NOT A BAD LESSON TO TEACH:

Officials: Al-Qaida's No. 2 once at attack site (EN-LAI YEOH, January 22, 2006, Chicago Sun-Times)

Ayman al-Zawahri, the apparent target of the U.S. attack Jan. 13, met his deputy, Abu Farraj al-Libbi, in Damadola last year, the security official said.

Al-Libbi, a Libyan, had confessed to Pakistani interrogators after his capture in May 2005 he met al-Zawahri at Damadola, near the Afghan border, earlier in the year. Al-Libbi was captured after a shootout in northwestern Pakistan.

Another high-ranking intelligence official confirmed al-Libbi's account of the meeting, which took place a few months before his arrest. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

''His statement was later verified, and we were able to confirm that al-Zawahri visited Damadola,'' the first official said.

The home was among three destroyed in the pre-dawn air strike that killed 13 villagers.

Hard to see a downside to people worrying that if they ever meet with al Qaeda they're permanently on our target list.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 22, 2006 8:52 AM