You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
India-Pakistan
Bin Laden 'cut off from al-Qaeda'
2008-11-14
The CIA says Osama Bin Laden is isolated from the day-to-day operations of al-Qaeda, but that the organisation is still the greatest threat to the US.

CIA director Michael Hayden said the Saudi militant was probably hiding in the tribal area of north-west Pakistan. Mr Hayden said Bin Laden was "putting a lot of energy into his own survival" and that his capture remained the US government's top priority. In a speech to the Atlantic Council on Thursday, Mr Hayden said: "[Bin Laden] is putting a lot of energy into his own survival, a lot of energy into his own security."

"In fact, he appears to be largely isolated from the day-to-day operations of the organisation he nominally heads."

However, Gen Hayden added: "If there is a major strike on this country, it will bear the fingerprints of al-Qaeda."

The CIA believes progress has been made in curbing al-Qaeda's activities in the Philippines, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

However, Mr Hayden said other areas were showing an increase in activity, including:

East Africa: "Al-Qaeda is engaging Somali extremists to revitalise operations... al-Qaeda could claim to be re-establishing its operations base in East Africa"
The Maghreb: Attacks have worsened since the merger in 2006 of al-Qaeda and the Algerian militant group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). The GSPC has renamed itself al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Yemen: Saw an "unprecedented number of attacks" in 2008, and could become a launch-pad for attacks in Saudi Arabia
Pakistan: Safe haven has allowed al-Qaeda to train a "bench of skilled operatives"
Nevertheless, the CIA chief said the hunt for Bin Laden remained the top priority of the US security forces.

"His death or capture clearly would have a significant impact on the confidence of his followers - both core al-Qaeda and unaffiliated extremists throughout the world," he said.
Posted by:Fred

#2  Was he the tall skinny guy that also worked at the 7/11 convenience store down the street?
Posted by: JohnQC   2008-11-14 14:29  

#1  Sammy was last seen working for ACORN in the Detroit metro area.
Posted by: WilliamMarcyTweed   2008-11-14 08:28  

00:00