Dirty Wars

by Jeremy Scahill

  311 another cruise missile attack: Robert Worth, “Is Yemen the Next Afghanistan?” New York Times Magazine, July 6, 2010.

  311 on-the-ground investigation: Author copy, Yemen Parliamentary Investigation. Details of the delegation’s findings are from this report.

  312 were puzzled: Author interviews, Yemeni journalists and security analysts, January 2012.

  312 “the involvement of the United States”: Eric Schmitt and Robert F. Worth, “US Widens Terror War to Yemen, a Qaeda Bastion,” New York Times, December 27, 2009.

  312 sent a cable from Sana’a: Ambassador Stephen Seche, “ROYG Looks Ahead Following CT Operations, but Perhaps Not Far Enough.”

  312 Pentagon would not respond: Amnesty International, “Yemen: Cracking Down Under Pressure.”

  312 “military strike of this kind”: Ibid.

  312 “cited strained resources”: Shane, Mazzetti, and Worth, “Secret Assault on Terrorism Widens on Two Continents.”

  312 $100,000 to pay off the victims: Ambassador Stephen Seche, “ROYG Looks Ahead Following CT Operations, but Perhaps Not Far Enough.”

  312 “conducted very methodically”: Shane, Mazzetti, and Worth, “Secret Assault on Terrorism Widens on Two Continents.”

  313 “If I were Catholic”: Klaidman, Kill or Capture, p. 210.

  313 “non-stop until we eradicate this disease”: Ambassador Stephen Seche, “ROYG Looks Ahead Following CT Operations, but Perhaps Not Far Enough.”

  313 “stay quiet”: US diplomatic cable 09SANAA2274, from Chargé d’Affaires Angie Bryan, US Embassy Sana’a, “ROYG Acknowledges US Intel Assistance in AQAP Strikes, Makes Case Before Parliament,” December 27, 2009, released by WikiLeaks, http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/12/09SANAA2274.html.

  313 “intelligence aid from Saudi Arabia”: Ahmed al-Haj (AP), “Yemen Claims Thirty Killed in Raid on Qaida Hide-Outs,” Guardian.co.uk, December 24, 2009.

  313 “It was cruise missile strikes”: Dozier, “U.S. Leading Assaults on al Qaeda in Yemen.”

  313 taken into custody and interrogated: David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt, “Threats Led to Embassy Closings in Yemen, Officials Say,” New York Times, January 3, 2010.

  33: “The Americans Really Wanted to Kill Anwar”

  314 “He called me at three o’clock”: Author interview, Nasser al Awlaki, January 2012. All information and quotations attributed to Nasser al Awlaki come from the author’s interview, unless otherwise noted.

  314 US forces carried out an air strike: Scott Shane, Mark Mazzetti, and Robert F. Worth, “Secret Assault on Terrorism Widens on Two Continents,” New York Times, August 14, 2010.

  314 According to official accounts: Sudarsan Raghavan and Michael D. Shear, “US-aided Attack in Yemen Thought to Have Killed Aulaqi, Two al-Qaida Leaders,” Washington Post, December 25, 2009.

  314 “Yemeni and foreign oil targets”: Reuters, “Army Kills Dozens of Suspected Al-Qaeda Members,” France24.com, December 24, 2009.

  314 “a huge victory”: Christopher Boucek, “Airstrike in Yemen Targets Terror Operatives,” interview with Jeffrey Brown, News-Hour, PBS, December 24, 2009.

  314 “doesn’t really change anything”: Dana Priest, “U.S. Military Teams, Intelligence Deeply Involved in Aiding Yemen on Strikes,” Washington Post, January 27, 2010.

  315 “escaped the brunt of criticism”: US diplomatic cable 09SANAA2250, from Ambassador Stephen Seche, US Embassy Sana’a, “Yemen Abuzz with Talk of CT Operations; Attention Slowly Turns to U.S. Role,” December 21, 2009, released by WikiLeaks, http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/12/09SANAA2250.html.

  315 “far from his house”: CBS/AP, “Ft. Hood Suspect’s Cleric Killed in Yemen?” CBSNews.com, December 24, 2009.

  315 Shaye’s interview was tough: “Transcript of interview with al-Awlaki,” from Al Jazeera interview with Anwar al Awlaki, December 23, 2009, released via NBC News, December 23, 2009, www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34579438/ns/us_news-tragedy_at_fort_hood/t/transcript-interview-al-awlaki/.

  317 singing Christmas carols: Peter Baker, “Obama’s War over Terror,” New York Times Magazine, January 4, 2010.

  317 Northwest Airlines Flight 253: “Investigators Cross Globe Looking for Details of Plane Bombing Suspect,” FoxNews.com, December 27, 2009.

