Yemeni security officer for US Embassy killed - Houston Chronicle [getdailynow.blogspot.com]
SANAA, Yemen (AP) â€" A masked gunman assassinated a Yemeni security official who worked for the U.S. Embassy in a drive-by shooting Thursday near his home in the capital, officials said, adding the assault bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida's Yemen branch.
The attack comes amid a sharp deterioration of security in Yemen and several other Muslim countries since the collapse of police states controlled by autocratic leaders during a wave of uprisings known as the Arab Spring.
An elite team of some 50 Marines that was sent to Sanaa to bolster security at the U.S. Embassy after a Sept. 13 attack by protesters was scheduled to leave later Thursday and it was not clear if the attack would affect those plans, Yemeni officials said.
The officials noted it was similar to a series of other recent assaults by Al-Qaida's Yemen branch, although they said it was too early to confirm the group's involvement. Washington considers the Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, the most dangerous offshoot of the terror network. It has also been increasingly targeting Yemeni intelligence, military and security officials in retaliation for a U.S.-backed government offensive in the south.
Yemeni security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release the information, identified the slain embassy security official as Qassem Aqlani, in his 50s.
He was on his way to work when a gunman on a motorcycle opened fire at him and fled the scene, they said. The attack was near Aqlani's home in western Sanaa, while the embassy is located in the eastern half of the city.
Aqlani had been working for the U.S. Embassy for nearly 20 years. Yemeni officials initially said he was the lead investigator into last month's assault on the compound by Yemenis protesting an anti-Islam film. But U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said he was not involved in the investigation. In the Sept. 13 assault, protesters stormed the embassy and set fire to a U.S. flag before government forces dispersed them with tear gas.
Al-Qaida's Yemen branch has called for attacks on U.S. embassies in a bid to take advantage of the anti-American sentiment that has swept the Middle East and other parts of the Muslim world in the past month over the film, which denigrated the Prophet Muhammad.
Initially, the film was linked to a Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi that left four Americans dead, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. U.S. officials said later the attack was not linked to the video.
AQAP praised the killing of U.S. diplomats in Libya, describing it as "the best example" for those attacking embassies to follow.
The group had taken advantage of a security and political vacuum created by last year's uprising that led to the ouster of longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh and seized territories and cities in the south. The government-led offensive has pushed the militants out to mountainous areas from where they have been staging suicide attacks and assassinations inside cities.
Two weeks ago, a top intelligence official, Col. Abdullah al-Ashwal, was also killed in a drive-by shooting in Sanaa.
The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, located in an upscale eastern neighborhood called Dhaher Hameer, has been heavily fortified with new protective measures amid the turmoil surrounding the uprising, and security was tightened even more after last month's assault by protesters.
The main road that leads to the embassy is sealed off by cement blocks and three checkpoints limit access, with cars scanned for explosives. Yemeni troops and armored vehicles also are stationed near the building.
Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has been reaching out to tribal leaders in southern Yemen to try to secure their loyalty and cooperation in the war against al-Qaida. On Tuesday, while meeting with tribal leaders from Shabwa â€" a onetime stronghold of al-Qaidaâ€" Hadi pressed for unity with the government, warning them against providing shelter to militants and saying the government "will not tolerate anyone who helps al-Qaida."
Hadi's call, however, was countered by a daring message from al-Qaida militants, as authorities discovered three decapitated bodies dumped in an open-air market in the eastern province of Marib.
Local media reported that CDs found next to the bodies showed the men confessing to being government informants against al-Qaida and placing tracking devices on cars that became targets for U.S. drone strikes. One of the men said he worked for a tire repair shop and used to plant chips in militants' vehicles while replacing their tires.
