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India-Pakistan
Pakistan: More Rumors of Al-Zawahiri's Death
2008-08-01
I'm not a Stratfor member, so can't get to article... Rush just announced this on his radio show. 48 hours rule
Al Qaeda No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri is rumored to have been killed in a July 28 U.S. airstrike in Pakistan.

The United States is attempting to verify reports that a July 28 airstrike in northwestern Pakistan resulted in the death of al Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, U.S. government sources told Stratfor on Aug. 1. An announcement from the U.S. government can be expected soon, the sources advised.
Posted by:Sherry

#27  I hope ima wrong...
but I believe that the ISI and Al-Zawahiri are "birds of a feather" (Flock Together) OR feathers off the same BIRD!
Posted by: Red Dawg   2008-08-01 23:17  

#26  I suppose Rantburgers are supposed to believe that that with all the Heroin & Opium around Al-Zawahiri & his asshole associate's will suffer from infected wounds as they rightly should.

Sounds like ISI RBees... although I sorely wish it were different.
Posted by: Red Dawg   2008-08-01 22:17  

#25  and CBS responds:


U.S. authorities have said they do not have information that al-Zawahiri was present during Monday's strike, or that he was injured.

However, a counter-intelligence expert and other U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News that the U.S. is looking into reports that al-Zawahiri is dead.

Logan reports that while there have been false death rumors regarding al-Zawahiri before, there have been no denials yet from Pakistan, the U.S. or al Qaeda Web sites.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-08-01 22:12  

#24  1. CBS f**ks up royally yet again?

2. Govt is trying to keep it quiet for a little longer, for some strategic reason, and CBS is blowing it (also a CBS f*** up, but a very different kind)

3. Govt isnt willing to go with a document they havent seen, and is letting CBS hang in the wind - but then what of the Stratfor report, not sourced to CBS. And where did CBS get the document from, if not either US or Paki govt sources?
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-08-01 22:10  

#23  U.S. counterterrorism officials said Friday they have seen no evidence to support a media report that al Qaeda's No. 2 official, Ayman al-Zawahiri, may be critically wounded or dead.


A $25 million reward has been offered for Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's second in command.

A senior intelligence official told CNN there is no evidence to support the CBS report on al-Zawahiri, and no reason to believe it is true.

"This is utterly uncorroborated, and at this point there is no reason to believe that al-Zawahiri has been injured or killed," another intelligence official said.

According to the CBS report, a letter intercepted in Pakistan refers to the 57-year-old physician by name and requests a doctor, saying he is in "severe pain" and his "injuries are infected."

The July 29 letter was reportedly written by a local Taliban leader whose signature and seal are on the letter, CBS said. But the network said it had not been able to authenticate the signature or the seal.

Two Pentagon officials also said they were unaware of any credible reports of al-Zawahiri's death.

Pakistan's ambassador to the United States said his country was "unable to confirm or deny" the report.

"We are looking into the reports and will comment only after we have solid evidence either way," Husain Haqqani said.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-08-01 22:06  

#22  CNN reports "Senior US intelligence official" denies, repeat, denies any evidence of death or injury to Zawahiri, two Pentagon officials deny any knowledge of it. Pakistan govt says can neither confirm NOR deny, looking into it.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2008-08-01 22:05  

#21  Bound to happen with that kind of reward money on offer. Surprised it took this long really.
Posted by: Butch Slath   2008-08-01 20:44  

#20  from rush's site


Story #3: Zawahiri May Have Assumed Room Temperature

RUSH: From Stratfor. Now, Stratfor, if you subscribe to Stratfor, George Friedman and his wife Meredith run this outfit, it's almost like subscribing to a CIA daily brief. A dispatch today from Stratfor: "The United States is attempting to verify reports that a July 28th air strike in northwestern Pakistan resulted in the death of Al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. This is according to US sources who have mentioned this to Stratfor today. An announcement from the US government, according to Stratfor, can be expected soon, the sources told Stratfor." So Ayman al-Zawahiri may be room temperature, ladies and gentlemen, as the result of a US air strike, northwestern Pakistan on July 28th.
Posted by: Legolas   2008-08-01 20:00  

