Posted on 11/15/2002 11:05:10 AM PST by B-bone
U.S. Captures Senior Al Qaeda Leader, Sources Say
1 hour, 8 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One of the top two-dozen al Qaeda leaders sought by the United States in its war on terrorism was captured recently and is in American custody, U.S. government sources said on Friday.
The sources declined to name the operative for Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s network who was caught in the past week or so. But it was not top lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahri, operational leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, nor bin Laden's son Saad.
U.S. authorities have become increasingly concerned this week that al Qaeda was planning fresh attacks.
The FBI (news - web sites) said that in selecting its next targets, the network may favor "spectacular attacks" that result in mass casualties and severe damage to the U.S. economy.
Contributing to that concern was an audio tape broadcast earlier this week on the al-Jazeera television channel in Qatar believed to be of bin Laden praising recent attacks and making fresh threats.
The United States blamed bin Laden and his al Qaeda network for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America that killed about 3,000 people.
Senior al Qaeda leaders in U.S. custody include Abu Zubaydah and Ramzi Binalshibh, who were being interrogated at an undisclosed location overseas.
"There have been a number of -- numerous senior leaders of al Qaeda that have either been eliminated, incarcerated or detained someplace," national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) said without elaborating.
President Bush (news - web sites) earlier this week, in response to a question about the audio tape, said, "We'll chase these people down one at a time. It doesn't matter how long it takes, we'll find them and bring them to justice."
Timing is everything, Dashole was just bashing GW's policy on Afganistan yesterday. This capture is great news....
I'm wondering how many more of these Bush and Rumsfeld have racked up somewhere in the basement at the Pentagon, just waiting to "drop them" when little Tommy makes one of his specious little speeches.
Fill us in!
Sources said the suspect was neither Usama bin Laden nor his number two man, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, but he is one of the "top handful of Al Qaeda leaders."
"Someone who knows al Qaeda would know his name," one official said. "This is a big deal."
The description was deliberately vague because this is an "ongoing operation," sources told Fox News.
Breaking story at foxnews.com
WASHINGTON — A "senior Al Qaeda member" has been arrested, U.S. officials told Fox News Friday.
The officials did not reveal any details of the circumstances surrounding the arrest, including when it occurred or where the suspect was being held, but they did confirming that a senior Al Qaeda leader is "in U.S. hands."
Sources said the suspect was neither Usama bin Laden nor his number two man, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, but he is one of the "top handful of Al Qaeda leaders."
"Someone who knows al Qaeda would know his name," one official said. "This is a big deal."
The description was deliberately vague because this is an "ongoing operation," sources told Fox News.
How about we do both? Besides, we don't know that some, or even most, of those responsible aren't in Iraqi. They may well be. It would be stupid of Saddam to have them there, but doing the smart thing has never been his forte, so you never know.
President Bush and his terrific team of experienced, mature, forward thinking grown-ups are so far ahead of the girly men in the dem elite club (including so called women in that party), it is almost embarrassing.
Ahem-no caps!! heheh)
This is a "real biggie"....ongoing operations .....they are trying to get him out of the country he was captured in.
Fox was told " if you know AQ .....you will know who this is"
It is NOT the TOP THREE but in the TOP Tier of AQ!
Democrats Say, This is too good!!!
And then turn loose our moose? They can bite his sister, although I'd prefer they bite him. On second thought, that might poison the moose and end all our moose frivolity.
At some point, most of the AQ internet connections have to be located. You monitor for a while, then move in of those that are worth it.
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