Al-Qaida Leader Believed To Be Surrounded (2nd to Osama)

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistani forces believe they have cornered and perhaps wounded Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, in a battle near the Afghan border, three senior Pakistani officials said Thursday, the first major break in the world's most intense manhunt in more than a year.

Hundreds of troops and paramilitary rangers pounded several fortress-like mud-brick compounds with artillery and fired on them from helicopter gunships, as entrenched suspects fought back hard in the mountainous region. An intelligence official said "dozens" were killed Thursday.

The officials told The Associated Press that intelligence indicated the forces had surrounded the Egyptian-born al-Zawahri in an operation that began Tuesday in South Waziristan, a semi-autonomous tribal belt long believed the most likely hiding place for the top two al-Qaida leaders.

There was no indication bin Laden was with al-Zawahri. However, the two have traveled together in the past, and bin Laden and al-Zawahri appeared jointly in video tapes released shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

The United States has offered a $25 million reward for information leading to al-Zawahri's capture. On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives doubled the reward for bin Laden's capture to $50 million.

"We have been receiving intelligence and information from our agents who are working in the tribal areas that al-Zawahri could be among the people hiding there," a Pakistani military official said. "All of our efforts are to capture him."

An intelligence official and a senior politician in President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's government both confirmed the account. All spoke on condition of anonymity.

The intelligence official said information was also coming from some of the 18 suspects arrested during Thursday's operation. Some said during interrogation that al-Zawahri was wounded in the raid, the official said. Officials said helicopter gunships and artillery would continue attacking at dawn Friday.

Musharraf told CNN that he'd spoken with the commander of Pakistani troops in the region. He said the commander reported "fierce resistance" from a group of fighters entrenched in fortress-like buildings, and that there were indications a senior figure was surrounded.

"He's reasonably sure there's a high-value target there," Musharraf said. "They are not coming out in spite of the fact that we pounded them with artillery."

The news came the same day as Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) announced in the capital, Islamabad, that Washington was bestowing the status of "major non-NATO (news - web sites) ally" on Pakistan, and praised the country for its help in the war on terror.

National security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) told CNN she could not confirm the reports.

But, she said, if al-Zawahri were captured, "it would be of course a major step forward in the war on terrorism, because he's obviously an extremely important figure. But I think we have to be careful not to assume that getting one al-Qaida leader is going to break up the organization."

The 52-year-old former Egyptian surgeon is believed to be the brains behind the terror network, with bin Laden serving more as spiritual leader and financial backer.

Often seen by bin Laden's side in videos released to Arab television networks, the doctor was also thought to serve as al-Qaida leader's personal physician.

Al-Zawahri's Egyptian Islamic Jihad was believed behind the assassination of President Anwar Sadat during a Cairo military parade in 1981. He merged the organization with al-Qaida in 1998.

Al-Zawahri has continued to spread his message since the Sept. 11 attacks in audiotapes, the latest broadcast on Feb. 24, in which he taunted President Bush (news - web sites) and threatened more attacks on the United States. Another tape criticized France's decision to ban Islamic headscarves in schools.

Under pressure from Washington, Pakistan has arrested more than 500 al-Qaida suspects and has turned most over to the United States. The last major capture was that of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the former al-Qaida No. 3, who was nabbed on March 1, 2003, in a house near the capital and quickly delivered to U.S. custody. He is being held at an undisclosed location.

The Pakistani military has been pursuing 100 tribal leaders whom authorities want to roll into their efforts to hunt al-Qaida in the Waziristan frontier. So far, about two-thirds have said they would provide information and turn over any Islamic militants in their territories, American defense officials said.

The others face destruction of their homes by the Pakistani military, officials said.

There have been several anti-terror sweeps in the tribal regions in recent months, but none so bloody as the operation that began Tuesday. Pakistani troops have moved 70,000 troops into the border region, and Musharraf on Monday promised to rid the tribal areas of foreign terrorists.

