Posted on 04/01/2002 2:26:08 PM PST by kattracks
WASHINGTON, Apr 01, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- The capture of Abu Zubaydah, al-Qaida's top surviving operational commander, is one of the most significant accomplishments in the U.S. war on terrorism, officials and experts said Monday.
In Zubaydah's head are the names, faces and locations of numerous al-Qaida operatives the world over, U.S. officials say.
He may also know the hiding place of Osama bin Laden.
"It's a major, major victory, if not the biggest victory so far," said Stan Bedlington, a former senior terrorism analyst with the CIA. "He's the biggest fish that we've caught."
Pakistani authorities, in concert with the CIA and FBI, captured Zubaydah in a raid last Thursday at a compound in Faisalabad, far from the Afghan border, U.S. officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Zubaydah was shot three times trying to escape - in the stomach, groin and leg - but was expected to survive, said one official.
He is in U.S. custody, but it's unclear if he remains in Pakistan.
Zubaydah acknowledged his identity, said Pakistani officials and others familiar with his capture. Other past associates have also identified the captured man as Zubaydah, U.S. officials said.
Only bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahri and Mohammed Atef ranked higher, and Atef was killed by U.S. airstrikes in November.
Zubaydah has been linked by intelligence and police officials to at least five al-Qaida terrorist plots, including the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The extent of his role, however, has not been fully determined.
Captured al-Qaida operatives said he organized the millennium plots to blow up Los Angeles International Airport and the Radisson SAS Hotel in Amman, Jordan, which is frequented by American tourists. Both were thwarted.
In 2000, a Jordanian military court found him guilty in absentia of conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks and he was sentenced to death in absentia.
Zubaydah, a 31-year-old Palestinian who was born in Saudi Arabia, was also tied to thwarted plots to blow up the U.S. embassies in Paris and in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, after Sept. 11. U.S. officials say they are investigating his links to the attacks on the USS Cole and the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Despite his prominence, the FBI never named him as a "most wanted" terrorist. He is also known as Zain al-Abidin Muhahhad Husain.
"We've followed him for a very long time - a very dangerous character," National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
Since the United States attacked Afghanistan, Zubaydah has led an effort to reorganize al-Qaida in Pakistan. Financial transfers and intercepted communications suggested he was directing attempts to conduct new terrorist attacks against U.S. interests, U.S. officials have said.
Officials cautioned that Zubaydah's arrest, while a major blow to al-Qaida, does not end the group's threat. Cells are still operating, and the group has several other leaders capable of organizing them.
Bedlington suggested Zubaydah's high position in al-Qaida may have given him access to bin Laden's post-Sept. 11 plans - including his hideouts and how to contact him. That's information U.S. intelligence can exploit, if Zubaydah talks, Bedlington said.
Think of him as a "choke point" between bin Laden's will and actual terrorist attacks, said Vince Cannistraro, a former senior CIA counterterrorism chief. Where bin Laden and al-Zawahri would set policy, Zubaydah would implement it. U.S. officials said when the inner circle would call for a bombing of an embassy, Zubaydah would select the embassy, cell and method of attack.
"He was the guy that had the direct contact with prominent al-Qaida cell leaders abroad, and he knew where they all were," he said. "He would have been the guy coordinating new attacks."
His contacts with cells came through his role as a recruiter in the group. Prospective recruits would meet Zubaydah in Pakistan, who would assign them to camps. When they finished training, he put them in cells overseas.
Ahmed Ressam, convicted in April 2001 of smuggling, terrorist conspiracy and other charges in connection with the Los Angeles plot, described Zubaydah's role during court testimony.
"He is the person in charge of the camps. He receives young men from all countries. He accepts you or rejects you. And he takes care of the expenses for the camps. He makes arrangements for you when you travel coming in or leaving," Ressam said.
By JOHN J. LUMPKIN Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
THAT is big.
I am glad someone made this observation.
Maybe a sulferic acid drip on his eyes?
The Psychopaths who trusted him should be Forever Terrified by his condition--& what he MAY have confessed!!
He should have, "You're NEXT!" tatooed on his forehead & Ass!!
His Drooling, Mindless visage should Dominate "Al-Jazeera" broadcasts, along with a "Generic message" that America is TRULY PISSED OFF & regards cooperation with Al Queda as tantamount to a Declaration of War against America.
Considering the Barbarism of our "enemies," we are willing to use "ANY MEANS" to defend ourselves!
Since "Islam" refuses to respect us, we must NOW cause it to FEAR US!
Apparently, the ONLY LANGUAGE the Terrorists of Radical Islam understand is POWER! THEREFORE, we must demonstrate to these deluded psychotics that they are "outgunned!"
The "Psychotic, Destructive antics" of "Radical Islam" ENRAGE "The West," & Further Harden the "Western Culture's" determination to "Dominate Human History!"
As Human History now stands, there will be NO "Islamic Colonies" on the Moon or Mars.
