Posted on 07/22/2007 11:14:10 AM PDT by HAL9000
Excerpt -
NEWSWEEK: Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the Qaeda No. 2, Has Provoked a Potentially Serious Ideological Split Within Al Qaeda, Jihadists Tell Newsweek
NEW YORK, July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Pakistani and Taliban officials interviewed by Newsweek say the Qaeda No. 2, Ayman Al-Zawahiri is behind the wave of retaliatory attacks launched after Pakistani troops overran the Red Mosque in Islamabad, which have killed more than 150 people. While Osama bin Laden has been keeping a low profile, Zawahiri has moved aggressively to take operational control of the group. In so doing, Zawahiri has provoked a potentially serious ideological split within Al Qaeda over whether he is growing too powerful and has become obsessed with toppling Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, according to two jihadists interviewed by Newsweek last week.
The anti-Zawahiri faction in Al Qaeda fears his actions may jeopardize the safe haven that the group has developed in Pakistan's tribal regions of North Waziristan and Bajaur, according to the jihadists, Omar Farooqi, the nom de guerre for a veteran Taliban fighter and chief liaison officer between insurgent forces in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, and Hemat Khan, a Taliban operative with links to Al Qaeda. Both have proved reliable in the past.
~ snip ~
(Excerpt) Read more at prnewswire.com ...
But we're still looking for Abu Ayman, and sooner or later we'll find him with a 500-pounder.
Hey, Omar...Farooqi you.
I think Musharraf is the only reason we haven’t been aggressive in Pakistan. Once he’s out of the way, there is no reason to hold back.
We also need Pakistan’s help in the war on terror. A continued presence in Afghanistan would become difficult with Pakistani opposition. But do remember, just because Pakistan helps us, doesn’t mean we otherwise like them (or vice versa). Geopolitics makes strange bedfellows.
Once Musharaf is out of the way Pakistan becomes an Islamic state with nuclear weapons. It'd be suicide to hold back.
Osama's profile is so low it's being ragarded as 6 feet under. With Bin Laden assuming desert temperature, control defaults to Zawahiri thus the more radical militant approach to it's operations.
[ The infighting hasn’t prevented Zawahiri and his Qaeda brethren, along
with Afghan Taliban and militant Pakistani tribal leaders, from
establishing a complex command, control, training and recruitment base
largely in Waziristan, according to U.S. and Pakistani officials. U.S.
officials say Al Qaeda has vastly improved its position there since
Musharraf signed a controversial peace deal with North Waziristan’s Pashtun
tribal elders in September 2006, which gave pro-Taliban tribal militants
full control of security in the area.]
We need to go in there and extermminate this rat nest.
That cuts a couple of ways. Once he's out, our port cities are in deadly danger, and the Wuzzies grab Pakistan.
"We"? Time for the Hindu Card. Al Q'aeda likes to kill people in Delhi and Bombay, do they? Well, .....
The only question in my mind at this point is whether Osama was done in by a US bomb or died of natural causes.
True enough. I wish at least they would start referring to Al_Zawahiri as the number 1 camelhumper instead of constantly referring to him as number 2. First of all I’m quite sure Osama is indeed dead, second if we consistantly refer to Al as the number 1 camelhumper eventually if Osama is alive then he’s going to have to come out and defend his number 1 position. Otherwise think of all the little Jihadists who are linning up behind the wrong camel to get their turn.
They’re already in danger as they have been. 9/11 proved that and the danger will exist the longer those terrorists are left with their sanctuary.
As it is now, they make their threats telling countries if that country doesn’t do what they say, they’ll cut people’s heads off.
They are bold in Pakistan where they have save haven.
The days of, “If we won’t bother them, they won’t bother us” is long gone. We know better now.
Yes, Zawahiri is provoking a split among the Islamic thugs, er activists. I think he should obsess on toppling Musharaf. Bottom line, let’s you and him fight. Sounds like a plan, HUT!
Pak (Pakistan ) flinches as US renews threat (over Taliban crossing Afghanistan Border )
We don't need to be "going in" to anyplace we haven't sent B-52s, Predators, Apaches, artillery, etc. first. That way all we need to send in are intelligence specialists and graves registration teams.
If they succeed taking Pakistan, India may do the nasty for us and we can keep our hands clean. The trick would be to neutralize Pakistans nukes in the ensuing chaos. Scary thought, but it could take a decade off this war.
If they succeed taking Pakistan, India may do the nasty for us and we can keep our hands clean. The trick would be to neutralize Pakistans nukes in the ensuing chaos. Scary thought, but it could take a decade off this war.
As you noted, “going in” can mean many things.
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