#19  welllll, since Adam Al-Ameriki's ectoplasm in a destroyed hovel, Dr. Z is suffering (hopefully long, painful, and ineveitably fatal with no pain meds), and Binny's a Tora Bora paste, who's next?
Posted by: Frank G   2008-08-01 19:35  

#18  Elminemble Bucket5530 links to a story by Lara Logan, who's been fighting with management back home to run more stories of her embeds with the Seals in Afghanistan and such. I'd trust her. especially as she says she can't yet confirm it from official sources.
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-08-01 19:26  

#17  The letter refers to Sheikh Dr. Ayman ul Zawahiri by name - and says that he is in "severe pain" and his "injuries are infected."

Where did I put that nano-violin?
Posted by: john frum   2008-08-01 19:20  

#16  cooool. You could mount a pencil sharpener in the forehead knot. I'd go for a couple dozen pencils that way....
Posted by: Frank G   2008-08-01 19:11  

#15  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/01/eveningnews/main4316193.shtml
Posted by: Elminemble Bucket5530   2008-08-01 19:06  

#14  

" CBS News has obtained a copy of an intercepted letter from sources in Pakistan, which urgently requests a doctor to treat Zawahiri. He's believed to be somewhere in Pakistan's remote tribal areas of Pakistan.

The letter refers to Sheikh Dr. Ayman ul Zawahiri by name - and says that he is in "severe pain" and his "injuries are infected."

It is reportedly written by local Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, whose signature and seal are visible on the letter. "

Posted by: Elminemble Bucket5530   2008-08-01 19:05  

#13  Generally in the past when rumors like this have flown around, there were strong denials from the US Govt. Anyone heard any denials yet to this rumor?
Posted by: knerfley   2008-08-01 19:03  

#12  Let's hope we can get the head.

I think it would look good on George W.'s desk for his next presser or television address.

talk about good theater!! Could you imagine George giving a speech on terrorism and then wave the head around? Might get a few more people to pay attention.
Posted by: James Carville   2008-08-01 18:48  

#11  Of course if it's true, then it's all part of a vast Rovian conspiracy to . . . Oh wait. He's not around anymore.

Posted by: Frozen Al   2008-08-01 17:38  

#10  Pak press sez he's fine, they seen him out walking the dog an' helping old ladies with the groceries.
Posted by: Clyde Gresh3646   2008-08-01 16:42  

#9  just to be precise, Limbaugh got it from Stratfor, and SF is attributing it to anon US govt sources, and no one else has picked it up yet. Hmm, anything from our friends in the Paki press?
Posted by: superstitiousGalitizianer   2008-08-01 15:52  

#8  whoosh, maybe?
Posted by: superstitiousGalitizianer   2008-08-01 15:50  

#7  SG is correct, more hoping than killing. Same ole stuff, with a new Paki brand.
Posted by: .5MT   2008-08-01 15:38  

#6  Im sure Z is in perfect health, and this is just a rumor, and we have a long time to wait for his death
Posted by: superstitiousGalitizianer   2008-08-01 15:35  

#5  Let us hope. Midhat Mursi and Zawahiri dead together is like winning the Scratch off and Lotto jackpots. Too bad Binny doesn't travel w/ Z or we could have won the Powerball too.
Posted by: ed   2008-08-01 15:28  

#4  wooo hooo! in advance just for the thought!!!!!
Posted by: Legolas   2008-08-01 15:25  

#3  God knows this would be good news...

Ill wait for the US Military announcement
Posted by: Pheath Chaving4901   2008-08-01 15:23  

#2  I'd like Genetic Evidence and substantial body parts, like a liver (or a head.
Posted by: OldSpook   2008-08-01 15:10  

#1  please please please please. Dear God please!
Posted by: Captain Lewis   2008-08-01 14:32  

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