Exclusive: CIA Aircraft Kills Terrorist (the new #3 is toast)

ABC News ^

[jmc1969]

Senior Al Qaeda Operative Struck by Predator Missile

May 13, 2005 — A senior al Qaeda operative was killed by a missile fired from a CIA Predator aircraft on the Pakistani side of the remote area near the Afghan border earlier this week, U.S. intelligence officials told ABC News.

Haitham al-Yemeni, a native of Yemen known for his bomb-making skills, had been tracked for some time in the hope that he would help lead the United States to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, intelligence officials said. But with the recent capture in northwest Pakistan of Abu Faraj al-Libbi, thought to be al Qaeda's No. 3 man, officials worried al-Yemeni would soon go into hiding, and decided to take action.

Al-Yemeni was in line to replace al-Libbi, intelligence analysts said.

"It's an important step that has been taken in that it has eliminated another level of experienced leadership from the directorate of al Qaeda itself," said Vince Cannistraro, former head of counterterrorism for the CIA and now an ABC News consultant. "It will help weaken the organization and make it much less effective."

The CIA has the authority to fire at will against senior al Qaeda figures anywhere in the world, though it is unclear whether the Pakistanis approved of the action in advance. A spokesman for the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C., said he was unaware of any such actions this week.

"There is a determination by the president that any member of al Qaeda that can be identified can be attacked," said Cannistraro.

[bvw]

Hmmm ... a vote off the Island.

[mewzilla]

Objects In The Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear

[Peach]

Ping

[andyk]

The CIA has the authority to fire at will against senior al Qaeda figures anywhere in the world...

Sweet.

[So Cal Rocket]

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Yumpin' Yemeni not yumpin' no more.

[moog]

Hmmm ... a vote off the Island.

What should be the new catchphrase?

[Mr. Jeeves]

(the new #3 is toast)

They are having a tough time keeping that position filled. ;)

[inkling]

Another day, another terrorist converted into hummus.

[ProudVet77]

Objects In The Crosshairs Appear More Alive Than They Will Be

[keepingtrack]

I'm kind of surprised they admitted this was on the Pakistani side of the border, given that having the CIA launching missiles at people in Pakistan might cause problems for Musharraf.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Ugly but effective.

[Liberal Classic]

(the new #3 is toast)

Prisoner: Who are you?
Number Two: The new Number Two.
Prisoner: Who is Number One?
Number Two: You are Number Six.
Prisoner: I am not a number. I am a free man!

[dennisw]

A wasted terrorist is a good terrorist

[Rushmore Rocks]

That was funny.

[SevenMinusOne]

UBL and Zawahiri are surly in Pakistan (living in the remote border region) - One of these days we are going to get'em - (damn frustrating that they have escaped this long).

[YepYep]

Who in his right mind would want to be the next #3 ?

[Dog]

SV.....you have a Abu Bashir al-Yemeni on your Al Qaeda wanted list....is this the same name?

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Al Queda's HR department must be a hard job. New ex #3 probably didn't even get a chance to read the employee handbook or join the coffee fund. Must play hell with their secret Santa. Aw, too bad. /sarcasm