Exclusive: Al Qaeda No. 2 Injured?

cbsnews.com ^ | August 1, 2008

[Free ThinkerNY]

Unverified Letter Obtained By CBS News Urgently Requests Doctor To Treat Ayman al-Zawahiri

CBS) Ayman al-Zawahiri - the second most powerful leader in al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden's No. 2 - may be critically wounded and possibly dead, CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan reports exclusively.

CBS News has obtained a copy of an intercepted letter from sources in Pakistan, which urgently requests a doctor to treat al-Zawahiri. He's believed to be somewhere in Pakistan's remote tribal areas of Pakistan.

The letter refers to Sheikh Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri by name - and says that he is in "severe pain" and his "injuries are infected."

It is reportedly written by local Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, whose signature and seal are visible on the letter.

The Taliban logo and the Mehsud's seal have been confirmed by experts as legitimate.

However, CBS News has not been able to confirm the authenticity of Baitullah Mehsud's signature and seal.

The letter is dated July 29 - one day after a U.S. air strike that killed al Qaeda weapons expert Abu Khabab al-Masri, and five other Arabs in South Waziristan.

[Free ThinkerNY]

Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri

[Tarpon]

He’s dead Jim, been dead before.

[Soliton]

May the worthless bast#rd die in agony. I feel sorry for the worms.

[blasater1960]

May need the 82nd Airborne to pay a visit to that location....

[Lee'sGhost]

Nice dresses.

[AlaskaErik]

Wonderful news, if it’s true.

[Jet Jaguar]

ping

[Mr Ramsbotham]

May the worthless bast#rd die in agony. I feel sorry for the worms.

Since he's not Ted Kennedy, I think we can all safely second that motion.

[penelopesire]

They are calling on the American Media to help him?

LOL

[pfflier]

It’s SeeBS it must be true.

[Travis McGee]

Don't bother looking up, they fly too high to see or hear.

[Sgt Joe Friday 714]

“Al Qaeda #2” has got to be the toughest job - lots of turnover in that position, it seems.

[DGHoodini]

I have high confidence, that if he isn’t dead, he will be, in a matter of days.

[headstamp 2]

“The letter refers to Sheikh Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri by name - and says that he is in “severe pain” and his “injuries are infected.”

Excellent. May he rot, croak and then rot further in hell.

[Hacklehead]

I hope that spot on his forehead has been replaced with a 30 cal hole.

[NoobRep]

Democrats everywhere are deeply saddened and angered by our barbaric policies against this misunderstood fellow and his peaceful followers.

[penelopesire]

‘Dan Rather, please pick up the sickle shaped phone...Zawahiri needs your help’

LOL

This is unbelievable....LMAO!!

[Straight Vermonter]

We’ve been through this before. Nonetheless, keep your fingers crossed.

[Selmore]

However, CBS News has not been able to confirm the authenticity of Baitullah Mehsud's signature and seal.

CBS to confirm authenticity? Thats a good one.

I have an idea, ask Barack. He spent a college summer in Pakistan. He has radical friends there too.

[xjcsa]

“Al Qaeda #2” has got to be the toughest job - lots of turnover in that position, it seems.

Nope. This has been Bin Laden's right hand man since well before 9/11; he's a big deal. The number 3 spot, on the other hand, has had some turnover.

[penelopesire]

Good lord..have you guys read the comments over at CBS below this story?

Libs are truly deranged!

[Jim Noble]

Candygram...

[bcsco]

So, Khabab went "KABOOM" and al-Zawahiri went "Kaflooey".

"I like it when a plan comes together". - Col. John "Hannibal" Smith

Couldn't happen to two more deserving ragheads (except the Osama one, of course). But maybe... ???

[Enchante]

Hope his pus-filled body suffers greatly before the end, if he is not already dead.

[InvisibleChurch]

well it looks like maybe the letter never got to the doctor .. i wonder if cbs is going “oops!”

[SE Mom]

What a DAY!

Obama gets heckled by young black men.

Obama calls for windfall profits tax on oil companies, to be given to Americans @ the rate of $1,000 per person.

Conservative Congressmen show creativity, guts, humor and STRENGTH of the floor of the House.

Al Zawahiri...might be history.

[Selmore]

I’m heading over to Huffington, Kos, et al to read the great news and all of the congratulations for our brave fighting men and our country.........(jeopardy music)....Ok, i’m back.

[bilhosty]

I wonder if he is really dead or just dead again.

[BOBTHENAILER]

The infection part of this story sounds a little too quick for reality, nonetheless I’m really wishing this is all true.

[Cindy]

Thanks for the ping, Jet Jaguar.

[Enchante]

“Al Qaeda #2” has got to be the toughest job - lots of turnover in that position, it seems.

You're thinking of the #3s, the "operations commander" position -- there have been a whole bunch of those killed, starting with around 2 months after 9/11.

al-Zawahiri, otoh, has been in his #2 position continuously since his Egyptian Jihad was absorbed into Bin Laden's Al Qaeda back in the '90s. Some think al-Zawahiri has really been the largest driving force in Al Qaeda and that Bin Laden has long been more of a figurehead and propaganda tool. In any case, this is truly HUGE if true.

[normy]

Then let the buzzards feast. Surely you can’t feel sorry for buzzards.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Doctor, heal thyself!” Bwaaa! Hope we got him at last. He’s supposed to be the brains of the outfit.

[Southack]

Fascinating.

[marktwain]

I find it interesting that in the picture, Osama is wearing a U.S. woodland camouflage BDU jacket, or a good facsimile thereof.

[Soliton]

The buzzards deserve better

[normy]

awesome!

[penelopesire]

Isn’t it grand?

I did not do anything today other than Freep and call congresscritters....LOL

[AnotherUnixGeek]

“Al Qaeda #2” has got to be the toughest job - lots of turnover in that position, it seems.

While this has been true of AQ in Iraq, old Ayman has held the #2 slot in the global outfit for many years. Hopefully he's killed soon.

[SE Mom]

LOL! Yep- grand, indeed!

[Zeppo]

This has been Bin Laden's right hand man since well before 9/11; he's a big deal...

Since this guy is Al Queda's number two guy, wouldn't the more culturally-sensitive term be Bin Laden's left hand man?

Yeah, I know that semi-obscure "number two" jokes are pretty lame and juvenile, but if the shoe fits...

[Krankor]

Is Lara Logan carrying his baby?

[Huck]

Is there no freeper Lara Logan rule??

Look at that big ole saggy boob stickin' out. Kinda looks like old Fred's daughter, er, wife. Except Lara's much better looking.

[BenLurkin]

Yeah buddy!

[Huck]

And McCain puts out another brilliant ad and wins the week hands down.

[BenLurkin]

Left hand person.

[TheWasteLand]

I guess he was just mostly dead before. Please let him be all dead this time.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Doctor, heal thyself!”
I think the quote I meant is “Physician, heal thyself.” Not “Doctor.”

[Enchante]

She needs a little help with ‘adjustment’ in that uneven cleavage..... I’d volunteer except the thought of all the different men she’s been with in the past few months might cool my ardor....

[shalom aleichem]

Right. Dr. Z has a major mouth on him. He is a physician from Egypt. The spot on his forehead is probably a Seal sniper’s laser dot. Why call a Doctor? Just tell him top heal thyself. Oh yea, we need a phone trace to follow the cruise missiles into vector.