it.

    Even a doddering, corrupt, foolish, mean spirited, and deeply misguided clock is right twice a day. Apparently. Or once, anyway.

    • #21
  22. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    I belong to the sometimes-it’s-just-good-to-blow-someone-up school of foreign policy, so I’ll give Brandon a nod for this one, just like I applauded Trump when he did it.

    Even a doddering, corrupt, foolish, mean spirited, and deeply misguided clock is right twice a day. Apparently. Or once, anyway.

    Seems more likely he wasn’t even told until it was long done, and he may already not remember being told.

    • #22
  23. DonG (CAGW is a Hoax) Coolidge
    DonG (CAGW is a Hoax)
    @DonG

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: The U.S. State Department has offered a $25 million reward for information or intelligence leading to Ayman al-Zawahiri’s capture.

    I heard the reward money was getting sent to “R. H. Biden” of Malibu, California.  

    • #23
  24. JAW3 Coolidge
    JAW3
    @JohnWilson

    Who was the ACTIVE terrorist that President Trump ordered removed?  Biden got some retired doofus and nobody was whining about his loss like when Trump removed an ACTIVE terrorist.  

    • #24
  25. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    JAW3 (View Comment):

    Who was the ACTIVE terrorist that President Trump ordered removed? Biden got some retired doofus and nobody was whining about his loss like when Trump removed an ACTIVE terrorist.

    Soleimani. 

    Don’t worry though. Biden’s making nice with Iran. He’s probably already apologized. 

    • #25
  26. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    It seems this is the new American campaign tactic. Heads of terrorist organizations might want to look for (bomb) shelter during an election year. 

    Joe Biden, tough guy. Ugh.

    • #26
  27. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    It seems this is the new American campaign tactic. Heads of terrorist organizations might want to look for (bomb) shelter during an election year.

    Joe Biden, tough guy. Ugh.

    And of course, nobody REALLY believes it.

    • #27
  28. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    Biden may have just notched his only single successful accomplishment as president.  Prepare for nonstop election ads featuring the heroic killing  of Zawahiri.

    • #28
  29. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Percival (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Adam Kinzinger celebrating Al-Zawahiri’s death.

    What are you posting that future has-been for?

    Oh, you will be hearing from him in the future.  Join “Country1st” and find out more!

    • #29
  30. BDB Inactive
    BDB
    @BDB

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Biden may have just notched his only single successful accomplishment as president. Prepare for nonstop election ads featuring the heroic killing of Zawahiri.

    Zawa-who?  I went there twice and lost friends there, and I had to look it up to see if this camel-jockey was still alive.  My apathy is beyond description.

    I’ll simply be grateful that he’s not kissing their butts.  I guess.  I hope.

    • #30
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.