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Home Front: Politix
President Obama, White House: Al Qaeda Is Racist
2010-07-15
In an interview earlier today with the South African Broadcasting Corporation to air in a few hours, President Obama disparaged al Qaeda and affiliated groups' willingness to kill Africans in a manner that White House aides say was an argument that the terrorist groups are racist.

Speaking about the Uganda bombings, the president said, "What you've seen in some of the statements that have been made by these terrorist organizations is that they do not regard African life as valuable in and of itself. They see it as a potential place where you can carry out ideological battles that kill innocents without regard to long-term consequences for their short-term tactical gains."

Earlier today a senior administration official said the Obama administration believes that Al Shabaab carried out the attack.

Explaining the president's comment, an administration official said Mr. Obama "references the fact that both U.S. intelligence and past al Qaeda actions make clear that al Qaeda -- and the groups like al Shabaab that they inspire -- do not value African life. The actions of al Qaeda and the groups that it has inspired show a willingness to sacrifice innocent African life to reach their targets."

This can be seen, the official said, in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, when hundreds of Africans were killed and thousands wounded.

"Additionally, U.S. intelligence has indicated that al Qaeda leadership specifically targets and recruits black Africans to become suicide bombers because they believe that poor economic and social conditions make them more susceptible to recruitment than Arabs," the official said. "Al Qaeda recruits have said that al Qaeda is racist against black members from West Africa because they are only used in lower level operations."

"In short," the official said, "al Qaeda is a racist organization that treats black Africans like cannon fodder and does not value human life."
Posted by:Fred

#7  The reason the Obama White House is calling AQ racist is they intend on comparing the Tea Party movement to AQ.
Posted by: Jefferson   2010-07-15 19:08  

#6  AQ are equal opportunity murderers. They are not particularly discriminating.
Posted by: JohnQC   2010-07-15 17:21  

#5  JFM,

I get the whole divide and conquer psy-op thing. That’s not the point. This is about a low-level mouthpiece walking back Obama’s comment on how AQ doesn’t regard “African life as valuable”. The prominent reaction to that statement was…no shit Mr. President…I don’t think AQ values “life” in general – and it’s not just Africans. But rather then saying the President was speaking to a specific event they contort it into something about race. Which is kind of foolish when you think about it. Other then Zawahiri calling Obama a house slave AQ really doesn’t talk that much about race issues. And if you haven’t noticed they’re most concerned about the Jihadi stuff. But goodness forbid, this administration can’t say they’re against Jihad. No sir…that might be offensive. So lets call em racists…oooh I bet they’re sorry now.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2010-07-15 14:50  

#4  DepotGuy

I, for one, would value that from Afghanistan to Kenaya whenever a jihadist is known like it the locals kill him.

Remember the embassy bombings where over 200 hundred locals were killed and thousands wounded? Well, locals ended blaming America and rejoicing for 9/11. that is what happens when you don't do the political work.
Posted by: JFM   2010-07-15 11:44  

#3  the official said. "Al Qaeda recruits have said that al Qaeda is racist against black members from West Africa because they are only used in lower level operations."

Give me a break. This is nothing more then identity politics. What…should AQ adopt some affirmative action plan to place more people of color in charge of planning? Maybe they need to consider reparations? Maybe they can give the African terrorists cash for housing. You know…something to compare with the posh caves the big turbans have. Oh yeah…and al Shabaab does not value “African life”. Oh sure, AQ blows the bejeebus out of people from every race, nationality, and religion on a regular basis but we’re talking bout Africans here. Yeah...that outta turn things around.
Does it surprise anyone that an Administration whose only real talents are running election campaigns would try cheap politics as a counter –terrorism strategy?
Posted by: DepotGuy   2010-07-15 11:28  

#2  JFM, 's just a happy serendipitous accident. TIC really did not think through the implications.
Posted by: twobyfour   2010-07-15 07:51  

#1  That is something W should have told from as early as 9/12. Now the next step is telling Islam is racist (countless haddiths and historical proof for it) as WOT will be won by splitting Islam into many little pieces and by making Non-Arabs see it as an instrument of Arab domination.

PS: Obama saying something right. I can't believe it.
Posted by: JFM   2010-07-15 07:31  

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