  317 Abdulmutallab’s father: Seth G. Jones, Hunting in the Shadows: The Pursuit of al Qaeda Since 9/11 (New York: W. W. Norton, 2012), p. 345.

  317 “every teacher’s dream”: “Profile: Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, BBC.co.uk, October 12, 2011.

  317 studying Arabic: Peter Kenyon, “Going Radical: Yemen a Turning Point for Christmas Bomb Suspect,” Morning Edition, NPR, February 19, 2010.

  317 enrolled in college: Mark Hosenball, “The Radicalization of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab,” Newsweek, January 1, 2010.

  317 traveled to the United States: Dan Eggen, Karen DeYoung, and Spencer S. Hsu, “Plane Suspect Was Listed in Terror Database After Father Alerted US Officials,” Washington Post, December 27, 2008.

  317 Islamic institute in Texas: Tom Abrahams, “Terror Suspect Attended Classes in Houston,” KTRK-TV Houston, http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7193124.

  317 “the real Islam”: Andrew Gregory, “Syringe Bomber Umar Abdulmutallab Chilling Text Messages to Dad,” Mirror (UK), January 1, 2010, www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/syringe-bomber-umar-abdulmutallab-chilling-191630.

  317 US Embassy in Nigeria: Jill Dougherty, “Official: Dad Warned U.S. of Son but ‘No Suggestion’ of Terrorist Act,” CNN.com, December 28, 2009.

  317 “extreme religious views”: “Father of Terror Suspect Reportedly Warned U.S. About Son,” FoxNews.com, December 2, 2009.

  318 “Explosive device”: Ron French, “Inside Story of Terror on Flight 253,” Detroit News, March 18, 2010.

  318 cited as evidence: Peter Bergen, “Analysis: Similar Explosive on Plane Used in Saudi Attack,” CNN.com, December 27, 2009.

  318 sent on a suicide mission: Victor Morton, “Awlaki Personally Blessed Detroit Attack,” Washington Times, December 29, 2009.

  318 “voice-to-voice communication”: Sudarsan Raghavan, “Investigators Scrutinize Yemeni American Cleric’s Ties to Plane Suspect,” Washington Post, January 1, 2010.

  318 “He was watering trees”: Author interview, Mullah Zabara, January 2012. All quotations and information attributed to Mullah Zabara come from the author’s interview.

  318 one of his “students”: Transcript, “Interview: Anwar al-Awlaki,” AlJazeera.com, February 7, 2010.

  318 sources in Shabwah: Author interviews, tribal members, January 2012.

  318 “Yes, there was some contact”: Transcript, “Interview: Anwar al-Awlaki,” AlJazeera.com.

  319 “technical error”: Peter Baker and Scott Shane, “Obama Seeks to Reassure US After Bombing Attempt,” New York Times, December 28, 2009.

  319 AQAP released a video: Matthew Cole, Brian Ross, and Nasser Atta, “Underwear Bomber: New Video of Training, Martyrdom Statements,” ABCNews.go.com, April 26, 2010.

  320 “season for second-guessing”: Mark Hosenball, “The Radicalization of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab,” Newsweek, January 1, 2010.

  320 “The Obama administration came in”: Transcript, Fox News Sunday, Fox News, December 27, 2009.

  320 “trying to pretend we are not at war”: Mike Allen, “Dick Cheney: Barack Obama ‘Trying to Pretend,’” Politico, December 30, 2009.

  320 “in the hands of the law enforcement people”: Sam Stein, “Bush Waited Six Days to Discuss Shoe Bomber with No GOP Complaints,” Huffington Post, March 18, 2010.

  320 “it makes us less safe”: Allen, “Dick Cheney: Barack Obama ‘Trying to Pretend.’”

  320 “A lot of the knuckleheads”: Baker, “Obama’s War over Terror.”

  321 “Our nation is at war”: Transcript, “Inaugural Address,” January 20, 2009, The American Presidency Project, www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/us/politics/20text-obama. html?pagewanted=all.

  321 “We have a growing presence there”: Transcri
pt, Fox News Sunday.

  321 “Are we sending troops into Yemen?”: Transcript, Admiral Mike Mullen at the Naval War College, January 8, 2010, www.jcs.mil/speech.aspx?id=1312.

  321 “We’ve known throughout this year”: Olivia Hampton, “Obama: No U.S. Troops to Somalia, Yemen,” Agence France-Presse, January 11, 2010.

  321 “steadily growing military elements”: “Report of Inspection; Embassy Sanaa, Yemen,” US Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors Office of the Inspector General, June 2010, http://oig.state.gov/documents/organization/145254.pdf.

  321 authority to approve all personnel: “NSDD-38: Staffing at Diplomatic Missions and Their Overseas Constituent Posts,” text of NSDD-38, June 2, 1982, released by the Office of Management Policy, Rightsizing, and Innovation, April 26, 2005, www.state.gov/m/pri/nsdd/.