Suggest Yemeni security officer for US Embassy killed - Houston Chronicle Topics Question by fmko ( 無神論者ã¯ç¥žã‚'知ã£ã¦ã„ãªã„。): Why isn't the "separation of church and state" considered unconstitutional? why should only non-religious themes be celebrated around religious holidays...why should the state only represent and financially support the atheists point of view but consider religious views "separate but equal"... Best answer for Why isn't the "separation of church and state" considered unconstitutional?:
Answer by Truth Addict
The United States is a pluralistic nation. For the government to establish a national religion would go against the Constitution, against everything that the founders sought to establish. Religious people are more free to express themselves in the U.S. than they are in most other parts of the world. The Constitution and the separation protects religious people here. Rather than fighting against this protection, however, many Americans foolishly argue against that which protects their rights.
Answer by SHUFORD27
It is not considered unconstitutional because the founding fathers put it in the constitution. As Jefferson and many other founding fathers feared, it is not about about government in religion, it was about religion interfering in the government.
Answer by lawrenceba549
I have never understood that, either. Some people think that by having a religious display on government property is an endorsement of said religion. Personally, I would rather ALL major religions be allowed the use of such space for their displays; I would have no problem with a creche and a menorah side by side. I also welcome displays of Islam for similar purposes. My only limitation would be that all displays be promoting a peaceful message. Separation of church and state is not in the Constitution, so I find such arguments that claim such separation as misleading. I see it as an assault on religion, specifically Christianity, for whatever purpose they think suits them. Personally, I think that such people are more intolerant than those they accuse of intolerance. Edit: I see that Christian bashers once again show their lack of historical accuracy. It's funny how the Roman Catholic Church has apologized for the Crusades and the brutality that came because of them, but the Muslims have YET to apologize for the equal brutality which led to them conquering the lands from the Christians, which prompted the Christians to crusade to reclaim those same lands. Also, the Roman Catholic Church has apologized for its brutal persecution of pagans in Europe. Please learn your history. Your antipathy for those not like you is showing.
Answer by westsidedavid
First of all, the government does not represent or support atheists' points of view. There is a difference between not espousing a religious point of view, and espousing an anti-religious point of view. ON your specific question: the separation of church and state cannot be unconstitutional because it is specifically guaranteed by the Constitution. See the amendments to the Constitution, First Amendment. I am not sure how any court could say that something that is in the Constitution is or even could be unconstitutional. Also, consider this: if the state were to become involved in supporting religions, how far should it go in support of any one religion? Manger scenes on public property? School assemblies retelling the entire Christmas story? But what about other religions? For example, should schools not serve school lunches during Ramadan? Should there be assemblies in schools at which Tibetan monks come in to tech tantric chanting? Should witches be allowed to cast spells on new schools to purge them of evil spirit? Should pagans be allowed to have animal sacrifices at public gatherings? Or maybe are we better off separating church and state?
Answer by David I
Huh? The government cannot support any religion or prohibit a religion (See first amendment). If you think the state only represents and financially supports the atheist point of view, you are either ignorant, or blind. Have you read the Pledge of Allegiance lately! You know, with the phrase "one nation, under god". That does not sound atheist to me. That actually sounds like government supporting a religion. Oh, and religious views are separate but equal. Your attempt to base an argument about religion in a phrase associated with racial injustice fails. Races are essentially equal, with minor physical differences. Last I checked atheism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc, are kind of separate. Although they may not be equal in some eyes, the government should treat them so. By using the phrase separate but equal, it almost sounds like you want integrate religious beliefs and atheism. That makes no sense at all.
Answer by zon moy
have you even looked at how people of minority religions were treated in europe and in america before the first amendment was passed, shows christians shouldn't be calling any other religion evil and violent with their own past.
Answer by SCOTT M
The "separation of church and state" is an extraction from the onstitution. The Second Amendment says only that congress shall pass no law regarding the establishment of a relig ion. I think the governments are really stretching things by banning public displays of things central to your religion based on the Second Amendment admonition.
Answer by magpieix A.L.M.N.
Straw-man fallacy. There is no "atheist point of view" and therefore no government support for it, financial or otherwise.
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