Current "Islam" is an "Anchor around the Neck of Human Progress!"
Sad.
Doc
If he has gone to Jordan, that will be it. Jordon has zero tolerance for terrorists and settles scores with them. He has a death sentence on his head, and it will be carried out if he returns to Jordan
I had forgot about the micro biology student. I imagine he is long gone by now.
With our ACLU lawyers, the lust of our pressitutes for the al Qeada thugs, and the pseudo conservatives here who support these killers, it is best not bring them here. Let one of the countries over there handle the garbage after we get the information from them.
...A spokesman for the National Quickie-Mart Association, revealed, earlier today....
While standing next to a number of rather nervous-looking representatives of the Sikh, Latino, Roma, Micronesian, Polynesian, Macronesian, Sicilian, Corsican and Cretan communities...
(With a few stray, assorted other half-breeds and 100% red-blooded Americans with marriage, friendship or neighborly ties to those kind of people, according to the best estimates of the FBI authorities and other Homeland Security official deputized individuals who were present.)
An intellegence Medical Doctor...
That should suffice
They use those... in San Fran dude.
People pay to use the "setup."
The original announcement and many of the details were attributed to "Pakistani authorities". They let the cat out of the bag, which we surely recognized as inevitable.
It was enough that they cooperated in the operation. Too much to ask that they keep quiet about it, too.
Because it forces the lower echelon terror cells in al qaeda to send communication signals to each other in yet another attempt at re-grouping and re-organizing.
Most terror cells are told to sit and remain quiet. With no news of Abu Zubaydah, they would continue to sit and remain silent.
But now they must communicate, and that makes them vulnerable to our counter-terror operations.
Now you know...
From: John Ashcroft, Attorney General
To: Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense
Re: Capture of Abu Zubaydah
Congratulations on the capture of that [expletive deleted]. That said, there are some items of concern.
1. Suspect says he was not given a chance to surrender peacefully.
2. Suspect also claims that the only comment he heard from the Special Forces troops in country was "April Fool, mother[expletive deleted]."
3. Suspect also tested positive for Versed.
I do not mean to sound like Ramsey Clark, but these suspects have rights. If the conduct by the Special Forces personnel is as Mr. Zubaydah claims, we might not be able to prosecute the [expletive deleted] in court.
r/s
John Ashcroft.
From: Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense
To: John Ashcroft, Attorney General
Re: Concerns over the capture of that [expletive deleted]
Ref: Yr memo of 04/02/02
WRT the points raised in your memo, the following clarifications are offered.
1. WRT suspect's claims that he was not allowed to surrender peacefully: suspect was whacked out on bad hash and even worse smack, firing an AK-47 in random directions, and shouting, "You wanna play games? You [expletive deleted] wanna play games? Well, say hello to my little friend here!" Given the circumstances, the Special Forces soldiers acted with an entirely commendable degree of restraint.
2. WRT to suspect's claims over verbiage from Special Forces troops: the Special Forces commander vigorously contests the claim that his team said "April Fool, mother[expletive deleted]," as his troops were smart enough to know that it was still March.
3. WRT report that suspect tested positive for Versed: Johnny, me lad, the DoJ has to pony up for a better grade of gas chromatospectrographic doohickey-thingie. The ones you use are war surplus, and CRIMEAN war surplus at that! Obviously the spectra spectre widget was confused by the intoxicants the [expletive deleted] had consumed prior to his apprehension.
We fully realize the importance of ensuring that the [expletive deleted]'s rights are protected. However, if all else fails, we can always drop the [expletive deleted] off in downtown Peshawar, in front of a known Al-Qaeda front organization's office, stuff $10,000 in his pocket, and thank him for all his help. It might save your prosecutors some wear and tear. Just an idea.
r/s
Donald Rumsfeld
PS You up for golf? I have a tee time for 1400 Thursday (that's 2 PM for the Justice Department, and when the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 2 if you're a Democrat :o) at Greenbriar. It'd do us both some good to get out of the office and wear some stupid-looking shirts, slacks, and shoes.
r/s,
Rummy
Right on Doc!!! These evil animals do not respect our strength!!! We must now train them in fear. They have demonstrated repeatedly that they have no mercy or tolerance. Take the "evil" Shah of Iran being replaced with the "good" Khomeini? Thanks Jimmy Carter, you bozo!
These medieval fanatics are strict examples of those whose life is guided by the power of the sword. They now are about to die by the same. This is simple justice. I only pray we have the moral fortitude to carry out the just verdict. I do fear our moral strength may weaken.
Today's evil is dangerously in concert. Their violent means have created in them a thirst for more violence and destruction. How can anyone say "Praise Allah!" with glee, as the Towers crumble and so many lives lost? This is beyond human imagination. Clearly this shows their devilish disdain for life itself and their repeated indulging of the evil nature.
May we not forget how willfully and happily these call evil good, as our forces fight against them. Support our troops!!!
Isn't he the Paki that Sienfield got deported?
"You are very bad man".
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