U.S. Captures Senior Al Qaeda Leader, Sources Say

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | 11/15/02

[B-bone]

U.S. Captures Senior Al Qaeda Leader, Sources Say

1 hour, 8 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One of the top two-dozen al Qaeda leaders sought by the United States in its war on terrorism was captured recently and is in American custody, U.S. government sources said on Friday.

The sources declined to name the operative for Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s network who was caught in the past week or so. But it was not top lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahri, operational leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, nor bin Laden's son Saad.

U.S. authorities have become increasingly concerned this week that al Qaeda was planning fresh attacks.

The FBI (news - web sites) said that in selecting its next targets, the network may favor "spectacular attacks" that result in mass casualties and severe damage to the U.S. economy.

Contributing to that concern was an audio tape broadcast earlier this week on the al-Jazeera television channel in Qatar believed to be of bin Laden praising recent attacks and making fresh threats.

The United States blamed bin Laden and his al Qaeda network for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America that killed about 3,000 people.

Senior al Qaeda leaders in U.S. custody include Abu Zubaydah and Ramzi Binalshibh, who were being interrogated at an undisclosed location overseas.

"There have been a number of -- numerous senior leaders of al Qaeda that have either been eliminated, incarcerated or detained someplace," national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) said without elaborating.

President Bush (news - web sites) earlier this week, in response to a question about the audio tape, said, "We'll chase these people down one at a time. It doesn't matter how long it takes, we'll find them and bring them to justice."

[jdogbearhunter]

"Where's the due process????"

St. Peter took care of that right after we "smoked" 'em.

[Angelus Errare]

What do you mean "would?"

He already is. Al-Qaeda's mad scientists Abu Khabab and Midhat Mursi are up in northern Iraq right now with Ansar al-Islam (the Iraqi al-Qaeda) brewing up sarin, ricin, and VX to use against the US. Saddam has taken no moves against them, so if you read between the lines you can see that he supports or at least tolerates their goals and has some assurance that they won't use those weapons against him.

Also, Abu Musab Zarqawi (scroll up to see his position) was in Baghdad just last August. What do you think he was doing there?

To say nothing of Salman Pak, the al-Qaeda training camp just south of Baghdad that continues to pump out more soldiers for their twisted cause.

Finally, this bin Laden audio (real or not) should clear up any doubts about an alliance between Iraq and al-Qaeda. The speaker is threatening retaliation against any US action in Iraq. Now why would he do that unless he had something to gain by trying to keep the international community off Saddam's back? Al-Qaeda was trying to preserve an ally in that last tape, methinks.

[swatter]

The article says "recently" caught. Do ya suppose Dubya caught the guy one or two months ago and just now decided to release the information? I have heard that one or two "bigs" were caught one to two months ago but it was never reported by TV or mainstream press.

[Tallguy]

This is where all the goody-two-shoes mentality of the liberals runs into a brick wall. Can you imagine the outcry from Tom Daschle if such attacks occur and we had in our custody someone who knew the details but wasn't talking? Can you imagine the outcry from Tom Daschle if a bunch of attacks are averted but some al Qaeda leader was tortured to reveal details?

Either way Daschle will whine.

Which is why, fellow Freeper, Tom Daschle is not fit to be president. Anyone who would consider Tom Daschle a serious candidate is either dimwitted or a network anchor or both.

[Republic]

Isn't it about time we left some cheese outside tommy's office-just so that he doesn't have his whines without a compliment?

[wayoverontheright]

This is truly lame. Daschle reminds Bush that Al Queda is still at large so the administration announces they've captured an anonymous mid-level agent to calm the public.

It's al-Qaeda.

You know, if there's one thing this President has shown it's that he has no propensity whatsoever to play political games. It just seems to us that Daschle's diatribe was meant to accuse more than "remind", and our evidence for that is that every single thing he has done or said lately HAS been one hundred percent political!

[ST.LOUIE1]

In fact, I was expecting breaking news that Binny DNA had been found in Afghanistan!

The 'old head on the platter' would be better.

If he hasn't been squished by a bomb yet....

...just think how much fun we'll have if he's found - sans bomb. Won't it be loverly?! : )

[usconservative]

Well, I have something to say to Little Tommy Daschle, the Senate MINORITY Leader:

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

How about not drumming up a war with Iraq and actually FINDING THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING 3000 AMERICANS!

I, for one, believe there is a connection. I can't prove it, and the American Government hasn't said they can prove it either. But if they could prove it, they would have to use some rather hush hush methods, so they couldn't say they proved it.

Now that I've contorted that locution enough, short version: it's two sides of the same coin, IMO.

[areafiftyone]

I wonder if it is that One-eyed camel faced Mullah Omar?

[Dog]

This just broke on Fox....

[indianaconservative]

So you say that a country of about 300 million can only perform one task at a time? We know that the alphabet media is only capable of one major story at a time but I think we have plenty of resources to cover both of these.

[cake_crumb]

But...but...Tommy Daschle said that we haven't killed or captured any al Qaeda...oh that's right: the Democrats are the Party of Piece.

[Kilborn]

A war with another country that we are going to start and an effort to round up the people responsible for killing Americans and others around the world are simply "tasks"?

Typical...

[Chairman_December_19th_Society]

the Party of Piece.

Yes, they are. One piece of work!

[Dog]

BREAKING!

This is an ongoing operation...!!!!!!!

A snatch and grab!......per Fox News.

[Dog]

See 76...

[Angelus Errare]

Any word yet on who?

[valleygal]

I just saw it on the bottom of the screen on FOX but think I missed the actual story. I just turned on the TV.

[El Gato]

Extract as much info, then kill him low and slow.

Do you suppose this is where at at least some of the more explicit information on "spectacular attacks" and so forth is coming from. Somewhat bolstered by the increase in com traffic amoungst the Al Quesy types?