Article

2005-08-19 Arabia

Saudi killing of al Qaeda cell leader shows "resolute pursuit"

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2005-08-19 00:00|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Often when a leader of a terror cell is killed or captured, somebody else steps into place to take over those responsibilities, McCormack said WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT YOU GET ANOTHER ONE : CAN BE WORSE CAN BE BETTER

Posted by boeboe 2005-08-19 05:04|| 2005-08-19 05:04|| Front Page Top

#2 I agree but given the circumstances it will probably go in the worst direction

Posted by Alex 2005-08-19 05:16|| 2005-08-19 05:16|| Front Page Top

#3 If by killing an AQ leader the chances are he will be replaced by someone worse, then the strategy should be to not kill AQ leaders. That makes no sense. What happens is you MAY get someone worse, but more likely not.
Then of course there is the prairie rattlesnake evolution phenomenon - years ago most 'rattled' but when they did, people spotted them and killed them, leaving the odd silent rattlesnake to live to procreate, so now most prairie rattlers in populated areas don't rattle.

Posted by glenmore">glenmore 2005-08-19 07:29|| 2005-08-19 07:29|| Front Page Top

#4 Glenmore's made an excellent point.

Perhaps the Saudis, with all of the billions they've got in cash and gold, could buy off some of these AQ "leaders". I'm sure they've got a breaking point... millions in cash for family, new identity cards; safe passage out of Kingdom to some tropical island in the Pacific when this "crisis" blows over; multiple, year-round supply of young, attractive virgins (sort of replaces that, you know, heavenly hothouse); and a Swiss bank account.

Indeed, just to have year round access to Candice Michelle is enough for me to sell out!

http://www.candicemichelle.com/home.asp

Posted by The Angry Fliegerabwehrkanonen 2005-08-19 08:40|| http://www.calderonswirbelwind.blogspot.com]">[http://www.calderonswirbelwind.blogspot.com] 2005-08-19 08:40|| Front Page Top

#5 so now most prairie rattlers in populated areas don't rattle.----- I would like to believe glenmore ; but do not forget that the "old" warriors indeed may be dead / tired / burned out, at the other hand in the last years you get again experienced killers from the USA war in afghanistan and Irak

Posted by boeboe 2005-08-19 12:16|| 2005-08-19 12:16|| Front Page Top

#6 Y'all appear to assume that those who replace the captured/killed leadership are equally skilled. Think to your own work experience -- it generally takes six months to master the intricacies of a new job when you move, whether it's a promotion or a lateral move. And. that presumes you already have most of the skills to do the new job. In the case of Al Qaeda, the skill set needed to successfully run a terror cell are considerably different than those needed to be cannon fodder, or even a master bomb maker. And that doesn't include the social connections and social skills necessary in such a feudal tribal society to keep key Saudi princes and local policemen willing to ignore your little group's activities. Even master bomb makers tend not to be able to handle that critical chore.

So it isn't just dependent on the absolute level of evil in the soul of the leadership replacements, but on classic management theory as well.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-08-19 13:00|| 2005-08-19 13:00|| Front Page Top

#7 The killing in Saudi Arabia of a top al Qaeda cell leader, Saleh al-Oufi, was another example of the Saudis' "resolute pursuit" of terrorists, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Thursday.

Nah, I think it's more sacrificial lamb than "resolute pursuit". Whack one of them, looks like you're doing something, get praise, and yet nothing changes behind the scenes; the Wahhabis are still playing their little games.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-08-19 13:53|| 2005-08-19 13:53|| Front Page Top

00:12 Phlashman
00:02 AJackson
23:56 Sobiesky
23:45 SR-71
23:25 Jackal
23:24 Stephen
23:19 Alaska Paul
23:14 trailing wife
23:10 trailing wife
23:09 Sobiesky
23:03 CrazyFool
23:02 JosephMendiola
22:57 BA
22:55 Mike Kozlowski
22:53 JosephMendiola
22:49 Frank G
22:39 Anonymoose
22:31 Frank G
22:17 Anonymoose
22:14 True German Ally
22:07 JosephMendiola
22:01 Captain America
22:01 Raj
21:56 Captain America