Al Qaeda Planner in Pakistan Killed by Drone

[Turborama]

Source: NYT

A missile fired this week by a Central Intelligence Agency drone over Pakistan’s tribal regions killed a top operations planner for Al Qaeda, American counterterrorism officials said Friday.

An American intelligence official said there were “strong indications” that a drone strike this week killed Saleh al-Somali, a member of Al Qaeda’s inner circle who was taking refuge in the mountainous tribal belt in western Pakistan. The report came amid a swirl of conflicting information about recent C.I.A. strikes in Pakistan, which have grown so frequent that several may occur in the same day.

Pakistani officials said a drone strike this week killed another top Qaeda operative, Abu Yahya al-Libi, but American officials disputed that claim. Mr. Libi has emerged as one of the terror network’s rising figures by posting dozens of radical videos on militants’ Web sites, and the rumors of his death spread through jihadi Internet forums.

The Obama administration in recent weeks has approved a C.I.A. plan to expand clandestine operations inside Pakistan, including the number of drone aircraft in the country and flying them over a wider territory. The plan is awaiting approval by Pakistan’s government.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/world/asia/12drone.html?hp

[Garam_Masala]

1. Which is exactly why Obama is correct in beefing up military forces in Afghanistan

Its the only place close enough to the lawless region of Pakistan border where
Al Qaeda leadership has found shelter.

[RedCloud]

6. Many China should tofu up their forces in response?

[EFerrari]

13. LOL

:yourock:

[Honeycombe8]

28. True. nt

[L. Coyote]

2. Murder by drone was coming under fire. Can't have that sort of human right.

Can't have that sort of human rights, protection of innocents from attack by robots.

[provis99]

4. drone, and what next, Cylons?

"The Cylons/Drones have returned, and they have a plan..."

[lapfog_1]

5. Not quite. Attack by an unmanned drone is not the same thing.

Is there really a significant difference between a person, sitting in a cockpit, watching a flat panel screen, moving electronic cross-hairs over a target and pressing a button that sends a signal over some wires that fire a missile at the target... or a person, sitting in a container building, watching a flat panel screen, moving electronic cross-hairs over a target, etc?

I really can't see the difference between an attack by a fighter bomber and attack by a drone, other than the placement of the "pilot".

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

32. Exactly.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[L. Coyote]

11. I'll try to explain the concept human for you

H U M A N

[high density]

10. Can we have protection of innocents from suicide nutjobs?

Thanks.

[L. Coyote]

12. Apparently not if we continue killing innocents by the thousands.

Perhaps if we declared peace instead of wars we might. But hey, the USA was built on a century of genocide. Can't have CHANGE now, can we!

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

33. al-Qaeda has repeatedly stated that they're at war with our country

You sincerely believe the best course of action is to "declare peace" and hope to God they decide not to continue attacking us?

[Bhaisahab]

44. There is no such thing as al-Qaeda

Merry Christmas.

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

82. There are such things as Islamic militants hiding out in AfPak, call them what you like

Merry Christmas.

[high density]

40. OK, so Al Qaeda is getting back for what we did to the Indians?

Got it... :crazy:

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

41. LOL

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

31. Please clarify. What are you attempting to say? That this was staged?

[Turborama]

43. **CRCKETS**

[demosincebirth]

3. Love those Drones.

[OneTreeLove]

9. love those drones too!

[Mudoria]

27. +1

[Lasher]

30. + 1

:fistbump:

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[L. Coyote]

14. "American intelligence official said there were “strong indications” .... "

Ahhh, the fine print.

If Mr. Somali was indeed killed, it would be a significant blow, an American official said. Little is known about Mr. Somali, but one American official said he was probably responsible for plotting attacks against the West. .... officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information about the C.I.A. drone program is classified.

