Yemen Raid Yields Digital Intel

Digital devices recovered in the January 29 raid in Yemen may yet hold insight into the paramilitary plans of al Qaeda, according to U.S. officials.

Though not yet thoroughly analyzed, the recovered data may contain the whereabouts of al Qaeda contacts throughout Western countries, according to CNN.

“The object was to go in and collect intelligence,” explained U.S. General Joseph Votel. “We accomplished that, so from that perspective it was successful. I certainly understand how the family would look at this in a different light.”

U.S. military officials seized a tera byte worth of digital intelligence from computers and cell phones, though the information is not conclusive about any specific terror plots.

The data is currently being analyzed by the National Media Exploitation Center, an organization that works with digital data obtained from foreign sources.

“The information that was gathered is part of an ongoing effort to build our understanding of AQAP,” said U.S. Colonel John J. Thomas.

“We’re not expecting to find any particular fact or puzzle piece. We were looking to build our understanding of an enemy who exports and inspires terrorist acts around the world.”

U.S. officials report that the data reveal traces of hundreds of “contacts” potentially affiliated with al Qaeda. Experts believe that those potential threats may be localized in Western Europe, though that information has not yet been confirmed.

Members of the Pentagon and the Trump administration continue to staunchly defend the premise of the mission.

“Given the public’s concerns about the raid’s costs and other media reports about the raid, the administration has an obligation to disclose support for this claim,” said Senator Ron Wyden.

President Donald Trump, however, has changed his rhetoric towards the raid since it happened, according to The New York Times.

What was once a military operation entirely attributable to the president is now a decision made by presiding generals, according to the President.

“This was something that was, you know, just, they wanted to do,” said Trump during and interview on “Fox & Friends.”

Trump reportedly made the decision to authorize the raid over a relatively brief time during a dinner with the President’s top national security deputies.

“In the Obama administration, the N.S.C. process considering this operation would likely have discussed contingencies and circumstances that could damage our broader counter-terrorism cooperation with the Yemeni government,” said Eric Pelofsky, a senior official under President Barack Obama.

President Trump remains strongly in defense of the decision to stage the original raid in Yemen.

Sources: CNN, The New York Times/Photo Credit: DVIDSHUB/Flickr