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Bin Laden's right-hand man slips net (Claims "senior Taliban spokesman")
The Australian ^ | 3-20-04 Aussie time? | Rodney Dalton

Posted on 03/19/2004 6:52:59 AM PST by treeclimber

Edited on 03/19/2004 6:59:59 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

A BULLETPROOF LandCruiser at high speed bursting out of a tribal compound in Pakistan's South Waziristan region was just the latest infuriating setback in the US's quest to bring down the top of the al-Qa'ida tree.

The car, followed by two armoured vehicles and a phalanx of heavily armed militants able to wipe out dozens of crack troops sent to blast the terrorists from their nest, is believed to have contained Ayman al-Zawahiri, right-hand man to Osama bin Laden.

After mounting speculation that US and Pakistani forces ranged on either side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border were about to pounce on al-Qa'ida's key planner, a senior Taliban spokesman yesterday made the claim Washington least wanted to hear - that both Zawahiri and bin Laden were safe in Afghanistan.

"He may have slipped the net," the official said.

Al-Zawahiri, a 52-year-old Egyptian doctor, is one of the FBI's most wanted terrorists and has a $US25million ($33.4million) price on his head. So desperate is Washington to nail the pair, the House of Representatives yesterday doubled the reward for bin Laden's capture to $US50million.

Stiff resistance from about 200 well-armed fighters holed up in fortified mud huts early in the week -- in the onslaught of Operation Mountain Storm, designed to rid the lawless border area of foreign fighters -- had led Pakistani officials to conclude they were close to a "high-value" target.

Pakistan's leader, General Pervez Musharraf, told CNN exactly that, and said the fighters "are not coming out in spite of the fact that we pounded them with artillery".

He did not refer to al-Zawahiri by name, but officials later said that was who they believed the President meant. The White House, keen not to raise false hopes, sought to play down the significance of the strategist's scalp.

"It would be of course a major step forward in the war on terrorism ... but I think we have to be careful not to assume that getting one al-Qa'ida leader is going to break up the organisation," US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said.

It now appears it was not to be. While it is still not certain al-Zawahiri was in the car, one Pakistani security official said the presence of high-powered bulletproof vehicles, and the high level of force used to provide covering fire for their getaway, supported that theory.

The battle against militants dug into the 30km-diameter region continued yesterday, with hundreds more troops joining the thousands already engaged, and mortars and helicopter gunships laying down a barrage of fire.

Hundreds of al-Qa'ida fighters are believed to be hiding in South Waziristan, the remotest and most conservative of Pakistan's seven semi-autonomous tribal districts.

The Bush administration sees Pakistan -- an overwhelmingly Muslim country -- as an invaluable ally in the war on terrorism. This has come at great personal risk to General Musharraf, who has narrowly escaped two recent assassination attempts.

Former al-Qa'ida No 3 Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was caught in Pakistan in March 2003 and the US has maintained pressure for further victories.

During a visit to Islamabad on Thursday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell praised General Musharraf for his country's help and announced Washington now regarded it as a "major non-NATO ally".

In recent broadcasts, al-Zawahiri has described the war on terrorism as a war on Islam, and criticised Islamic leaders who co-operated with the US.

"(George W.) Bush appoints corrupt leaders and protects them," he said in a tape broadcast by Al-Jazeera television.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: alzawahiri; binladen; canthide; leftistmedia; righthandman; somedaymaybesoon; southasia; unadulteratedbs; wellgetthem
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To: XJarhead
I heard the complete story, it went different than has been told on this thread.

First the landcrusier escape bid happened wendsday and it did not get through it was turned around but it did get away. The troops followed and later came upon the Landcrusier abandon the inside had blood all over it and a trail of blood lead away to the compound they have surrounded now. This is how they think al-Zawahari was wounded.
41 posted on 03/19/2004 7:04:21 AM PST by federal
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To: treeclimber
This whole thing may just be a dog and pony show for Powell's visit.
42 posted on 03/19/2004 7:04:46 AM PST by per loin (Ultra Secret News: ADL pays $12M for defaming Colorado couple.)
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To: The Wizard
There is some serious disinformation being published here. I'm holding the celebration until we know something. The big guy would be noce; 400 minions would be a good consolation prize.
43 posted on 03/19/2004 7:05:03 AM PST by js1138
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To: The Wizard
I hope you are right
44 posted on 03/19/2004 7:05:13 AM PST by God luvs America (Howard Dean is a deranged lunatic!!)
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To: BenLurkin
Perform the "PIT" maneuver
45 posted on 03/19/2004 7:05:47 AM PST by petercooper (I actually did vote for the $87 Billion, before I voted against it.)
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To: OXENinFLA
If it did get through ... I'm sure we are also
46 posted on 03/19/2004 7:06:28 AM PST by Mo1 (Do you want a president who injects poison into his skull for vanity?)
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To: treeclimber
According to a Pakistan reporter, on the scene of the battle, interviewed earlier today on FOX this incident occured earlier (two days ago). Two vehicles accompanying the SUV in the escape attempt were destroyed and the SUV disabled. Occupants of the bullet proof SUV escaped but apparently were wounded as blood was found in the vehicle. The wounded are presumed to still be in the area of the fighting.
47 posted on 03/19/2004 7:07:02 AM PST by BluH2o
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To: God luvs America
I have sat by the set and FR since yesterday AM.....this is correct.
48 posted on 03/19/2004 7:07:16 AM PST by The Wizard
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To: Coop
John Loftus' intel has to be taken with a grain of salt, especially in light of his having insisted that Saddam Hussein was killed one year ago today, and having stuck with the story up until Saddam was captured.