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

34. Specifics aren't typically provided to the press

when our sources are still being used to gather intelligence within a country - and, in this case, they are. What we know for certain is that Somali was a high ranking al-Qaeda figure with contacts to several militant groups within Pakistan as well as with the extremely brutal, sexist, and all around messed up al-Shabaab militants of Somalia. Killing him has undoubtedly disrupted al-Qaeda's ability to coordinate attacks and has also disrupted their ability to gain ground in one of the areas of the world the U.S. has been most concerned about them further setting up shop - Somalia.

[Algorem]

15. actually a wedding planner but at least they were half right

[JDPriestly]

16. What is to prevent someone from pointing the finger at a personal

enemy or just a random, innocent person and then claiming that an Al Qaeda leader was killed? How can they ever know for sure where the Al Qaeda leader was and whether that leader was killed? This sounds really hit and miss, hope and wish, to me.

How can they be sure they are not mistaking the identity of their targets? I realize that satellites can photograph a lot of stuff on the ground very clearly so they could see a face, but many people look similar. Family members, for instance, relatives also, can look very similar, can be mistaken for each other.

There is a reason for trials. In trials, evidence is presented. In a public criminal trial, it can be determined beyond reasonable doubt that the person being tried is guilty. Here we are killing random people because the are "evil," but we don't really have any means of determining beyond a reasonable doubt a) whether they are the person they are claimed to be, b) whether they have ever done anything that would justify a death penalty under any system of justice in the world.

Maybe my objections have been dealt with. I'm just wondering. Maybe there is a technology that can identify, try and convict a suspect via satellite or via the intelligence of some third party in a country like Pakistan. What do you think? Is that realistically possible. Sounds like science fiction (bad science fiction) to me. Sounds like the imaginings of writer of cheap TV scripts.

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

35. I would counter with this

The drones don't simply fly in, quickly fire some missiles, and then fly away again. Usually they conduct hours, if not days, of surveillance on their targets, all of which is supplemented by intelligence on the ground.

[JDPriestly]

37. Oh! Thanks for the explanation.

[TomCADem]

17. Top al-Qaeda planner apparently killed in Pakistan

Source: Washington Post

An apparent U.S. missile strike along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan is believed to have killed a top al-Qaeda operations planner this week, U.S. counterterrorism officials said Friday. If confirmed, this would be the second deadly attack against a senior terrorist leader this fall.

Saleh al-Somali was one of two Arab men thought to have been killed when a pair of missiles tore into their car Tuesday near the town of Miran Shah in North Waziristan province, according to U.S. sources and Pakistani officials in the region. Local authorities said the missiles were fired by an unmanned aircraft of the type operated by the CIA inside Pakistan's lawless tribal belt.

"They were driving in a white car, heading toward the Afghan border, when the car was hit," said an official with Pakistan's civilian intelligence agency, speaking by phone from Miran Shah. The official said suspected local militants rushed to the spot and quickly confiscated what remained of the "totally demolished bodies."

Local authorities were unable to verify the victims' identities, but two U.S. counterterrorism officials cited unspecified evidence that Somali was among the dead. Somali was described as a senior al-Qaeda military planner who ran the terrorist group's operations outside the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/11/AR2009121104037.html

[Ozymanithrax]

18. It's tough being #3.

and actually makes #2 look good.

[niyad]

19. so how many "2's have we killed so far?

[FarLeftFist]

20. Did we win? Is it over?

Mission accomplished?

[valerief]

21. 99 al Qaeda dudes left to kill. 99 dudes left to kill. We take one down.

Costs half a million pounds. 98 dudes left to kill.
98 al Qaeda dudes left to kill...

:-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-( :-(

War is so pointless for so many people.

[wtmusic]

22. What's another coupla brown bodies at this point. nt

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

36. Do tell, what do you feel race has to do with this?

[wtmusic]

38. Plenty

What kind of coverage would this have gotten if they were white bodies?

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

39. This *is* getting a lot of coverage as is.

[Mithreal]

23. Unspecified evidence? Works for me, you too?

[L. Coyote]

29. In a newspaper that prints the lies all the time. Yeah, no doubts here.

But hey, now drones are more popular with the sheeple on DU! :rofl:

Plus, they just sold another one to the taxpayers grandchildren and get to collect interest on the debt for 40 years.

