‘Yemen will be Obama’s Afghanistan’: Al-Qaeda cleric

LONDON - American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who has links to Al-Qaeda, has warned U.S. President Barack Obama that he will be remembered as the American leader who got his forces stuck in Yemen just as in Afghanistan.

The warning was made in a 13-minute audio message, which comes days after the US Treasury Department put al-Awlaki on its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

“If George W. Bush is remembered as being the president who got America stuck in Afghanistan and Iraq, it’s looking like Obama wants to be remembered as the president who got America stuck in Yemen,” The Telegraph quoted al-Awlaki, as saying in his message.

He also mocked US efforts to combat Al-Qaeda in Yemen, saying its air strikes were only sending recruits streaming to the terror group and had “accomplished for them (Al-Qaeda) the work of years”.

He further dismissed the American effort to back the Yemeni government with aid and training, and said the Obama administration is being swindled.

In another message released separately, Al-Qaeda’s deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri claimed Muslims in Afghanistan and Iraq have defeated the US troops.

“Oh Obama, whether you admit it or not, Muslims have defeated you in Afghanistan and in Iraq and you will be defeated in Palestine, Somalia and the Arab Maghreb,” he said, referring to Islamic countries in northern Africa.

“You will not only be defeated militarily and economically, but most important you will be defeated morally,” the message added. (ANI)