American Embassy in Yemen Bombed

Sixteen dead:

SANAA (AFP) — Islamist militants attacked the US embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa with a car bomb and rockets on Wednesday, leaving 16 people dead, in the second strike on the high-security compound in six months.

The dead were six Yemeni soldiers, four civilians including an Indian and six attackers — one wearing an explosives belt, the interior ministry said, while a US official said there were no American casualties. […]

In March, a schoolgirl and a policeman were killed and 19 people wounded in a hail of mortar fire that US diplomats said targeted the embassy in Yemen, which has been battling a wave of attacks by Al-Qaeda militants for years.

After a rocket attack against a residential compound used by US oilmen in April, the US State Department ordered the evacuation of non-essential diplomatic staff, but the order was lifted last month.

They hate us for our freedoms.

7 Comments

shergald on September 17, 2008 at 10:53 am

“They hate us for our freedoms.”

No doubt. But another factor that might be relevant is our hypocrisy in international relations. Do we really care about democratic freedoms in the Arab world, as opposed to keeping their OIL flowing?

Steven D on September 17, 2008 at 10:58 am

I was being sarcastic.
- BooMan on September 17, 2008 at 11:24 am
  
  Oh really?
  
  LOL.
  
  Will this get wall-to-wall coverage?
  - shergald on September 17, 2008 at 7:54 pm
    
    Don’t rub it in.

NancyImpeachBush on September 17, 2008 at 12:22 pm

for an “October surprise” isn’t it? I want you all to remember though that we are in Iraq because that is the central front for Al Quida. NOT

BooMan on September 17, 2008 at 2:00 pm

Below is a Statement from Senator Barack Obama on the Terrorist Attack in Yemen

“I strongly condemn today’s outrageous attack on the U.S. Embassy in Yemen. I honor the embassy guards who defended the compound, and my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. While I am thankful that no American citizens were killed, I am deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives.

“Over seven years after 9/11, this latest attack calls on us to redouble our efforts to root out and destroy al Qaeda and its affiliates across the globe. This attack demonstrates the grave terrorist threat that exists from North Africa to Southeast Asia and around the world. This threat is made more dangerous by the sanctuary that al Qaeda has in Pakistan, which has allowed the organization to regroup, retrain, and re-establish links with operatives and affiliated groups.

“We must do more to strengthen the military, police, and intelligence capability in nations like Yemen that are on the front lines in the fight against terrorism. We need a Shared Security Partnership Program to build the infrastructure to deliver effective counter-terrorism training, and to create a strong foundation for coordinated action against al Qaeda and its affiliates. This program will provide assistance with information sharing, training, operations, border security, anti-corruption programs, technology, and the targeting of terrorist financing.

“We must also build on the successful investments in securing our embassies that were made after the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. This attack reminds us that we are all grateful for the Americans – troops and civilians – serving our country in dangerous places around the world,” said Senator Barack Obama.