Al-Qaida says it is holding US hostage in Pakistan

[Bosonic]

Source: AP

ISLAMABAD (AP) -- Al-Qaida claimed responsibility Thursday for the kidnapping of a 70-year-old American aid worker in Pakistan in August, and issued a series of demands for his release.

In a video message posted on militant websites, al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri said Warren Weinstein would be released if the United States stopped airstrikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. He also demanded the release of all al-Qaida and Taliban suspects around the world.

"Just as the Americans detain all whom they suspect of links to al-Qaida and the Taliban, even remotely, we detained this man who is neck-deep in American aid to Pakistan since the 1970s," al-Zawahri said, according to a translation provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant messages.

Weinstein was abducted by armed men from his house in the eastern city of Lahore on Aug. 13. Police and U.S. officials have not publicly said who they believed was holding him, but Islamist militant groups were the main suspects.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PAKISTAN_ABDUCTED_AMERICAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Ian David]

1. I bet they kill him right before the election. n/t

[oberliner]

2. Al Qaeda claims kidnapping of American Warren Weinstein

Source: Christian Science Monitor

Al Qaeda chief Ayman al- Zawahiri announced in a recording that the terror outfit is holding hostage an American development worker abducted in August.

Unidentified gunmen nabbed Warren Weinstein from his home in Lahore, Pakistan, just days before he planned to move back to the US. The case quickly went cold, with an unusually long period of silence until Mr. Zawahiri’s message. During that time, Mr. Weinstein may have been passed up a chain of criminal and terrorist outfits before winding up with Al Qaeda.

Weinstein headed up the Pakistan office for consulting firm J.E. Austin Associates, Inc. The company was working on US Agency for International Development (USAID) projects – part of the major investment American taxpayers have made in Pakistan.

Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2011/1201/Al-Qaeda-claims-kidnapping-of-American-Warren-Weinstein

[MADem]

3. Weinstein? Poor bastard--they'll cut his head off. nt

[mike_c]

4. another economic hit man...?

eom

[oberliner]

5. Economic hit man?

What the hell does that mean?

[mike_c]

6. it's a reference to John Perkins' book....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_of_an_Economic_Hit_Man

[oberliner]

7. Interesting

Thanks for providing that reference.

[oberliner]

8. Al Qaeda claims kidnapping of American Warren Weinstein

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