Sorry if I ruined your breakfast.
Posted on 05/05/2005 6:35:45 AM PDT by kristinn
The No. 3-ranking al Qaeda terrorist — whose capture was announced yesterday — was in contact with New York operatives when he was on the run in Pakistan, sources said.
Abu Farraj al-Libbi — a top general for Osama bin Laden — had satellite phones and a "high-frequency wireless" with him when he was seized Monday night near the Afghan border, according to Pakistani intelligence.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly was briefed yesterday about the implications for the city.
But it remains unclear how recently al-Libbi had been in contact with his New York agents — or what was on their agenda.
Al-Libbi, who had a $10 million bounty on his head, had also been talking to operatives in London, the Philippines and Indonesia, sources said.
He was nabbed by Pakistani security in the border town of Mardan after being tracked down through a confidential source found by U.S. intelligence.
U.S. sources said the hunt for al-Libbi intensified last summer after the arrest in Pakistan of al Qaeda's communications wizard, Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan, and the disclosure that the group had cased New York financial sites, including the Citigroup Center.
U.S. intelligence suspected then that al-Libbi convened a terrorist summit last year to prepare a major strike before the November elections.
Yesterday in Washington, President Bush said al-Libbi's capture "represents a critical victory in the war on terror."
Pakistani officials said his arrest had already provided a bonanza of intelligence secrets — and hinted the information could lead to bin Laden's capture.
"This man knew many people and many hide-outs," said Information Minister Sheik Rashid Ahmed.
U.S. officials said al-Libbi knew how to contact bin Laden, but not necessarily his whereabouts. One intelligence official noted that even 9/11 master planner Khalid Sheik Mohammed didn't know bin Laden's location.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
ping
In the meantime, in NY, someone set off 2 plastic grenades that were filled with black powder overnight outside the UK Console's office (embassy?). Coincidence?
Hmmm. al-Libbi, NY connection, Air America now on WLIB in NY. Hmmmm!
I get nervous about all of this repeated talk about the Citigroup Center. The Queens building is really not that secure and I live fairly close to it.
Does "al libbi" mean "the liberal" in arabic?
I wonder if this was the American mentioned on Zarqari's laptop and if the laptop led to this guys capture.
"Hmmm. al-Libbi, NY connection, Air America now on WLIB in NY. Hmmmm!"
ROFLMAO... Maybe his contact was Al "Jazeera" Franken
No, the Lybian
excellent catch. And you ALL means necessary to get him to sing. Lyndie England, we need you!
What sort of info, if any, could be obtained from the satellite phones?
bump
It's my understanding that the Pakistanis have turned him over to the U.S. And this U.S. citizen condones torture. I'm waiting for a bin Laden captured thread to pop up any minute now. /wishful thinking.
I would rather the Pakastanis questioned him. We might treat him to harshly, like making him watch television or work out in a weight room.
"The Vegetable Canner"
Cindy posted this link on another thread:
http://www.saag.org/papers14/paper1366.html
***Rumor has it that al-Libbi was disguised in a BURQA!***
"They have not announced how and where he was captured, but reports from non-governmental sources indicate that a Pakistani security patrol near Mardan, 30 miles north of Peshawar, had stopped for identity check a man on a two-wheeler with a person in burqa sitting behind him. The person in burqa opened fire and they tried to escape. They were captured after a chase. The person in burqa turned out to be Abu Faraj."
Sorry if I ruined your breakfast.
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