Posted on 12/13/2001 10:15:28 PM PST by JohnHuang2
The al-Qaida terrorist group, blamed for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and other mass casualty incidents, has a new leader.Islamic extremist sources in Egypt revealed to the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat that Muhammad Ibrahim Makkawi, also known as Sayf-al-Adl, is the new al-Qaida military commander. The authoritative newspaper, which is owned by Saudi Arabians, said Makkawi replaced Ahmad Atif (Abu-Hafs al-Masri) after the latter was killed in recent U.S. bombing raids in Afghanistan.
Makkawi, an Egyptian who was trained as an officer in the Egyptian special forces, has been charged by the Cairo government with terrorism related to the Islamic Jihad organization activities in the past.
Makkawi is considered a first-generation leader of Islamic Jihad and has his differences with Ayman al-Zawahiri, the current Jihad leader and close aide to Osama bin Laden. Makkawi broke ranks with al-Zawahiri because he favors military-style tactics.
The FBI is offering a reward for up to $25 million for Makkawis arrest, for his role in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa. He is also a key suspect in plotting the Sept. 11 attacks.
Makkawi left Egypt in 1988 and lived in Saudi Arabia before moving on to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
This reminds me of Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz taking over as Fuehrer of the Third Reich after Hitler offed himself, and one week before Doenitz surrendered the Reich to the Allies.
Yeah, but Doenitz lived.
I actually think that Bin Laden if he does escape may be damaged goods and not as powerfull because of both his statement to fight to the death (while hiding in caves the whole time), and because no special forces agent would have much respect for a man who was stupid enough to talk about his operations on video. Especially how some of the operatives were deceived into going along not knowing it was a one way trip. Bad for recruiting.
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