At least 41 people — 15 soldiers and 26 suspected militants — were killed Tuesday in fighting in the area. The military said Thursday that most of those killed were foreigners, but it did not give their nationalities and acknowledged that only two bodies had been recovered. The two dead included a Chechen and someone of Middle Eastern origin, a military official said on condition of anonymity.

U.S. officials say they are watching to see if the Pakistani actions send militants back into Afghanistan (news - web sites), where U.S. troops operate freely. The U.S. military on Sunday announced the start of a new operation to track down senior al-Qaida and Taliban fugitives.

Afghan officials told AP they were closely monitoring the Pakistani operation.

"We are hopeful operations being carried out in border regions will yield some desirable results," said Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Omar Samad. "If a well known figure is part of these captures ... the world will be a safer place."

Thursday's raid concentrated on three South Waziristan towns — Azam Warsak, Shin Warsak and Kaloosha. Early morning calls from mosques warned residents to leave the area, apparently to give the troops more room to operate.

Powell, who left the country hours before the news broke, also said he believed there was evidence that bin Laden is hiding in the rugged border area.

"No one has seen him, so how can one be sure?" Powell told Geo TV. "But he has certainly given evidence that he is alive and active. But we can't be sure.

"And if he is alive and active, and the evidence suggests that he is, and if he is in the area of the Pakistan-Afghan border, that's a very difficult area to find someone who doesn't want to be found."

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20040318/capt.ny12303181854.pakistan_al_zawahri_ny123.jpg'>

sure he's surrounded....by rocks. and mountains. and shit.

the war on terrorism is all but won!

[/sarcasm]

it's kinda funny that most of the world has already forgotten about afghanistan. i wonder how long it would take before everybody forgot about bin laden.

Originally posted by gfreshsushi

it's kinda funny that most of the world has already forgotten about afghanistan. i wonder how long it would take before everybody forgot about bin laden.

Yeah it's wild how short our microwave baby, mtv generation, instant gratification attention spans can be.

But it's getting close to election time and this WOULD be a tremendous political victory for Bush. This must be the rumors I've been hearing about. I'm surprised their still in the afghan-pakistan region myself. Maybe they've been waiting for us to forget about them so they can take over afghanistan again.

Originally posted by TheoHuxtable

The others face destruction of their homes by the Pakistani military, officials said.

 

speaking of terrorism

i have been saying for several months that i think we will pop up with Bin Laden in custody just in time for Bush to reap the benifit come election time. my only question on it is how close to the election 6 months ... not enough time, he would be bound to fuck up somehow to drop his ratings for election time, 2 months seems a bit more on the real ... its far enough out to generate a lot of aproval points and not give him time to fuck it up again.

thats been my view for a bit now. we will just have to see how it plays out.

if we come up with him ... im gonna say its bullshit and we have been holding onto him just for the election!!!!

i'll truly be surprised if bin laden is caught. especially with

the help of the pakistani's. that would be somethin'.........

who wired $100g's to atta before 9/11 then resigned...and

just happened to be chillin' with tenet mere days before 9/11?

the us/pak relationship is quite interesting.

How ironic...

I'm listening to Mr. Lif- Home of the Brave right now; if you don't have it, get it!

down with fucking al queda!

:smiles:

http://img34.photobucket.com/albums/v102/gooose/crazy-binjpg.jpg'>

we already caught osama. the US is going to tell all of america that we have him sooner or later before the election. people get all "ohhhh yaaaayy," and bush will be elected again. the US will let out bits of information leading to his "capture" right until, bam! the time is right and we "catch" osama.

politics.

http://img5.photobucket.com/albums/v15/Cluetwo/12oz/abc_bush_020129_nh.jpg'>

"How Ironic.."-Dubya...