Still, having said that, if the operation were a hoax, there's no real reason it couldn't have been elaborate enough to have included a set-up.

49 posted on 03/19/2004 7:07:52 AM PST by eastsider
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To: veronica
Is O.J. on the loose again?
50 posted on 03/19/2004 7:08:05 AM PST by Gysmo
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To: Bahbah
A BULLETPROOF LandCruiser" How about a Hellfire missle?

How about THIS?:


51 posted on 03/19/2004 7:08:24 AM PST by Jim Noble (Now you go feed those hogs before they worry themselves into anemia!)
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To: eastsider
John Loftus is a tinfoil hat NUT!
52 posted on 03/19/2004 7:08:47 AM PST by hobson
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To: Bahbah
Hellfire missle?

Nothing is that bulletproof. Even the 30mm chain gun on our attack copters would turn an armored passenger vehicle into metal confetti. If this story is true then I think you've got another example of Pakistani (ISI) collusion with our enemies.

53 posted on 03/19/2004 7:08:55 AM PST by katana (John Kerry, Masshole Par Excellance)
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To: treeclimber
Too bad there wasn't a car chase being captured by a helocopter overhead.

Fox News would have interrupted a speech by the angel Gabriel announcing the end of the world to bring it to us.

Leni

54 posted on 03/19/2004 7:08:57 AM PST by MinuteGal (Paradise is not lost ! You'll find it May 22 aboard "FReeps Ahoy 3". Register now for our cruise.)
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To: Allan
the whole operation was a hoax mounted by Pakistan to impress Coling Powell who had just visited Pakistan with a big offer of aid and cash.

Loftus' statements often make him seem like a complete fool.

Does he believe that US forces believe one iota of anything stated by the Pak military? Does he think that our military trusts the Paks? Does he understand that the Paks aren;t under as much scrutiny as AQ itself?

The is no finess or subtlety or refinement in much of what Loftus says. Not enough to make one believe that his resume is entirely accurate.

55 posted on 03/19/2004 7:09:12 AM PST by angkor
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To: eastsider
if the operation were a hoax,

If it was a hoax, we knew it last week. Which is not to say that it hasn't been a hoax.

56 posted on 03/19/2004 7:10:26 AM PST by angkor
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To: treeclimber
Notice that the lead sentence is offered as a fact, without any source. By contrast, even the AQ spokesman quoted in the article says that he "may have slipped out." Two questions arise: What is the legitimacy of this publication? And, what are the sources for the claims in the article?

Since no other source is reporting this, the legitimacy of this article seems to be, not much.

Congressman Billybob

Click here, then click the blue CFR button, to join the anti-CFR effort (or visit the "Hugh & Series, Critical & Pulled by JimRob" thread). Please do it now.

57 posted on 03/19/2004 7:11:58 AM PST by Congressman Billybob (www.ArmorforCongress.com Visit. Join. Help. Please.)
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To: treeclimber
Why would the Al Qaida spokesman say he escaped? If I was Al Qaida, I would wait until the dust settled to figure this one out. It won't be as hard to find this guy now since they made this announcement.

I think this announcement is garbage. I don't believe it.
58 posted on 03/19/2004 7:12:31 AM PST by truthandlife ("Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Ps 20:7))
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To: treeclimber
From what I've heard, the terrain in that area isn't well suited even for mountain goats, much less high-speed LandCruisers. What gives?
59 posted on 03/19/2004 7:12:45 AM PST by kevao
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To: angkor
Loftus' statements often make him seem like a complete fool.

No, I'm sensing there are some parts missing...
60 posted on 03/19/2004 7:13:04 AM PST by anonymous_user (Politics is show business for ugly people.)
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