Unbeknownst to most of the world, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) used a secret drone base in Saudi Arabia to launch the September, 2011 attack that ended in the death of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American member of al Qaeda. The existence of the base was first noted in reports by the New York Times and Washington Post yesterday. The news comes out just as John Brennan, who has been in charge of the Obama administration’s counter-terror policy, is about to face a confirmation hearing on his nomination as leader of the CIA.
According to the reports, Brennan was the architect of the deal that led to the placement of the base in Saudi Arabia. The base was established two years ago in order to launch strikes against al Qaeda affiliates in Yemen. The CIA did not comment for the story, but a former official did confirm the existence of the base in an interview with ABC News.
The issue of having an American base in the area is a hotly debated one, as the citizens of most middle east countries react with anti-U.S. sentiment if a base or intelligence assets are placed nearby. "There is a long history of vehement opposition in Saudi Arabia to the presence of foreign bases," an official said.
The news of the base also comes on the heals of the release of a document indicating that the U.S. government can kill Americans in foreign countries if the intended target is a "senior operational leader of al Qaeda or an associated force of al Qaeda" and "An informed, high-level official of the U.S. government has determined that the targeted individual poses an imminent threat of violent attack against the United States."
According to the reports, Brennan was the architect of the deal that led to the placement of the base in Saudi Arabia. The base was established two years ago in order to launch strikes against al Qaeda affiliates in Yemen. The CIA did not comment for the story, but a former official did confirm the existence of the base in an interview with ABC News.
The issue of having an American base in the area is a hotly debated one, as the citizens of most middle east countries react with anti-U.S. sentiment if a base or intelligence assets are placed nearby. "There is a long history of vehement opposition in Saudi Arabia to the presence of foreign bases," an official said.
The news of the base also comes on the heals of the release of a document indicating that the U.S. government can kill Americans in foreign countries if the intended target is a "senior operational leader of al Qaeda or an associated force of al Qaeda" and "An informed, high-level official of the U.S. government has determined that the targeted individual poses an imminent threat of violent attack against the United States."