  322 more than two dozen: Priest, “U.S. Military Teams, Intelligence Deeply Involved in Aiding Yemen on Strikes.”

  322 operating its own drones: David S. Cloud (Tribune), “White House Considers Yemen Drone Strikes, Officials Say,” Los Angeles Times, November 7, 2010.

  322 “After the December thing”: Author interview, Dr. Emile Nakhleh, January 2010. All quotations and information attributed to Dr. Nakhleh come from the author’s interview.

  322 another round of meetings: US diplomatic cable 10SANAA4, from Ambassador Stephen Seche, US Embassy Sana’a, “General Petraeus’ Meeting with Saleh on Security Assistance, AQAP strikes,” January 4, 2010, released by WikiLeaks, http://wikileaks.org/cable/2010/01/10SANAA4.html. Details of the meetings between Saleh and Petraeus come from this cable.

  323 “100 percent Yemeni forces”: Haley Sweetland Edwards, “US Lends Firepower to Yemen Fight,” Global Post, January 24, 2010.

  323 “it is believed by most Yemenis”: Ibid.

  323 take matters into their own hands: Author interviews, Special Operations sources, 2010 and 2011.

  323 “Given the unsettled situation”: Peter Finn, “Return of Yemeni Detainees at Guantanamo Bay Is Suspended,” Washington Post, January 5, 2010.

  323 “unconscionable”: Ibid.

  323 “The instability in Yemen”: Transcript, “Remarks with Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani After Their Meeting,” Washington, DC, January 4, 2010.

  324 more air strikes: Robert F. Worth, “Senior Qaeda Figures Killed in Attack, Yemen Says,” New York Times, January 15, 2010.

  324 formally designated: Transcript, press statement from Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, “Designations of Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Senior Leaders,” January 19, 2010.

  324 took similar action: “U.N. Security Council Sanctions al Qaeda’s Yemen Wing,” Reuters.com, January 19, 2010.

  324 “support the U.S. effort”: Transcript, Philip J. Crowley, “Designations of Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Senior Leaders.”

  324 killed senior AQAP figures: Hammoud Mounasser, “Yemen Air Strikes Pound Qaeda Leader’s Home: Military,” Agence France-Presse, January 20, 2010.

  324 local leader Ayad al Shabwani: The first strike was not in Marib but reportedly killed al Shabwani; the second reportedly hit near his home.

  324 “seventeen raids inside Marib”: “Airstrikes Target al-Qaida in Yemen,” Voice of America, January 19, 2010.

  34: “Mr. Barack Obama...I Hope That You Reconsider Your Order to Kill...My Son”

  325 “Both the CIA and the JSOC”: Dana Priest, “U.S. Military Teams, Intelligence Deeply Involved in Aiding Yemen on Strikes,” Washington Post, January 27, 2010.

  325 “a very dubious legality”: Author interview, Colonel W. Patrick Lang, September 2010.

  325 “Obviously, if U.S. forces are fighting”: Glenn Greenwald, “Presidential Assassinations of U.S. Citizens,” Salon.com, January 27, 2010.

  326 “terrorist No. 1”: Adam Entous, “U.S. Targets American-Born Cleric in Yemen: Officials,” Reuters, April 6, 2010.

  326 “a decision to use lethal force”: To Prohibit the Extrajudicial Killing of United States Citizens, and for Other Purposes, H.R. 6010, 111th Cong. (July 30, 2010). Representative Kucinich cites the statement in his bill. It was not included in the public record of Blair’s testimony before the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, on February 3, 2010.

  326 “There is some unease about this approach”: Author interview, Dr. Emile Nakhleh, January 2010.

  326 “We are very pleased”: Priest, “U.S. Military Teams, Intelligence Deeply Involved.”

  326 write directly to Obama: Author copy of letter from Nasser al Awlaki to President Barack Obama.

  35: One Night in Gardez

  328 nomination had been held up: Yochi J. Dreazen, “Lawmakers Hold Up a Top General’s Nomination,” Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2008.

  328 McChrystal was instrumental: Marc Ambinder, “Obama Gives Commanders Wide Berth for Secret Warfare,” Atlantic, May 25, 2010, www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/obama-gives-commanders-wide-berth-for-secret-warfare/57202/.

  328 heated debate: “Sharp Division Inside White House on Afghanistan, Analyst Says,” CNN.com, October 5, 2009.

  328 advocated for a shift: Peter Baker, “How Obama Came to Plan for ‘Surge’ in Afghanistan,” New York Times, December 5, 2009.

  328 “I don’t foresee the return”: Transcript, interview with General James Jones on State of the Union with John King, CNN, October 4, 2009.

  329 “a fairly good relationship”: Author interview, confidential source, December 2010.

