Pakistan hunts al-Qa'eda 'chief'

The Daily Telegraph ^ | August 14, 2004 | Peter Foster

[MadIvan]

A Libyan named as the "current top operational chief" of the al-Qa'eda terrorist network is at the centre of a major manhunt in Pakistan.

Abu Faraj Farj, who reportedly once worked as a personal assistant to Osama bin Laden, is also wanted for his alleged part in two assassination attempts against Pakistan's president last December.

He also commands a network of overseas al-Qa'eda "sleeper cells" that are waiting to strike in the West, anonymous Pakistani intelligence officials claimed in Islamabad yesterday. "Farj was a personal assistant of bin Laden and our information is that he is the current top operational chief of the network," one official added.

"He heads al-Qa'eda's clandestine operational apparatus in Pakistan and also controls al-Qa'eda's sleeper cells in other countries to plot terror strikes."

The hunt for Farj, who is said to be on the run with an Egyptian named as Hamza Rabia, follows a month of intense activity against suspected al-Qa'eda operatives in Pakistan.

Last month's terrorism alerts across America followed the arrest of a "computer whiz-kid" named Naeem Noor Khan whose laptop computer contained surveillance information on sensitive targets in the West, including Heathrow Airport and the New York stock exchange.

Pakistani security forces have arrested 25 suspected al-Qa'eda operatives since early July, many of whom are said to have yielded information on the whereabouts of others.

But opposition parties in Pakistan are sceptical of claims of a "major breakthrough" against al-Qa'eda, accusing President Perveiz Musharraf of using the operations as a pretext to round up his enemies.

[MadIvan]

It's like peeling back the layers of an onion, but bit by bit, Al Qaeda is being taken apart.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[johnfrink]

But opposition parties in Pakistan are sceptical of claims of a "major breakthrough" against al-Qa'eda, accusing President Perveiz Musharraf of using the operations as a pretext to round up his enemies.

Hmmm. And what do you suppose most of those "opposition parties" have in common?

[FreeReign]

Hmmm. And what do you suppose most of those "opposition parties" have in common?

The opposition to Musharraf's alliance with the U.S. in the WOT.

[Josh in PA]

The problem for Bush when it comes to this..

These guys the Pakistani's have been busting probably have alot more operational control right now than bin Laden does.. if they bust this guy, nobody in the media gives a crap.

To the left and the media in this country.. unless we capture bin Laden.. Bush is losing the war on terror to them.

We can bust the top 20 planners/organizers, and arrest the 5000 terrorists who were going to carry out the plans, but unless we get the old cripple Osama hiding underneath the rubble in a cave, we are losing.


BUT... as soon as we get bin Laden, to the liberal loony left, that is the end of the war on terror. Any further arrests and US Operations against al-Qaeda and radical Muslims after the arrest of bin Laden will be treated by the left and the media as unnecessary and bully, and that our troops should be home immediately, and we should pretend everything is gravy until the next attack, then we have proper reason to go after the next leader.


The United States is facing two battles. Islamofascism as well as all of the irrational, illogical, moronic eggheads in our own backyards.


Frustrating.. Maybe they'll wake up if 10,000 are killed in the next terrorist attack.. for a few years anyway, then maybe they'll re-wake up after a mid-major American city like Columbus, Pittsburgh, Des Moines, Denver, or Phoenix is obliterated by a nuclear weapon.