THANK YOU, CIA:

Capture of Sept. 11 Figure Very Significant -U.S. (Reuters, 3/01/03)

The capture of suspected Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is "extraordinarily significant" because he is critical to planning future assaults on the United States, a senior U.S. official said on Saturday.

"He's the senior-most al Qaeda guy to be captured yet," the official told Reuters.

"He was critical to not only the planning for the September 11, 2001, attacks but also is central to the planning for future attacks, so his capture is extraordinarily significant," he said.

Pakistan said it had arrested Mohammed on Saturday in a major breakthrough in the international crackdown against Osama bin Laden's network.

If only we could fight al Qaeda while we fight Iraq.... Posted by Orrin Judd at March 1, 2003 4:34 PM