BREAKING: Anwar al-Awlaki Killed By Crushing Disappointment in NBC's Fall Lineup, Drone-Launched Hellfire Missiles, But Mostly Drone-Launched Hellfire Missiles

Seems pretty confirmed now: even U.S. officials are saying they have "high confidence" that radical Islamic cleric al-Awlaki has been killed:

U.S. officials consider him a most-wanted terror suspect, and added his name last year to the kill or capture list - making him a rare American addition to what is effectively a U.S. government hit-list.

A statement from Yemen's foreign press office said the al Qaeda suspect "was targeted and killed 8 KM (about 5 miles) from the town of Khashef in the Province of Jawf, 140KM (about 80 miles) east of the Capital Sana'a."

There have been previous reports claiming al-Awlaki's death which turned out to be erroneous.

Al-Arabiya television network cited local tribal sources as saying suspected U.S. drone aircraft - which are known to operate in Yemen - fired two missiles Friday at a convoy of vehicles believed to be carrying al-Awlaki and his guards.

A very good start to the weekend, I think.

Al-Awlaki met personally with two of the 9/11 hijackers and his sermons were attended by three of them. Nidal Hasan was also one of his pupils and al-Awlaki corresponded with Hasan in the months before the Ft. Hood attack. The Christmas Day Bomber, Umar Abdulmutallab, says al-Awlaki was one of his trainers. The cargo plane bomb plot in October 2010, in which PETN explosives were sent from Yemen to Chicago was allegedly masterminded by al-Awlaki. His online sermons inspired other attacks in both the UK and the U.S.

Al-Awlaki's father, along with the ACLU, filed suit to get al-Awlaki off the CIA's Kill on Sight list. According to his father, al-Awlaki is just "misunderstood." I'd say the case is moot.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 07:36 AM

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