  329 surge in Afghanistan: Karen DeYoung and Scott Wilson, “Obama to Send 34,000 Troops to Afghanistan,” Washington Post, December 1, 2009.

  329 “Disrupt, dismantle and defeat”: Transcript of President Barack Obama remarks, “Address to the Nation on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” West Point Military Academy, West Point, New York, December 1, 2009.

  329 “I was somewhat stunned”: Author interview, Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, May 2011.

  329 “The Kabul Command”: Author interview, Scott Horton, September 2010.

  330 McChrystal made it clear: Spencer Ackerman, “Special Operations Chiefs Quietly Sway Afghanistan Policy,” Washington Independent, November 9, 2009.

  330 “heavy COIN presence”: Ibid.

  330 “They’re focusing on the main population”: Ibid.

  330 embracing its core tenets: General Stanley McChrystal, Commander ISAF (COMISAF) Initial Assessment (Declassified), released September 21, 2009, accessed December 1, 2012, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/21/AR2009092100110.html.

  330 “essential to [the] credibility”: Hearing to Consider the Nominations of Admiral James G. Stavridis, USN for Reappointment to the Grade of Admiral and to be Commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; Lieutenant General Douglas M. Fraser, USAF to be General and Commander, U.S. Southern Command; And Lieutenant General Stanley A. McChrystal, USA, to be General and Commander, International Security Assistance Force and Commander, U.S. Forces, Afghanistan, Day 5, Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, 111th Cong. (June 2, 2009) (testimony of General Stanley McChrystal).

  330 significantly reduced air strikes: Dexter Filkins, “U.S. Tightens Airstrike Policy in Afghanistan,” New York Times, June 21, 2009.

  330 ninety-seven Afghan civilians: Dan De Luce, “We Failed to Follow Bombing Rules: Pentagon,” Agence France-Presse, June 8, 2009.

  330 “any entry into an Afghan house”: Memorandum, from International Security Assistance Force Headquarters, Kabul, Afghanistan, July 6, 2009, www.nato.int/isaf/docu/official_texts/Tactical_Directive_090706.pdf. The memo contains unclassified excerpts of a tactical directive sent out by McChrystal on July 2, 2009.

  330 1,000 Special Operations Forces: Rowan Scarborough, “Pentagon Quietly Sending 1,000 Special Operators to Afghanistan in Strategy Revamp,” FoxNews.com, June 5, 2009.

  331 SOF teams set to mowing down: Associated Press,
“Analysis: Gen. Petraeus Promotes Special-Ops Success to Show Part of Afghan War US Is Winning,” FoxNews.com, September 3, 2010.

  331 “By any objective reckoning”: Author interview with Gareth Porter, September 2010.

  331 more than 2,000 people: Nick Davies, “Afghanistan War Logs: Task Force 373—Special Forces Hunting Top Taliban,” Guardian, July 25, 2010.

  331 increased fourfold: Julian E. Barnes, “U.S. Steps Up Special Operations Mission in Afghanistan,” Los Angeles Times, December 16, 2009.

  331 “This is Gen. McChrystal’s play”: Ibid.

  331 own detainee operations: Kimberly Dozier (AP), “Afghanistan Secret Prisons Confirmed by U.S.,” Huffington Post, April 8, 2011.

  331 Field Detention Sites: Anand Gopal, “America’s Secret Afghan Prisons,” Nation, January 28, 2010.

  331 ninety-six hours: Ibid.

  331 nine weeks: Dozier, “Afghanistan Secret Prisons Confirmed by U.S.”

  331 Black Jail: Alissa J. Rubin, “Afghans Detail Detention in ‘Black Jail’ at U.S. Base,” New York Times, November 28, 2009.

  331 forced nudity, environmental manipulation, solitary confinement: Dozier, “Afghanistan Secret Prisons Confirmed by U.S.”

  331 being beaten: Rubin, “Afghans Detail Detention in ‘Black Jail’ at U.S. Base.”

  331 record number: Joshua Partlow, “July Becomes Deadliest Month for U.S. Troops in Nearly Nine-Year Afghan War,” Washington Post, July 31, 2010.

  332 enter their areas of responsibility: Author interviews, Afghan police commanders, October 2010.

  332 “U.S. and NATO presence”: Matthew Hoh, letter of resignation to Ambassador Nancy J. Powell, Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, U.S. Department of State, September 10, 2009, www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/hp/ssi/wpc/ResignationLetter.pdf.

  332 “sent ripples”: Karen DeYoung, “U.S. Official Resigns over Afghan War,” Washington Post, October 27, 2009.

  332 “If he really wanted to affect policy”: Ibid.

  332 “need to be killed”: Author interview, Matthew Hoh, September 2010. All quotations attributed to Matthew Hoh are from the author’s interview, unless otherwise noted.