Article

2009-12-12 India-Pakistan

US claims killing Abu Yahya al Libi in SWA drone strike

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Posted by Fred 2009-12-12 00:00|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top
File under: al-Qaeda

#1 Update
Sources tell CBS News the al Qaeda operative believed killed in a drone strike in Pakistan this week is Saleh al-Somali, who was in charge of external operations for the group. He was considered one of a half dozen top Qaeda operatives.

Saleh al-Somali's position as al Qaeda's external operations boss means he was in charge of plotting against the U.S. and Europe, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.

Earlier, Pakistan media had incorrectly reported that the strike killed al Qaeda's number 3 in command, Abu Yahya al-Libi.

Previously, al-Somali had worked in tribal areas of Pakistan with newly arrived Westerners recruited by al Qaeda.

Intelligence officials have confirmed that the pace of attacks by armed unmanned aerial vehicles, conducted largely by the CIA, has increased during the Obama administration.

The strikes have fanned anti-American sentiment in Pakistan because they have caused many civilian deaths. Since Jan. 28, 2008, there have been at least 67 suspected U.S. missile strikes into Pakistan, killing more than 721 people. Intelligence officials believe that at least 56 were militants, according to Pakistani intelligence officials and witnesses interviewed by The Associated Press after each strike.

Posted by tipper 2009-12-12 12:23|| 2009-12-12 12:23|| Front Page Top

#2 true stories of the Yahya Splatterhood

Posted by Frank G 2009-12-12 08:14|| 2009-12-12 08:14|| Front Page Top

#3 the dreaded #3

You think you had some crappy jobs?

Scott Adams points to the best and worst jobs in the world.

Yet another third highest ranking al-Qaida leader has been killed, this time by a rocket attack from an unmanned drone. There are a lot of jobs that I wouldnt want, and third highest ranking al-Qaida leader is right at the top. But I can tell you for sure that if I ever got that job, the first thing Id do is narc out one of the top two guys so I could move up a notch. Apparently one of the perks of being in the top two is having a really, really good hiding place. The number 3 through 10 leadership guys are pretty much scurrying between mud huts and looking at the sky a lot.

. . .

Maybe its just a guy thing but the idea of blowing up a mud hut by remote controlled drone sounds like the most fun thing I can think of. And if the number 3 al-Qaida leader happens to be inside, thats a bonus. It certainly makes your story sound less nerdy afterwards.

I find it interesting that the guy with the best job in the world gets to blow up the guy with the worst job in the world. Thats really rubbing it in. But I guess its not so different from a CEO downsizing the auditing department. Its one of those recurring themes in life.

Posted by Don Vito Anginegum8261 2009-12-12 08:22|| 2009-12-12 08:22|| Front Page Top

#4 Frank G definitely wins the "One-Line Snark of the Week" award!

Posted by Steve White 2009-12-12 10:19|| 2009-12-12 10:19|| Front Page Top

#5 *blushes*

I try for pithy~~, usually end up at pathetic~~.

Posted by Frank G 2009-12-12 03:16|| 2009-12-12 03:16|| Front Page Top

#6 ...Local Talibans and government officials have rejected the killing... Did they now. I wonder if they have pruf.

Posted by dorf56 2009-12-12 08:18|| 2009-12-12 08:18|| Front Page Top

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