[Vidar]

24. Again???

[santamargarita]

25. Have we ever killed a #2 al-Qaeda?

[Imajika]

26. No, no, never #2, it's always #3 who gets screwed...

Being a #3 is like an automatic death sentence. I am sure most aspiring al-Queda members moving up the career ladder probably try to level out at #4. If your promoted to #3, you know they are trying to get rid of you without formally having to deal with layoff paperwork, benefit issues, etc. #2 also uses this as a means of protecting his job security since no one survives long enough in the position just below his to ever move up any further.

[Frank Cannon]

42. Being #3 in al-Qaeda is like wearing a red shirt in Star Fleet

[Bhaisahab]

45. LOL! Good one brother! n/t

[Botany]

46. AP source: Al-Qaida operative killed by US missile

Source: AP

By LOLITA C. BALDOR and PAMELA HESS (AP) – 9 hours ago
WASHINGTON — A senior al-Qaida operations planner was killed in an American missile strike
this week in western Pakistan, a U.S. counterterrorism official said Friday.

Saleh al-Somali was responsible for the terror group's operations outside the Afghanistan-Pakistan
region, reaching into activities in Africa, according to U.S. intelligence, and is suspected of being involved
in plotting attacks against the United States and Europe, the official said. He was killed by an unmanned
drone missile Tuesday, the official said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss covert operations, said al-Somali was part of
al-Qaida's senior leadership circle and had connections to other Pakistan-based extremists. His role was
to take guidance from senior leaders and develop plans for prospective terrorist attacks, the official said.

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

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gBPkqlbYFAsre3cNERv-qx56OqngD9CHHE7O0

---

Well at least they are not calling him # 2 anymore. Now can we declare victory and go home?

[madrchsod]

47. as we used to say in my union shop...everyone moves up in senority!

[Pavulon]

48. When we start killing guys in the Magic Kingdom and bankers in Zurich

who run logistics and finance wake me up. Killing meatpuppets is not going to "win" this. Once guys with money get the idea that someone will shot them in the face in an airport bathroom for participating in al-q then we make a difference.

[timo]

49. Anybody??

Does anybody ever wonder if this shit even really happens? I mean who knows who the guy was/is? or if there even was a missile strike. We have to take their word for it, but they have lied to us sooooooo many times before, is it even worth believing anymore?

[Botany]

50. If this is true and he was really a bad guy I am glad he is dead but ....

.... how about going after the Saudis who paid for 9/11, the people that let it happen,
and the people who lied to start a war to make money and get oil?

BTW one of my best friend's son will be sitting on some God awful place
in Afghanistan right over the border from Pakistan next month (after 2 tours in
Iraq) surrounded by Taliban & other thugs .... can't we just declare victory
and go home?

[rollingrock]

80. It's bullshit

this story is about as believable as the official account of Pat Tillman's death, or the 'WMDs' in Iraq IMO.

[thereismore]

51. WESTERN Pakistan? Did you catch that? I thought they were in the east, north-east. WTF nt

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

64. No, they're generally in the northwestern part of Pakistan

[boppers]

71. East and North East are the Indian border.

Afghanistan is the western border.

[geckosfeet]

52. How much per missle? For one asshole? 1000 more are waiting to fill his shoes.

We will run out of money before they run out of assholes.

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

65. Actually, intelligence thus far indicates they have a severe manpower shortage

[boppers]

72. Cost depends on the missile.

Sidewinders are $85K. Hellfires cost $68K. GBU-38 JDAMs are $35K. GBU-12 Paveway II is the cheapest, at $19K.... which is cheaper than putting someone in prison for a year.

[quaker bill]

53. Put enough heat on middle management

and sooner or later one will "accidentally" reveal the location of senior management. Or at least, so goes the theory. At some point these folks will want to get back to traditional Afghan business, run some guns, run some drugs, make lots of money and live large. The occasional and unpredictable hellfire missle truly messes up the natural order of things.

