Only "US official" goes on record to say # 3 terrorist is dead

[Jeffersons Ghost]

The first NYT story makes it clear that the CIA achieved another Drone-hit but neither story names the "US official." I hope its not a US Census Taker saying this stuff.

Strike Is Said to Kill a Top Qaeda Leader
By ERIC SCHMITT
Published: May 31, 2010
WASHINGTON — The operational leader for Al Qaeda in Afghanistan was killed in an American missile strike in Pakistan’s tribal areas in the last two weeks, according to a statement the group issued late Monday that American officials believe is correct.

The militant leader, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, an Egyptian, was a top financial chief for Al Qaeda as well as one of the group’s founders, and was considered by American intelligence officials to be the organization’s No. 3 leader, behind Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, another Egyptian...

Under President Obama, the C.I.A. has steadily increased the number of missile attacks against targets in Pakistan’s tribal areas by remotely piloted Predator and Reaper drones. As of May 28, the C.I.A. had carried out 38 strikes this year, compared with 53 for all of 2009, according to The Long War Journal, a Web site that tracks the number of strikes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/asia/01qaeda.html?hp

Senior al-Qaeda leader 'killed' in Afghanistan
Al-Qaeda's number three leader and Afghan operations chief, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, has been killed, reports say.

Mr Yazid, also known as Sheikh Said al-Masri, died along with his wife and three children, Islamist websites said, quoting a statement from al-Qaeda.

US officials say they believe he was killed recently in the tribal areas of Pakistan in an American drone attack.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10200712.stm

[Mari333]

1. the lies are getting old.

nice, wife and kids too.

we are barbarians.

[NJmaverick]

4. So is it a lie or not? You seem to have it both ways

you are calling it a lie while condemning the government for the things you are calling lies

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Wondr how many more times they wil kill him.

Remember that the " # 2 Al-Kada leader" was killed by the Bush admin. about 6 times over a 4 year period.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

10. he's not as important, so they'll only kill him 3 times or 4 at the most

[DefenseLawyer]

3. Ya know, Normy, it's a little known fact that we've killed many prominent terrorists in Pakistan

[Jeffersons Ghost]

7. good one! if its a Postal Worker, I hope they don't get "disgruntled"

[TransitJohn]

5. Haven't we been taking out al qaeda #s 2 and 3 since 2001?

I don't even think al qaeda exists, but it does make an effective boogeyman.

[DefenseLawyer]

8. The "#2's" we took out were all from "al Qaeda in Iraq"

Not the "original" al Qaeda. "Al Qeada in Iraq" was an insurgent group that gave themselves that name. To my knowledge it has never been established that they had any direct connection to the original. Being their "number two man" has indeed proven a dead end job though. Dr. al Zawahiri, on the other hand, has always been the #2 man in Al Qaeda and he hasn't been touched.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

11. Americans deserve fresh boogeymen. I'm sick of bin Laden....

WE SHOULD DEMAND FRESH BOOGEYMEN EVERY YEAR!!! I may form a T-party-like protest group, so we can have fresh boogeymen. For now, I'm calling it the Pot Party.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

12. see wer're finally winning. How many times can you kill Bin Laden?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. The push button heroes got his wife and 3 children too. Hurrah!

“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy.” - Gandhi

[Jeffersons Ghost]

13. we refer to that as collateral damage

[Renew Deal]

9. The first story I saw sourced someone "connected" to al queda.

:shrug:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

14. they don't want to look stupid either