More newspapers are joining the chorus.
War on Terror
Another One Down
Score one for the good guys:
Pakistan has arrested a senior al Qaeda figure with a bounty of up to $25 million on his head, Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat told CNN television Thursday.
He said the suspect had been captured during a raid in central Pakistan a few days ago. He did not identify the captive but said he was “a person who is most wanted internationally.”
Al Arabiya satellite news channel quoted Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as saying the suspect was arrested Sunday.
“The Pakistani president said the arrested person is Tanzanian who is married to an Uzbek woman, and who is wanted by the United States,” the station said.
Al Arabiya said the suspect may be Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani. Ghailani is the only Tanzanian on the FBI’s most wanted “terrorists” list, for his alleged role in the 1998 bombings by al Qaeda of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Now, if we can only keep him away from an International Court.
*** Update ***
The usual suspects are calling this the “July Surprise,” which is silly for numerous reasons:
1.) Of course we are pressuring Pakistan to turn over terrorists. That kinda is the goal of the War on Terror- to find and kill/neuter/prosecute terrorists. Oddly enough, it is a goal of the Kerry-Edwardsticket- to work with our allies in the fight to keep America secure. Imagine that.
2.) This will have no impact on the election whatsoever, and not even bump Kerry’s acceptance speech off the headline of ANY paper.
3.) Only the kool-aid drinkers who think that we really were ‘distracted’ by the War in Iraq would think that we have ever stopped aggressively persuing these scum.
I am just happy we caught the a-hole, and it is not going to impact my opinion on the election at all.
*** Update ***
Ezra, in his usual calm, reasoned self, resonds in the comments:
Liar. We’re questioning it because a TNR report came out three weeks ago saying the Bush Administration was pressuring Pakistan to deliver them DURING the convention. Liar liar liar. This is beneath you.
Actually, I had no idea there was such a report. The link in your post today only mentioned pressure to deliver targets ‘before the election,’ which of course is a no-brainer.
At any rate, I stand corrected. But you really need to upgrade the meds, Ezra. I guess the only innocent mistakes in the eyes of Democrats are when you slip and stick your dick in an intern or shove secret documents down your pants.
Really- being civil with the political opposition pays off, doesn’t it?
9/11 Commission
I have to admit that I am pleasantly surprised with the 9/11 Commission Report- it has exceeded my expectations so far. I guess thta is not difficult, because after watching the preening and posturing of Gorelick and ben Veniste, I did not expect much. I underestimatd them.
At any rate, Gary Farber has some comments.
Our Saudi Allies
According to the account of Johnson’s kidnapping, posted on an Islamic extremist Web site, militants wearing police uniforms and using police cars set up a fake checkpoint June 12 on al-Khadma Road, leading to the airport, near Imam Mohammed bin Saud University.
“A number of the cooperators who are sincere to their religion in the security apparatus donated those clothes and the police cars. We ask God to reward them and that they use their energy to serve Islam and the mujahedeen,” the article read.
When Johnson’s car approached the checkpoint, the militants stopped his car, anesthetized him and carried him to another car, the article said. Earlier Saudi newspaper reports had also said Johnson was drugged during the kidnapping.
The article said they then blew up Johnson’s car.
Security officials said last week that Johnson’s car was found near Imam University. Saudi press reports said the car was booby-trapped and later caught fire.
Then there is this:
Almost half of all Saudis said in a poll conducted last year that they have a favorable view of Osama bin Laden’s sermons and rhetoric, but fewer than 5 percent thought it was a good idea for bin Laden to rule the Arabian Peninsula…
“They like what he said about what’s going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Or about America and the Zionist conspiracy. But what he does, that’s where you see the huge drop,” said Obaid, referring to the bombings that had already begun taking place inside Saudi Arabia at the time the poll was conducted.
He also said he would like to update the poll numbers in the wake of the recent series of terrorist attacks that have taken place in Saudi Arabia.
BTW- People like to shit all over Fox News, but I defy anyone to find a more thorough grilling Adel al-Jubair. I cant find a link, but she went after the man.
Attack Avoided
Some good news from the War on Terror:
An al Qaeda plot to blast London was dramatically foiled by police today.
Seven hundred police swooped in a series of 6am raids in the capital and the Home Counties. They found half a tonne of fertiliser explosives – enough for a series of terror “spectaculars”.
The terrorist suspects arrested by police are believed to have chosen “soft targets” for bombings including pubs and clubs. One of the suspects being held had a job at Gatwick Airport, immediately raising concerns over airlines and passengers.
A total of eight men – all of them British citizens of Pakistani descent, three of them teenagers – were arrested in the operation, with police from five forces searching a total of 24 addresses across London and the South-East.
I simply don’t how anyone can continue to argue that Iraq is not the centerpiece of the War on Terror. The Al Qaeda goals are clear- they are attempting to hit every ally in the region, because they are terrified of a democratic Iraq.
They Learn
Say what you want about the terrorists, but they have learned from the Spanish reaction:
Uzbek Foreign Minister Sadyk Safayev said the attacks were aimed at breaking the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition.
“This has been committed by the hands of international terror,” Safayev said. “That’s the hallmark of the terrorist acts we have already witnessed abroad.
“Attempts are being made to split the international anti-terror coalition.”
Uzbekistan has been a strong supporter of the U.S..-led campaign in Afghanistan, providing a vital airbase for U.S. troops in military operations there following the September 11, 2001, attacks on America.
Weakness, whether real or perceived, will always be met with aggression. Always. Why is this so hard to understand? Despite the partisan maneuvering by Democrats in the 9/11 commission in conjunction with their new hero, Richard Clarke, this should be the real llesson learned from the Clinton administration. Weakness, whether real or perceived, will always be met with aaggression.
I wish people would go read Bernard Lewis. Christ, even a young Orson Scott Card understands human nature more than most of the world.
(via Jeff Goldstein)
Terrorism in Spain
I don’t want to talk about the terrorist bombings in Spain, so if you want information, the Command Post, Matt Stinson, Robert Tagorda, Bird Dog over at Tacitus and the Instapundit pretty much have the issue covered.
On a personal level, Idon’t think I could say it much better than Macallan at Tacitus:
We are all Spaniards today. May God bless and comfort those who have suffered.
Also, if you are so inclined, the Instapundit and Norbizness have links for donations, flowers, and general support. To donate to the International Red Crosss online, click here.