If anyone rembers back in the early 90's, around 91-92 there were intelligence reports from the FBI and CIA stating that Osama was on dialisis. Chances of him still being alive now over 10 years later are rather slim , not to mention the fact that we have hundreds of troops "hunting " him down. george BUSH jr. and his daddy, DICK cheney, etc. are just a bunch of very rich white Oil man with hidden motives and a media system feeding the mass's with more bull shit then I care to swallow. I wander what really happend 9/11, one thing I know is the fact that bush was a failing president but after 9/11 things really turned around for bush , Now that election time is nearing its time to capture americas "biggest Threat"...

many other disturbing facts can be found through out the Bush take over and go way back to daddys early days and even farther back then that . But ive wasted enough time rambling about the Rulers of The Free World besides if youve read this far you probaly all ready had a clue

PLEASE IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE DO IT (I know the system is fucked up but it is all with got )

DONT IT THE SHIT THEY FEED YOU

make your own media

No Big Deal

This sudden Osama hoopla is a joke. Even if the Pakistanis find him what difference would it make. The Bush administration has already proven that they don't give a shit about our security. By forcing us into this needless war on Iraq, which of course allowed Osama to go on the back burner, they displayed their utmost priorities, oil and religious domination. Americans are smart enough to realize that this recent refocus on Osama, right before the elections, is nothing but a political ploy by the republicans. If he is found, you will see all the republican cheerleaders in all the newspapers and on all the cable channels, especially the pathetic, ultra-biased republican fox news channel, TELLING us what a great day it is and how great Bush is. But that is exactly what it is, they are TELLING us what to think and what to believe, as they have been all along. They are not allowing us to make our own judgements or form our own opinions. Mind-control. Bombarding us over and over with propaganda until many of us actually believe it. Just because something is said on tv doesn't mean it is gospel.

A few suggestions for some real news and information, where we are allowed to hear the whole story behind issues and events are--------

Truthout.org

DemocracyNow.org

Commondreams.org

free speech tv channel on dish network

The Nation magazine

the government unofficially said theyd have bin laden caught by the end of april, and forsure before election time, just what ive been hearing on cnn and stuff. of course it's all unofficial.... ahahah:rolleyes:

Re: No Big Deal

Originally posted by Fr8fiend

This sudden Osama hoopla is a joke. Even if the Pakistanis find him what difference would it make. The Bush administration has already proven that they don't give a shit about our security. By forcing us into this needless war on Iraq, which of course allowed Osama to go on the back burner, they displayed their utmost priorities, oil and religious domination. Americans are smart enough to realize that this recent refocus on Osama, right before the elections, is nothing but a political ploy by the republicans. If he is found, you will see all the republican cheerleaders in all the newspapers and on all the cable channels, especially the pathetic, ultra-biased republican fox news channel, TELLING us what a great day it is and how great Bush is. But that is exactly what it is, they are TELLING us what to think and what to believe, as they have been all along. They are not allowing us to make our own judgements or form our own opinions. Mind-control. Bombarding us over and over with propaganda until many of us actually believe it. Just because something is said on tv doesn't mean it is gospel.

A few suggestions for some real news and information, where we are allowed to hear the whole story behind issues and events are--------

Truthout.org

DemocracyNow.org

Commondreams.org

free speech tv channel on dish network

The Nation magazine

^^Guerilla marketer for the Kerry Campaign. ;)

Originally posted by Dr. EZ

If anyone rembers back in the early 90's, around 91-92 there were intelligence reports from the FBI and CIA stating that Osama was on dialisis.

DONT IT THE SHIT THEY FEED YOU

so, you believe the early '90's intelligence??

what makes what they said back then any more credible than what they are saying now?

..and by the way, dialysis patients can live for a long time.

Re: No Big Deal

Originally posted by Fr8fiend

Truthout.org

DemocracyNow.org

Commondreams.org

free speech tv channel on dish network

The Nation magazine

It's good to see you're against ultra-biased news networks.

^ beautiful isn't it?

i wish i was running around af-pakistan in a northface blasting m.o.p. on an i-pod mercing fools......

Re: Re: No Big Deal

((Originally posted by El Mamerro

It's good to see you're against ultra-biased news networks. ))

Do you have any other suggestions for non corporate-owned, unbiased media sources ?

