U.S. Captures Senior Al Qaeda Leader, Sources Say

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | 11/15/02

[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."

[Angelus Errare]

My main question is about the "ongoing" part of the operation. That implies that the guy hasn't been moved to a secure location just yet and they don't want to release the info for fear that it'll jeopardize whoever's involved.

This might be in northern Yemen, Somalia, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Lebanon, Georgia, ect. One of the enclaves where al-Qaeda watching this unfold on satellite TV might send in reinforcements if they knew what was going on.

[VRWC_minion]

How about not drumming up a war with Iraq and actually FINDING THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING 3000 AMERICANS!

Can you type and chew gum at the same time ?

[cake_crumb]

"How about that? Or is that not enough?"

Good post, but it won't help. I've made that exact same argument at least a hundred times over against rabidly pro-Iraq freaks.

You can't appeal to their reason, because at least where Saddam is concerned they have none, and you can't appeal to their humanity because what humanity they have is relative to their politics.

Thanks for trying though. It needed to go on record...and on record...and on record...

[B-bone]

I wonder if there is any relationship with this story?

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=578&ncid=578&e=13&u=/nm/20021115/ts_nm/afghan_usa_attacks_dc

U.S. Bases Attacked in Afghanistan, Heavy Fighting
Fri Nov 15, 4:44 AM ET

KABUL (Reuters) - U.S. war planes bombed and strafed enemy positions after rocket and ground attacks on two bases in southeastern Afghanistan (news - web sites) and at least two attackers were suspected killed, the U.S. military said Friday. There were no U.S. casualties.

The attack Thursday night was one of the largest and most concerted on U.S. positions in Afghanistan in months and came two days after the emergence of an audio tape believed to have been made by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) vowing to continue his anti-U.S. struggle.

A U.S. military statement said A-10 and Harrier aircraft dropped six bombs and fired thousands of cannon rounds after the bases at Gardez and Lwara came under attack.

Air support was called in when nine 107 mm rockets landed near the U.S. fire base at Gardez.

Less than three hours later, the U.S. special forces base at Lwara was attacked with rockets, two mortar rounds and a rocket propelled grenade, one of which landed in the compound.

A patrol from the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division engaged the attackers and heavy fighting ensued, it said. Air support was called in there too.

"Soldiers from the base are conducting an assessment of the damage," the statement said. "There were no friendly casualties. We suspect at least two enemy forces were killed during the engagement."

Officials of Afghanistan's former Taliban regime told Reuters Thursday that bin Laden was alive and directing attacks on U.S.-led forces hunting him in the country.

The United States sent its forces into Afghanistan in pursuit of bin Laden after accusing him of masterminding the attacks on the United States on September 11 last year.

[js1138]

This might be in northern Yemen, Somalia, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Lebanon, Georgia, ect. One of the enclaves where al-Qaeda watching this unfold on satellite TV might send in reinforcements if they knew what was going on.

Bait.

[Angelus Errare]

I was thinking about that too.

They nailed Hekmatyar's son a little while ago and if they can get Abdel Hari al-Iraqi it would go a long way towards ending the fighting in Afghanistan.

[Dog]

I was wondering that also......there is something else going on at a place called......LAWRA.

[areafiftyone]

BBC News is the only other one that has it on their headline ticker besides Fox. Wierd that CNN and MSNBC websites haven't picked it up yet - uh on second thought no it's not!

[Dog]

Over here Jane!

[astounded]

Dog:

That's the whole idea and why they call them "black" operations. JSOC operators prefer to work in the shadows. IMHO there is a lot of this going on now around the globe that we will never hear about.

[William McKinley]

CNN has it near the top of their page, but not highlighted in a way that jumps out as "breaking news".

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/11/15/alqaeda.capture/index.html

[Miss Marple]

Thanks Dog! Going back to read the whole thread.

[B-bone]

From CNN's story:

"They did say he was not Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri, or the terrorist group's operational leader, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. "

[Dog]

There is that wording again..

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I dunno about any recent operations, but if they caught this guy in the last week, it may be the reason for the recent terror alert. It'll be interesting to see who it turns out to be.

If it isn't made public it is much easier to just make him "disappear."

[tracer]

"..... the network may favor "spectacular attacks" that result in mass casualties and severe damage to the U.S. economy."

How do we convince al Qaeda that Hollywood would best fit the bill? The liberal, mindless sheeple would be deprived of their emotional lifeblood and reason for living; the cancerous, purulent film industry and the accompanying press, etc. would be demolished; a good many nauseating traitors and their hop-headed, perverted comrades mercifully would nauseate us no more; and the damage would largely involve those segments of the US economy that are in need of damaging.

I really don't wish anyone dead, but if al Qaeda must and inevitably will have its way, (paraphrasing JFK) "Let them come to Hollywood."

Talk about making lemonade out of lemons....

[Kilborn]

So much for being a nation united...

[tracer]

Strange. According to Daschehund, "the Bush Administration hasn't made any tangible progress in the war on terrorism"....

[TexKat]

I just had a wicked thought......what IF this is Bin Laden??

Cannot be OBL, they are stating not in the top 3.

[dixiechick2000]

"One more Democrat locked way! Good!"

LOL

President Bush is checking another one off of his list! Yippee!