Posted on 05/13/2005 3:42:14 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
This is total crap. I am saying right here and now, this was PREMEDITATED murder!!! If they imprison Pantano, they BETTER lock up the Predator drone!
Huh?
Friends may call...
Dog, did you ever investigate taking Arabic? You could have a second career!
I think our President is doing an excellent job, troll.
lol
Oooh. Really big ZOT....
ROFL! I love the smell of Yemeni toast in the morning.
Wouldn't that make it a b-52 Predator?
Will John Pike change his views on CIA?
This is good.
Col. Hunt advocates deploying teams of THK's (Terrorist Hunter-Killers). We should be doing this as well. The guy wakes up just in time to see his head being blown apart by a .50 cal round.
Love it!
Hmmm ... a vote off the Island.
A vote off the Islam.....
Many members taking advantage of rapid promotion program
(Islamagood, Special to the New York Times) While U.S. military reports play up our increasing ability to kill Al Qeda operatives, many say these reports omit a key factor: improving morale due to increasing opportunities for advancement. Unlike the U.S. military where it frequently takes an officer a year and a half to be promoted from 2nd Lt to 1st Lt, Al Queda has boasted three number three men in the last month, and may be moving rapidly to promoting a fourth. (Cont'd on page A-29474)
LOL
I'd say worse than surly, probably downright pissed off is more like it.
And we all came to know who number 1 was.
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