[FarCenter]

55. From his name, this guy would be from Somalia

So maybe the Pashtuns didn't feel as obligated to give hime all the protections demanded by the Pashtun code of hospitality.

[CJCRANE]

57. It seems like the guys

with the naming convention {Firstname} {Nationality} are like the redshirts in Star Trek.

My advice to anyone with a name like Jimmy the Greek is: don't join al-Qaeda.

[FarCenter]

70. Those probably aren't real names

Most likely it is a nom de guerre.

[rayofreason]

79. excellent! n/t

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

66. Generally, whoever is involved in directing operations outside of AfPak

is far more exposed than those who work within the region. They have to establish and maintain ties outside of the region which makes them easier to detect, thus easier to be kill or capture.

[twitomy]

54. Good!

I dance on the bastards grave :bounce:

[ima_sinnic]

56. just keep shelling out those taxpayer dollars & you will be perpetually "dancing"

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

67. Whatever that missile cost was probably worth it in this case.

[ima_sinnic]

68. oh, yeah. I'm sure. they can always justify picking our pockets for war,

for increasing their blood-stained bottom line. there will always be some "al-Qaeda top leader" to kill--indefinitely, forever, at a cost of billions, not to mention the cost in lives. how very convenient that our "mission" to "eliminate" "al qaeda" by its very nature spawns more and more to hunt down and murder. that is now our only real industry.

RAH RAH RAH!! USA! USA! USA!!! KILL KILL KILL!

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

74. A few facts that invalidate your argument

The first being that the "al-Qaeda top leader" killed proclamation is not used that heavily. As has been pointed out numerous times, this is the first such proclamation in over a year.

The second being that al-Qaeda's ranks are actually suffering pretty heavily in the region. Every leader we kill is not spawning "more and more" al-Qaeda fighters for us to kill, quite the opposite. Only an estimated 100 al-Qaeda fighters actually remain in the area.

[twitomy]

75. Damn, thats a good point!

With one breath you hear, "It will only create more terrorists", and the next, "There are no Al-Queda in Afghanistan"...If we are "creating more terrorists" with each kill, the whole region would be overrun with them like cockroaches in a slum by now.

[twitomy]

73. Well then I will be getting the doctor recommended

amount of exercise ,wont I? A Win Win. I stay healthy, murderous religious nut cases dead!

[TheWatcher]

76. If you want to really prove you're a man and get some real exercise

Try Enlisting and fighting in your beloved War On....Well, whatever they are calling it this week.

America....FUCK YEAH!

:eyes:

[twitomy]

77. Nah dont think I need to prove myself a man to anyone

I got past that need after adolescence/early adulthood. You? Feeling a need to prove yourself to someboday reflects insecurity.

While I wish we could all live in a lollipop sugar and spice gumdrop world like you, the harsh reality is that as long as man can hold evil in his heart, there will have to be some kiling done so that the rest of us can live in peace. I am thankful there are men "on the walls" willing to do this dirty job, despite the many to who do not appreciate it or worse yet condemn it while enjoying its benefits.

[TheWatcher]

81. So, you're basically a coward who wants someone else to do the "dirty work" in your name.

Thanks for clarifying that.

As for the rest of your deluded drivel, it's clear you haven't got the first CLUE about what these wars are REALLY about, or what is happening in your country, or the rest of the world. Not that you give a shit about the rest of the world. Only that you're kept "safe" from the "boogeyman".


Nor do you have a clue that these "men on the walls" as you so ridiculously refer to are fighting and dying in two quagmires that have nothing to do with freedom, democracy, or the greater good, much less some mythical "War On Terror" that the criminals from the last dictatorship sold you.

And since you're too much of a coward to actually go "participate" in this myth you seem to believe in, go Gobble your cheeseburgers, swill your cheap beer, lather yourself in your Football, and be proud of your ignorance.

And don't worry, the criminals you worship will kill PLENTY more mythical "terrorists", so you can cheer it on from your lazy chair.


Go Graze.

