Obama: ‘I Take Full Responsibility’ For US Operation That Killed Innocent Hostages Held By Al Qaeda
"I take full responsibility for a U.S. government counterterrorism operation that killed two innocent hostages held by al Qaeda," President Obama said today.
Dr. Warren Weinstein, an American held by the terror group since 2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian national who had been an al Qaeda hostage since 2012, were killed in a U.S. operation in January.
"I want to express our grief and condolences for the families of two hostages," President Obama said from the White House briefing room.
"Analysis of all available information has led the Intelligence Community to judge with high confidence that the operation accidentally killed both hostages,” according to the statement. “The operation targeted an al-Qaeda-associated compound, where we had no reason to believe either hostage was present, located in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. No words can fully express our regret over this terrible tragedy.”
US Working 'Behind the Scenes' for Al Qaeda Hostage Release
In a video released by al Qaeda in 2012, Weinstein, a former peace corps official abducted from his home in Lahore, Pakistan, pleaded with President Obama to comply with the terrorists’ demands.
“My life is in your hands, Mr. President,” he said. “If you accept the demands, I live. If you don’t accept the demands, then I die.”
“I've done a lot of service for my country, and I would hope that my country will now look after me and take care of me and meet the demands of the mujahedeen,” he added.
Weinstein's "determination to protect innocent life makes the loss of these two men especially painful for all of us," Obama said today.
Though the administration has asserted the operation was “lawful and conducted consistent with our counter-terrorism policies,” officials have promised a “thorough independent review.”
According to the statement, “Two other Americans were recently killed in U.S. Government counter-terrorism operations in the same region.” Ahmed Farouq and Adam Gadahn, were both members of al Qaeda, but neither was “specifically targeted,” the White House says.
President Obama -– who “takes full responsibility for these operations,” the statement says -– is expected to deliver a statement this morning.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obama-make-statment/story?id=30525474
"I take full responsibility for a U.S. government counterterrorism operation that killed two innocent hostages held by al Qaeda," President Obama said today.
Dr. Warren Weinstein, an American held by the terror group since 2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian national who had been an al Qaeda hostage since 2012, were killed in a U.S. operation in January.
"I want to express our grief and condolences for the families of two hostages," President Obama said from the White House briefing room.
"Analysis of all available information has led the Intelligence Community to judge with high confidence that the operation accidentally killed both hostages,” according to the statement. “The operation targeted an al-Qaeda-associated compound, where we had no reason to believe either hostage was present, located in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. No words can fully express our regret over this terrible tragedy.”
US Working 'Behind the Scenes' for Al Qaeda Hostage Release
In a video released by al Qaeda in 2012, Weinstein, a former peace corps official abducted from his home in Lahore, Pakistan, pleaded with President Obama to comply with the terrorists’ demands.
“My life is in your hands, Mr. President,” he said. “If you accept the demands, I live. If you don’t accept the demands, then I die.”
“I've done a lot of service for my country, and I would hope that my country will now look after me and take care of me and meet the demands of the mujahedeen,” he added.
Weinstein's "determination to protect innocent life makes the loss of these two men especially painful for all of us," Obama said today.
Though the administration has asserted the operation was “lawful and conducted consistent with our counter-terrorism policies,” officials have promised a “thorough independent review.”
According to the statement, “Two other Americans were recently killed in U.S. Government counter-terrorism operations in the same region.” Ahmed Farouq and Adam Gadahn, were both members of al Qaeda, but neither was “specifically targeted,” the White House says.
President Obama -– who “takes full responsibility for these operations,” the statement says -– is expected to deliver a statement this morning.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obama-make-statment/story?id=30525474
