Al-Qaeda’s second-in-command, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, has reportedly been killed in Pakistan, in what is being perceived as another great blow to al Qaeda.
The Libyan national who was the network’s former operational leader rose to Al-Qaeda’s No. 2 spot after the US killed Osama bin Laden in May. Rahman, believed to be in his mid-30s, was a close confidant of the al Qaeda leader.
Anonymous leaked information claims that he was killed on August 22, although the anonymous US official did not give details as to how he was killed. On that same day though, there was a reported drone strike in Waziristan, Pakistan.
The anonymous nature of the leak and the lack of details about the kill have led some to doubt whether this reports are accurate or meant to boost support for the war. In the past, US officials have both openly claimed and leaked misinformation about the assassinations of various high-level militants in the Pakistani tribal region, only to have it subsequently revealed that the individuals are alive and well.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said last month that al Qaeda’s defeat was within reach if the US could mount a string of successful attacks on the group’s weakened leadership. “Now is the moment, following what happened with bin Laden, to put maximum pressure on them,” Panetta said, “because I do believe that if we continue this effort we can really cripple al Qaeda as a major threat.”
True or not, it has long been recognized that al Qaeda is an organization which quickly replaces its positions in cases of death. Noting the group’s supposed impending defeat should be taken with a grain of salt, especially since al Qaeda’s strategy to get the US bogged down in a costly quagmire in Afghanistan has gone according to plan.
If perception in to some extent reality, then this uncorroborated report won’t harm al Qaeda anymore than America has been harmed by their aggressive war postures in Muslim-majority countries, which have contributed to a rise in negative attitudes towards America throughout the Muslim world. That is another win for al Qaeda.
Gee; seems like it was only yesterday (& the day before that & the day before that) that the "No. 2" guy is reported killed. More slop for Boobus Americanus to feed on at the Sunday morning breakfast table before heading out to church.
Even if the Big O, Hilary, and the defense secretary can find a way to float a US battleship into Kabul for the surrender ceremony, (on a tide of bullshit perhaps?), there will be nobody left to sign for Al CIAduh. After all, they have already even killed the emperor. Ha ha ha ha, I can't stand this stuff. Give us some reruns of Have Gun, Will Travel. It was more realistic.
Someone should keep a running tally of how many "Al Qaida number 2"'s we've killed over the years. Its got to be over a hundred by now.
Question, now that they say they've gotten OBL, did everyone else get promoted in CIA-thinking-land? Ie, was this really an Al Qaida #3 who we now call an Al Qaida #2? Or, did we retire OBL's jersey number and thus the AQ #2's these days are really AQ#1's but they can't use that number since #1 is hanging from the rafters these days? It gets so confusing trying to follow CIA BS.
Panetta said, because I do believe that if we continue this effort we can really cripple al Qaeda as a major threat…
It is surprising to see the Defense Secretary of the most powerful Army in the world. making such a statement. AlQaeda at the height of its power probably did not have the fire power to match even one regular company let alone a brigade or a division. Plus they had no fighter jets, bombers, or even helicopters. How was it ever a major threat? Crippling something which never existed? Are we supposed to congratulate him for that?
Its now official- I am not following this stuff anymore. I do not believe anything in our media- I think it is all a pile of giant evil lies. Done. Not voting in federal elections- (and to be honest- I was going to anyway- and I'm proud of the fact that I am only dimly aware of who Michelle Bachman even is). I do not care to treated like an asshole any longer and I do not care.
My hope is that these sick freaks at the center of our government kill each other some day in some nonsense purge or inner battle among S&M murderers.
Don't care anymore. It is all a putupjob and it is a waste of time to "Educate" yourself of the "facts" regarding these wars when there are no facts and the whole thing is not honest.
I don't care what happens to the "Troops"- and I just hope that not too many more innocent foreigners are murdered by our vicious evil military. But I'm done with nonsense. They don't even try anymore.
Just how many "Number 2" leaders, "masterminds" and "key operatives" does the CIA ordained, trained and maintained Al Qaeda have, anyway? And how long will the Sheeple allow the Kleptocracy to "kill" the same bad guys over and over again? Google it: Same names, same faces, same manufactured terrorism. IMHO, this entire propaganda piece is just another steaming pile of "Number 2".