NBC News is confirming earlier media reports that senior al-Qaeda leader Mustafa Setmariam Nasar (Abu Musab al-Suri) has been taken into custody in Pakistan. I was refraining on commenting on this until it was confirmed, but now that this has occurred I would like to take the opportunity to point out the excellent primers on al-Suri already written up by my friends Athena and Bill Roggio as well as the good folks over at the Counter-Terrorism Blog. As one of the most dangerous al-Qaeda leaders still at large, the capture of Nasar is likely the most grievous blow to be inflicted on the network in some time, even greater than that dealt with the capture of Abu Faraj al-Libbi earlier his year.
In addition to the loss of Nasar, the Pakistani raid appears to have killed Saudi al-Qaeda member Sheikh Ali Mohammed al-Salim, who was living with Nasar at the time of his arrest, and Jaish-e-Mohammed recruiter Abdul Hanan, who was likely their contact with the local Pakistani terrorist groups.
Very good news. Bush getting Pakistan with the program without spurring a civil war is one of the forgotten victories of this war. They have gone from our most problematic state supporter or terror to our most productive ally. Colin Powell deserves credit too.
Are you carefully checking your Special Dubya Gold Edition (tradable!) deck of Terrorist Cards? Idiots. Baby war-gamers.
Is it just me, or does someone feel a breeze blowing?
Vanna, If you have something substantive to say, even if it's just, say, "if you weren't such blind fools, you'd see that you are only chopping heads off a hydra!", go for it. That sort of thing is discussed here at Winds.
Au contraire, namecalling is not what we aim for here. I realize that courtesy is not customary on many blogs, but Winds has done an excellent job IMO of being head and shoulders above (say) LGF or DU.
Stick around if you can play by the rules.
Cordially,
Nort
[ Well put, N.M. Here's a link to Winds' comments policy. --Marshal Festus ]
Mark, before 9/11, there was some serious consideration of India and Pakistan rumbling. Serious numbers of troops massing, near daily escalations of atrocities, threatening rhetoric etc.
It is as if the history eraser button was dragged over that entire era.
That is excellent news.
From Bill Roggio's blog:
He is a prime suspect in the Madrid 3/11 bombings.
??? The Judge and the Police pointed out two days ago that they don't have any accusation against Mustafa Setmarian Nasar related to 3/11. Moreover, even his name does not appear in the 3/11 Investigation Summary.
Who told the media that he was involved in this attack? Someone that needed some help in selling the Al Qaeda link now that new revelations downplay it?
In a related view, there is a school of thought that even Omar al-Farouq is a turn coat. Would want to have your take on this.
http://www.americanfreepress.net/01_02_04/CIA_Recruits/cia_recruits.html and my version on his escape is at http://unsaid.blogsome.com/2005/11/03/tracker