May 4, 2005
NEXT STOP, UZBEKISTAN:
Captured: the al-Qaeda No 3 who controlled terror cells in Britain (Zahid Hussain in Islamabad and Daniel McGrory, 5/05/05, Times of London)
BRITAIN and America claimed a breakthrough in their war on terrorism yesterday when Pakistani security forces seized al-Qaeda’s third-in-command after a gunfight near the Afghan border.President Bush said the capture of Abu Farj al-Libbi, a Libyan with a $5 million (£2.6 million) price on his head, represented a “critical victory in the war on terror”.
Mr Bush described al-Libbi as a “top general” for Osama bin Laden and a “major facilitator and chief planner for the al-Qaeda network”. His arrest “removes a dangerous enemy who was a direct threat to America”.
Western intelligence agencies regard al-Libbi as commander of the terror network’s day-to-day operations, and the one who runs its terror cells abroad, including recruits in Britain. British intelligence agents will be allowed to question al-Libbi.
Al-Libbi, 28, is also believed to be among the handful of al-Qaeda operatives likely to know the whereabouts of bin Laden.
This is a crystal clear case for torture. He's never going to see an American court of law, so there's no question of a fake confession, but we need to know what he knows. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 4, 2005 10:38 PM
the (recent) pictures i have seen pretty much indicate someone has been using this dude's head for pinata practice. its all swelled up and funny looking. maybe he had some plastic surgery that went bad. in any event his partying days are over.
Posted by: cjm at May 5, 2005 12:34 AMWhat kind of organization has a number three guy who is only 28? These guys are finished.
Posted by: Randall Voth at May 5, 2005 4:09 AMIt would seem the Pakistani police use Carmen Miranda rights. You get to wear a fruit hat while being beaten into unconsciousness.
Posted by: bart at May 5, 2005 7:45 AMRandall:
Not according to a commentating "expert" on NPR yesterday morning. Didn't catch the name. Don't you know that Al Qaeda is just like the US military? There is ALWAYS someone who has been trained to step up immediately. You can never get rid of them because: IT'S JIHADISTS ALL THE WAY DOWN!!!
Posted by: Rick T. at May 5, 2005 11:35 AMWar is a young man's game. Like mathematicians and musical prodigies, warmakers do their best work in their 20's and 30's. Napoleon was 26 when he first became a full general. Alexander was 23. At 28, he's slacking if he's only third.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at May 5, 2005 12:13 PMChris,
You mean like the 60 year old Pershing, the 50+ Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley, Halsey? Lee was in his 50s and Grant and Sherman in their late 40s.
Even Julius Caesar was in his mid 40s when he conquered Gaul and his early 50s when he beat Pompey, also in his 50s.
Posted by: bart at May 6, 2005 7:04 PM