There is no reason why this couldn’t be true. The CIA and other Washington agencies, drunk on their own arrogance and knowing far less than they think they know, have been playing realpolitik with jihadist individuals and groups for years. The full story of the last two or three decades is not known and may never be told.
“Houthi official: CIA asked Yemen’s Saleh to release Al-Qaeda member,” Middle East Monitor, March 18, 2021:
An alleged leaked telephone conversation between the CIA’s former director George Tenet and former late Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh released on Tuesday by the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah channel purportedly contains audio of Tenet requesting Saleh release an Al-Qaeda member.
In the conversation, Tenet asks for the release of “someone important to me personally, within two days” who was arrested in connection to Al-Qaeda’s role in the attack against a US naval destroyer, the USS Cole in 2000. However, when asked by Saleh for a name, Tenet is said to have responded that it was too risky to reveal names over the phone, adding that they both knew who this individual was.
According to Abdul Qader Al-Shami, the deputy head of Yemen’s Houthi-aligned Security and Intelligence Services, the Al-Qaeda member in question was the US-born cleric-turned Al-Qaeda propagandist and leader Anwar Al-Awlaki who was killed in a controversial US drone strike in 2011 approved by former President Barack Obama. Al-Awlaki’s 16-year old son, also a US citizen, was killed in a separate CIA drone strike two weeks later along with his cousin and several other civilians. In 2017, Al-Awlaki’s eight-year-old daughter was killed in a commando raid ordered by then-US President Donald Trump.
A statement issued by the pro-Houthi Yemeni armed forces said the conversation proved the existence “of direct relations between the CIA and Al-Qaeda terrorists and cooperation on the part of Saleh government’s officials in formation of the relationship”….
mortimer says
If the CIA actually asked for Awlaki’s freedom, then they are either compromised traitors, they are know-nothings in the matter of Islamic teachings or they are both.
Anwar Awlaki was one of the most dangerous men in the world (unlike most of the million mullahs). Awlaki knew the Islamic jihad doctrines PERFECTLY, knew the sources, knew the commentaries, could cite them from memory in Arabic and what is worse … Awlaki actually believed EVERY BIT OF IT! That is why he was so dangerous.
Islam is not benign. Islam is a death pact … if you are a 100% Muslim.
Mike says
It’s because in reality the Sunnis (including ISIS and Al Qaeda) are our allies against Iran who we fight on behalf of Israel.
cjk says
Never mind all that Great Satan stuff, hundreds of Americans they’ve killed, support for terrorism worldwide.for starters. Nawwwww, it’s the JOOOOOOOOOOOs
gravenimage says
The idea that Israel is pro-Jihad just so long as the Jihadists are not Shia is ludicrous.
Boycott Turkey says
Is this the same Al Qaeda that did 911 why is the CIA supporting Terrorism? They need to be investigated they suppose to protect Americans from terrorist not be helping them just because they don’t like houthis this doesn’t make this right a enemy of a enemy is still your enemy not your friend
tgusa says
This is what is called a make work program for the CIA. Not very clever and pretty destructive.
gravenimage says
Houthi official says former CIA director asked Yemeni president to release al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki
…………
If this is true it is utter insanity. Not that I particularly trust Houthi Jihadists of course–but that this charge is even somewhat plausible is deeply disturbing.
seabird says
As many already know, al-Awlaki had a Mosque in San Diego and met with at least 2 (possibly 4) of the 9-11 hijackers. He arranged logistical needs for 2 of the highjackers and met privately with them on several occasions.
The host of the home where the terrorists stayed was said to be an FBI informer (and also a Saudi intelligence agent).
A few dedicated FBI agents continued investigations after 9-11. One agent was informed that evidence from the San Diego
site was going to be discarded and managed to retrieve it. There was nothing new of any value in it except one notebook which had an aeronautical trajectory diagram, the same trajectory used in the Pentagon attack by these “guests”. The Government did not believe it (or any of the other evidence) was sufficient to prosecute.
In 2020, Trump met with survivor families of 9-11 (who are suing S Arabia) to receive information withheld from the 9-11 report.
It was expected that the name of a Saudi diplomat involved in 9-11 would be revealed (so the lawsuit could proceed) but instead his name was redacted (by order of William Barr)-obstructing their lawsuit.
Maybe Tenet was trying to get Alwaki released so he wouldn’t talk knowing that he would be assassinated, which he was by Obama in 2011.?
Add to this Bush’s approval to fly about 140 Saudi nationals (including about 2 dozen OBL relatives) out of the country on 8 planes following 9-11 and you have what appears to be obstruction of justice to conceal Saudi involvement in 9-11-or just outright treason.
When was the last time you’ve heard of not only a terrorist being killed but his son, cousin(s) and a commando raid ordered that killed his 8 year old daughter?
For many reasons (including his suspected involvement in the USS Cole attack) they wanted this guy silenced.
The credibility of our security agencies is so low we now have to get our information from the Houthis?