- It all started with a blog post by @allthingsct :
Some quick thoughts on reports Abu Yahya al-Libi has been killed
First, I'll believe it when al Qaeda acknowledges it. This of course won't stop the chest beating celebrating his killing. And if he has ...- Followed by Zack's seemingly innocent request for comments from Twitter CT giants Will, Clint and Daveed:
- I would like to see responses from @DaveedGR, @will_mccants, and @selectedwisdom, among others, to this by @allthingsct http://allthingscounterterrorism.com/2012/06/06/some-quick-thoughts-on-reports-abu-yahya-al-libi-has-been-killed/ …terterrorism.com/2012/06/06/some-quick-thoughts-on-reports-abu-yahya-al-libi-has-been-killed/
http://twitter.com/zackbeauchamp/status/210089644270952448
— Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp)Tue, Jun 05 2012 19:24:09 - And this is what ensued over the next 3 days:
- @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom @allthingsct re: indiscriminate killing growing after death of elders,was norm under UBL until late
http://twitter.com/will_mccants/status/210121093397229568
— Will McCants (@will_mccants)Tue, Jun 05 2012 21:29:07 - @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom @allthingsct also, AQ authorities like UBL didn't have much luck reigning in indiscriminate kills
http://twitter.com/will_mccants/status/210121218169389056
— Will McCants (@will_mccants)Tue, Jun 05 2012 21:29:36 - @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom @allthingsct finally, Libi in hardline camp. see his debate w/ Atiyya this year re: regime members
http://twitter.com/will_mccants/status/210121438747820032
— Will McCants (@will_mccants)Tue, Jun 05 2012 21:30:29 - @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom sorry not clear on your meaning; are u saying this was the norm under OBL?
http://twitter.com/allthingsct/status/210123334971686914
— Leah Farrall (@allthingsct)Tue, Jun 05 2012 21:38:01 - @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom w/ respect strongly beg to differ on this count, esp. if we are talking AQC EO
http://twitter.com/allthingsct/status/210124088654561280
— Leah Farrall (@allthingsct)Tue, Jun 05 2012 21:41:01 - @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom al-Libi may have been in that camp in relation to some things but *not* others
http://twitter.com/allthingsct/status/210124310868787201
— Leah Farrall (@allthingsct)Tue, Jun 05 2012 21:41:54 - @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom his role in dealing with takfiris & tribal elements in Pakistan case in point.
http://twitter.com/allthingsct/status/210124451034038272
— Leah Farrall (@allthingsct)Tue, Jun 05 2012 21:42:27 http://twitter.com/will_mccants/status/210126086024077312
— Will McCants (@will_mccants)Tue, Jun 05 2012 21:48:57http://twitter.com/will_mccants/status/210126406456315905
— Will McCants (@will_mccants)Tue, Jun 05 2012 21:50:13- @will_mccants could ask you the same question my friend.
http://twitter.com/allthingsct/status/210131399632621570
— Leah Farrall (@allthingsct)Tue, Jun 05 2012 22:10:04 - @allthingsct For starters, AQI since its inception
http://twitter.com/will_mccants/status/210132465950539776
— Will McCants (@will_mccants)Tue, Jun 05 2012 22:14:18 - @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom well that may b so (which I don't agree w/ btw) & even still doesn't affect my point
http://twitter.com/allthingsct/status/210137193853878274
— Leah Farrall (@allthingsct)Tue, Jun 05 2012 22:33:05 - @will_mccants @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom that may have killed indiscriminately but it was not indiscriminate targeting.
http://twitter.com/allthingsct/status/210137680552534017
— Leah Farrall (@allthingsct)Tue, Jun 05 2012 22:35:01 - @will_mccants AQI didn't always play ball but on enough things it did.
http://twitter.com/allthingsct/status/210137971863715840
— Leah Farrall (@allthingsct)Tue, Jun 05 2012 22:36:11 - @will_mccants Long history of AQC turning down EO proposals or trying to gain control over plots not in strategic interest.
http://twitter.com/allthingsct/status/210139813054124033
— Leah Farrall (@allthingsct)Tue, Jun 05 2012 22:43:30 - @allthingsct yes, & long history of failure in controlling plots, which is my point. "moderates" at top not necessarily able to moderate org
http://twitter.com/will_mccants/status/210161955854483456
— Will McCants (@will_mccants)Wed, Jun 06 2012 00:11:29 - @allthingsct @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom target markets where they know civilians will b killed, which is why Atiyya criticized
http://twitter.com/will_mccants/status/210162116785737728
— Will McCants (@will_mccants)Wed, Jun 06 2012 00:12:07 - @allthingsct @zackbeauchamp @DaveedGR @selectedwisdom also, has AQ sworn off killing non-Muslim civilians? i haven't seen such a message
http://twitter.com/will_mccants/status/210163068875972608
— Will McCants (@will_mccants)Wed, Jun 06 2012 00:15:54 http://twitter.com/timmathews/status/210163305082396674
— Tim Mathews (@timmathews)Wed, Jun 06 2012 00:16:51