There are no unbiased news sources. Thats why you try to get all angles on a story, from every part of the spectrum (IE the nation, the NY Times, the WSJ, and the National Review).

Their gonna shoot him in the ass with a blow dart gun.

http://www.iainesmith.homestead.com/fruit_booter.jpg'>

Well here's the latest I've dug on the resistance encountered in Pakistan....

ANGER GROWS

The Pakistani sweep of its border area comes as US troops in Afghanistan step up the hunt along that side of the border. The Pentagon calls the twin searches a "hammer and anvil" operation.

The Pakistani army has declined to give casualty figures although local officials have said about 30 soldiers and a similar number of militants have been killed since Tuesday.

At least 13 civilians have been killed.

But anger is growing over the offensive and 7,000 protesters gathered at a rally in one village on Sunday to demand troops be withdrawn.

In Islamabad, 70 Muslim clerics denounced the raid as unIslamic and issued a decree saying government soldiers killed in the operation had died as "infidels".

The government is insisting that the rebels release 12 paramilitary men and two local government officials who went missing on the first day of the battle, last Tuesday, and are believed to have been captured.

The government is also demanding that Pakistani tribesman accused of harbouring foreign fighters be handed over and that all foreign fighters surrender.

Uzbek, Chechen and other foreign militants are known to be in the area, officials say. Many of them were based in Afghanistan until the Taliban were forced from power in late 2001. Some have married Pakistani women and settled down.

Pakistani commanders say they suspect a Uzbek or Chechen militant leader is among those surrounded in a series of well-established, well-defended mud-walled compounds.

Intelligence officials said there was a possibility they included Tahir Yuldashev, leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), which wants to bring down the government of Islam Karimov and replace it with an Islamic state.

Whole article @ http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2852812a12,00.html

I was talking to some old school soldiers today and even they don't think Bush will be reelected after the shit he's pulled. I've been noticing alot of dislike towards bush as of late in the military. We are the ones getting the shit end of the bargain after all.

Haha.. One of them called Clinton the "Teflon President" cause they said nothing ever stuck to him..whitewater and all that...lewinski, oh what a row that caused but not the real shit of course... But Bush here is diggin his own grave.

Not even the electoral vote they said....

Well I just donated money to Kerry for all it's worth. And moveon.org... Hey why not. Money talks bullshit walks.....

The latest news I read is that there's a possibility that it may not be Ayman al-Zawahri, who is an Arab, and may be in fact a Chechen or Uzbek al Qaeda militant leader, due to intercepts of mostly Chechen and Uzbek radio conversations as well as mostly Chechen and Uzbek rebels have been captured in this area.

Also they say that there's a possibility that this "high-value" target already escaped since they discovered a network of tunnels leading to nearby areas.

I can't believe the Pakistanis haven't discovered who it is yet. There's only a few hundred al Qaeda fighting with a limited supply of ammo. The Pakistanis have thousands of troops with an unlimited supply of helicopter gunships, missles, tanks, trucks, etc... They should've wiped out those guerillas by now.

Originally posted by TheoHuxtable

The latest news I read is that there's a possibility that it may not be Ayman al-Zawahri, who is an Arab, and may be in fact a Chechen or Uzbek al Qaeda militant leader, due to intercepts of mostly Chechen and Uzbek radio conversations as well as mostly Chechen and Uzbek rebels have been captured in this area.

 

Also they say that there's a possibility that this "high-value" target already escaped since they discovered a network of tunnels leading to nearby areas.

 

I can't believe the Pakistanis haven't discovered who it is yet. There's only a few hundred al Qaeda fighting with a limited supply of ammo. The Pakistanis have thousands of troops with an unlimited supply of helicopter gunships, missles, tanks, trucks, etc... They should've wiped out those guerillas by now.

You forget that people don't like getting their neighborhood turned into a warzone cause some punk is hiding in the begonias....