[twitomy]

83. Tsk Tsk arent we a bit testy?

You analogy is stupid. I cant support my fireman unless I am willing to become one. I cant support the policeman unless I am willing to become one. I cant support and appreciate ANYONE who does a dangerous job unless I am willing to do the same...Yawn! Is that the best you got?

How can I graze like a sheep if I have to eat burgers like a carnivore? Actually I prefer
a double quarter pounder hold the cheese. Not big on beer but I like Coke (so as to not confuse you, the "legal" Coke) I have lost a lot interest in football, too busy with my sideline business. But, hey if throwing insults in lieu of a reasoned response floats your boat, have at it. I'm a big boy, I can take it.

Meanwhile, hats off to our Armed Forces for making a grease stain out of another terrorist!

[TheWatcher]

84. Your enitre thought process and reasoning is stupid. Color me not impressed.

Thanks for proving my point.

Yet another Armchair Warrior who wants others to die for some mythical "War On Terror", but is too much of a coward to serve his country in this "Great Fight Against The Terrorists."

You're beyond pathetic.

You can take it because you're too stupid and brainwashed to even understand anything beyond the narrow little paradigm which you live in order to function.

You think the analogy is stupid because you are too uninformed to even understand what these wars are about.

Go back to Free Republic.

There are plenty of idiots who think like you there.

Like I said, please ENLIST and grow a pair.

If we have to be a Rogue Nation, I would much rather some moron like you make a sacrifice for nothing than some of the really good people who have fought and died for nothing in these "wars".

More of your kind lost in a meat grinder is definitely no great loss.

[twitomy]

85. You sound angry and violent

For a supposed "peace-loving" Barney-the-Purple-Dinosaur feller like yourself.
Remember, if you want to change the world, start with yourself!

But since that doesnt look probable, I think the 'Corp could use a fire in the belly guy like you!

Well I guess this iswhere I am supposed to call you names back, like "terrorist sympathizer" or something like that? Nah, thats too easy and besides, I would just be mirroring you! LOL!

Peace! (Copyright 2009 Brought to you by the United States Armed Forces)

[psychopomp]

86. You sound angry and petulant

Your tone is combative and your rhetoric precludes any effort at discourse. I suggest that it is not conducive to an open, free dialogue.

I want to bring our troops home and I support their efforts in Afghanistan just as long as it enables us to gtfo asap. However, I don't demonize the military and, having lived overseas for most of my adult life, have come to appreciate how important it is to have a strong military. You may think that makes me a sheep, but if it hits the fan here in East Asia I'll wish those called
to serve the best of luck in winning the day.

[rollin74]

59. +1

[Blandocyte]

58. Yay!

Everything's going great! Awesome! Yeah, baby! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! More war please!

:sarcasm:

[CJCRANE]

60. The one big difference

between Bush-Cheney and Obama is that at least Obama is focused on defeating al-Qaeda for real.

Despite their rhetoric, Bush-Cheney were not only incompetent it seems that they were deliberately creating more terrorists (and who knows what Blackwater were up to; my guess is that they were paid to *not* hit the top al-Qaeda guys).

[ima_sinnic]

61. whatever. so they say. (nt)

[humbled_opinion]

63. Regarding the killing of innocent people the difference

between Bush and Obama is only a matter of numbers now. Nothing else.

[Devil_Fish]

62. We needed a whole missle to kill one person? It's no wonder we are bankrupt. NT

[Pavulon]

69. We could drop a 500lb bomb

or shoot him in the face. Either way he is a dead meatpuppet.

[pinniped]

78. I'm surprised this alleged senior al-Qaeda operations planner didn't....

have the will and fortitude al-Zarqawi exhibited when he was being pursued all over the planet.

Al-Zarqawi narrowly escaped shot up taxi cabs, missile explosions, assassinations, and countless other brushes with death, all while hobbling on his one good leg.

The propagandists could claim to kill 100 of these so-called senior al-Qaeda leaders a day, but it doesn't mean shit because it's back to business as usual.