Success Against al-Qaeda Cited-Infiltration of Network Is a Factor

[Are_grits_groceries]

U.S. and international intelligence officials say that improved recruitment of spies inside the al-Qaeda network, along with increased use of targeted airstrikes and enhanced assistance from cooperative governments, has significantly reduced the terrorist organization's effectiveness.

A U.S. counterterrorism official said that the combined advances have led to the deaths of more than a dozen senior figures in al-Qaeda and allied groups in Pakistan and elsewhere over the past year, most of them in 2009. Officials described Osama bin Laden and his main lieutenants as isolated and unable to coordinate high-profile attacks.
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The most important new weapon in the Western arsenal is said to be the recruitment of spies inside al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations, a long-sought objective. "Human sources have begun to produce results," Richard Barrett, head of the United Nations' al-Qaeda and Taliban monitoring group, said Tuesday. Barrett is the former chief of Britain's overseas counterterrorism operations.
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But he maintained that other governments and intelligence services "have been much more amenable to cooperating with Washington because of the new image that has been projected" by Obama. "I don't want to criticize the previous administration, because they were equally motivated," he said, "but cooperating too closely with Americans at that time tainted them."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/29/AR2009092903699.html?hpid=topnews

HUMINT - Human intelligence was always one area we were behind in using. There was too much reliance on data. The US had a hard time infiltrating the enemy. However, they now appear to be able to do so.

This is how we will be able to keep Al Qaeda on the run. Defeating them has been the stated purpose all along. A brazillion troops added in Afghanistan is not the answer, and we will never be able to truly establish a stable government there.

We need to continue building ties with our allies and focus on Al Qaeda. We do not need to add more troops in Afghanistan. We need to rethink how to use any troops, and bring most home.

[Are_grits_groceries]

1. From Sun Tzu who is still relevant.

Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge. What is called "foreknowledge" cannot be elicited from spirits, nor from gods, nor by analogy with past events, nor from calculations. It must be obtained from men who know the enemy situation. Now there are five sorts of secret agents...: native, inside, doubled, expendable and living.

When these five types of agents are all working simultaneously and none knows their method of operation, they are the treasure of a sovereign.... He, who is not sage and wise, humane and just, cannot use secret agents. And he who is not delicate and subtle cannot get the truth out of them....

It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you.... And therefore only the enlightened sovereign and the worthy general who are able to use the most intelligent people as agents are certain to achieve great things. Secret agents are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBS/is_2_28/ai_84903376/

He still has it right.