Senior Al Qaeda Leader's Notebook Seized

ABC News ^ | May 6 2005

[Dog]

U.S. officials are working feverishly to decipher numbers and apparent codes in a notebook retrieved from suspected al Qaeda leader Abu Faraj al-Libbi, ABC News has learned.

Al-Libbi — believed to be third in command of al Qaeda leader after Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri — was arrested by Pakistani authorities on Monday.

He is suspected of leading two failed assassination attempts on the life of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Sources said officials believe al-Libbi's seized notebook contains "hot" contact information. They said officials are hopeful the notebook contains useful information because al-Libbi was stunned when he was captured.

One senior official described al-Libbi as "shocked" and enraged.

"He thought he was invincible," the source said. "He was caught with his pants down. This was not the time and place of his choosing."

Al-Libbi was trying to destroy the notebook when he was apprehended, multiple sources said.

[Zeppelin]

"wanna bet?"

how insightful...thank you for your contribution.

[Zeppelin]

terribly sorry. would "Margaret Thatcher" been easier to handle? :P

[SittinYonder]

They could have delayed announcing this.

I would think al qaeda would already know if one of their top guys was arrested. I doubt we're telling them anything they hadn't already heard.

[mwyounce]

They probably released this to see who starts 'moving.'

Yep... remember when we announced that Tariq Aziz had asked for asylum? A day later he popped up on TV and said "I'm still here!" and the next thing you know, we had him captured!

[Old Sarge]

Just for that...

[Zeppelin]

thank GOD her thighs werent in that photo! whew!

[rhombus]

Flash! Allies capture enigma machine. Awaiting next transmission.

[al_again]

or maybe they are putting the info out on purpose in the hopes of getting osama to start moving.

[ASA Vet]

Perfect example of why the CIA isn't in charge of Sigint.

[TexKat]

Thanks Deetes.

[LayoutGuru2]

He was caught with his pants down.

BwaaaaHaaaaaaa. I love it.

[Law is not justice but process]

"Lives are being lost because of incompetence like this."

Agreed. I surely hope American Intelligence Agencies aren't that stupid. I see two possibilities. First, the Pakistanis are that stupid or someone in Pakistan is trying to help Al Quaeda. Second, the prisoner really did destroy all or most of the notebook and we are trying to smoke out some sleeper cells by instigating some emergency chatter.

[Wiz]

"He thought he was invincible," the source said. "He was caught with his pants down. This was not the time and place of his choosing."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

[Retain Mike]

Thanks. I appreciate the incite.

[Baraonda]

LOL!

[grey_whiskers]

Later reports were that "after a few hours in custody" he confessed his position. I wonder if they put panties on his head or a dog collar around his neck.

I've said it before, I'll say it again, we should tell give all Al Quaeda detainees this choice:

Remember Abu Gharib?

If you're good, you'll get a pair of (say) Gwyneth Paltrow's underwear on your head.

If you're bad, it's Oprah Winfrey's.

If you betray us...JANET RENO!

Cheers!

[jonrick46]

I think this technique is being played with the WMDs. We are watching the bears mothering this honey pot with keen intelligence.