Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Terror Triad: Left to right, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama Bin Laden, and Abu Yahia al-Libi

And if Newsweek is interviewing high-ranking Taliban who are killing American troops, then it’s important to know if Newsweek knows where they are and can save llives by passing that information on. Or does Newsweek expect to rely on the National protections of the military, but remain neutral in America’s wars? Is it more important for them to protect sources they know will kill more U.S. troops tomorrow, than to protect American troops?

Newsweek’s alleged inside story of Al Qaeda in Pakistan
By Sami Yousafzai And Ron Moreau
Newsweek

July 30, 2007 issue - Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf’s moment of triumph was brief. Even before his soldiers had overrun the Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque—a complex in the heart of the normally sleepy capital of Islamabad that had been occupied by extremists—the retaliations began. Early last week Afghan Taliban and Pakistani tribal militants launched suicide attacks against several Pakistani military convoys. Another bomber walked into a police recruiting center, killing 29 in a single gory blast. The next day militants launched a classic guerrilla ambush using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades that killed 14 Pakistani soldiers traveling in a convoy. The attacks demonstrated a shocking degree of organization and speed—not to mention strategic cunning. After former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto publicly backed Musharraf’s counter terror operation against the Red Mosque, yet another suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of a group waiting to attend a rally of her Pakistan Peoples Party in Islamabad. At least 13 people died in that incident, bringing the week’s toll to more than 150 killed in retaliatory attacks since the Red Mosque was raided.

Who was the shadowy general behind the wave of violence? Pakistani and Taliban officials interviewed recently by NEWSWEEK say it was none other than Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the Qaeda No. 2 who has also been appearing in a recent flurry of audio- and videotapes. While Osama bin Laden has been keeping a low profile—he may be ill, U.S. intel officials say—Zawahiri has moved aggressively to take operational control of the group. In so doing, Zawahiri has provoked a potentially serious ideological split within Al Qaeda over whether he is growing too powerful, and has become obsessed with toppling Musharraf, according to two jihadists interviewed by NEWSWEEK last week.

After years in which Zawahiri seemed constantly on the run, his alleged orchestration of last week’s attacks would be further evidence that Qaeda and Taliban forces are newly empowered and have consolidated control of a safe haven along the Pakistani border. A new National Intelligence Estimate out of Washington last week also concludes that Al Qaeda is resurgent in Pakistan—and more centrally organized than it has been at any time since 9/11. The NIE—a periodic intel assessment that is considered the most authoritative issued by the U.S. government—concluded Al Qaeda has “regenerated key elements” of its ability to attack the United States. These include a sanctuary in Pakistan’s tribal regions of North Waziristan and Bajaur, and an intact hierarchy of top leadership and operational lieutenants.

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