Pakistan says al-Qaida leader hurt, hiding

[JoFerret]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&e=1&u=/ap/20040327/ap_on_re_as/al_qaida_hunt


Recently gathered intelligence indicated that al-Qaida commander Tahir Yuldash has been badly wounded and is in hiding somewhere in western Pakistan, military spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said. He admitted, though, Pakistani forces are not close to capturing him.

"He might have slipped away, he's on the run," Sultan said.
<snip>

Yuldash was previously mentioned as one of two possible "high-value targets" cornered when Pakistan's military began a sweep of South Waziristan on March 16.

The operation has left some 50 soldiers and at least a dozen civilians dead, and enflamed passions among religious hard-liners deeply opposed to the crackdown.

Sultan accused militants of "cold-blooded murder" after a tribal woman on Friday found the bodies of eight soldiers, shot at close range with their hands tied behind their backs.
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[acmavm]

1. "Badly wounded" and "on the run"? Interesting concept.

.

[darkstar]

2. Yeah, also interesting in the way

it mirrors, oh, what, at least 2 other well known "bad guy on the run" stories? Both SH and OBL were injured and on the run too. What, is this supposed to make us citizens feel better, i.e. "we didn't get him but we winged him."

Or are these guys using the same ruse over and over? Once target is beyond certain perimeter, put out a bunch of noise that the target is badly injured so the search perimeter remains narrowed? Recall how certain it seemed that SH had been wounded? IIRC, no major injuries when we caught up to him.

[yardwork]

3. I think that the Pakistan government is using the same ruse.

Shrub told them to get Osama. Shrub is supporting Pakistan against India, just forgave a whopping debt, and keeps handing out military supplies and equipment to Pakistan.

Apparently all they have to do in return is keep saying that they "are close" to catching Osama, or some other biggie in al Quaida.

Apparently Shrub is stupid enough to believe this, which any five-year old could see through the third or fourth time Pakistan does it.

[Yupster]

5. Just a flesh wound

If he comes back we will taunt him yet again.

[Just Me]

4. Uh huh,...isn't there mounting evidence that, without the Taliban,...

,...Pakistan would not exist? And, isn't there mounting evidence that Pakistan was the protector of the Taliban, and the Taliban the protector of UBL/OBL? And, isn't there increasing evidence that our government provided aid to both the nation of Pakistan and the "Freedom Fighters", Taliban.

WTF is going on? This may end up being historically recorded as proof of how runamuck greed and power by those at the top fractures the whole freakin' world.

[pinto]

6. holy hell in a handbasket, where's my scorecard?

Isn't this the Uzbek Islamist militant with ties to ISI (Pakistani Secret Police), Taliban, Al Qaeda and Iranian Islamist militants?

Seems there exists a borderless Islamist movement throughout South Asia, including our "close ally" Pakistan.

It seems pretty entrenched as a grass roots presence every EXCEPT Iraq...

well it WAS, 'till we made Iraq safe for civil war.

Thanks, Busboy. Mission Accomplished.

[Mari333]

7. too late, too little doesnt matter now

Bush admin just created so many Osama Bin Ladens and terrorists by attacking Iraq, getting anyone now doesnt mean shit.
Bush created a new Al Queda. and we knew it would.