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September 30, 2011 | | TERRORISM The death of Anwar al-Awlaki is a setback—but the group's Yemen branch still has its leaders intact, and the country's political mess will still give them shelter, says ex-CIA officer Bruce Riedel. Speech President Obama called the killing of Anwar al Awlaki "another significant milestone in the broader effort to defeat al Qaeda." The killing of the American-born cleric by CIA drones this morning deals a "major blow" to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, said Obama at the retirement ceremony for Navy Adm. Mike Mullen. Republicans praised the president and the killing of Awlaki, with Texas Gov. Rick Perry calling it "an important victory." The American Civil Liberties Union, meanwhile, condemned the killing as an illegal assassination of a U.S. citizen.
Yemen The drone strike in Yemen this morning dealt a blow to al Qaeda's propaganda efforts. Not only did it kill Anwar al-Awlaki, whose online lectures are believed to have prompted attacks, it also killed Samir Khan, who founded al Qaeda's English-language magazine, Inspire. Like Awlaki, Khan was a U.S. citizen. Born in Saudi Arabia, he grew up in New York from the age of 7. In 2004 he moved to South Carolina, where he started posting pro–al Qaeda messages online. In 2009 he left the U.S. for Yemen, where he founded Inspire. The magazine published advice on tactics, bomb building, and other things. Khan is believed to have written, edited, and designed most of it. In the latest issue, Inspire criticized Iran for spreading 9/11 conspiracy theories instead of giving credit to al Qaeda.
2012 A special committee in Florida announced Friday that the state will hold its presidential primary on Jan. 31, despite national GOP leaders' efforts to delay the nominating process. The decision has already prompted officials in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina—the only states allowed to set a date before March 6—to say they'll change their primary dates to stay ahead of Florida. One reason Florida chose the early date was to stay ahead of Missouri's Feb. 7 primary, but Missouri Republicans announced on Thursday that they would be holding March caucuses rather than a primary. Herman Cain won the Presidency 5 Florida straw poll last Saturday, with Perry and Romney tailing close behind.
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