Yanks get Al-Qaeda second in command

Al-Qaeda commander Abu Yahya al-Libi killed - US officials
Senior al-Qaeda leader Abu Yahya al-Libi was killed in a drone strike in Pakistan on Monday, a US official has told the BBC.
US officials said Libi was the target of a drone strike which hit a volatile tribal area of Pakistan's north-west, killing 15 suspected militants.
There has been no confirmation of his death from sources in Pakistan.
According to officials, he played a critical role in the group's planning against the West.
"There is no-one who even comes close in terms of replacing the expertise al-Qaeda has just lost," the US official told the BBC.
The source added that al-Qaeda's leadership "will be hard-pressed to find any one person who can readily step into [Libi's] shoes".
Washington believes that following Osama Bin Laden's death last year, Libi, an Islamic scholar from Libya, became al-Qaeda's second-in-command after Egyptian-born Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Libi had gravitas as a longstanding member of al-Qaeda's leadership, the official told the BBC, and his religious credentials meant he had the authority to issue fatwas and provide guidance to the Pakistan-based operation.
But Monday's drone strike sparked anger in Pakistan and the foreign ministry lodged a formal protest with a US diplomat in Islamabad.
It came after a recent surge in such attacks in Pakistan - there have been eight drone strikes in over the past two weeks.
Drone strikes have increased in frequency since President Barack Obama took office in 2008 and hundreds of people have been killed.
The dead include senior al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders, as well as an unknown number of other militants and civilians.

 

Just heard it on the news. Very good news indeed.

 

quite right too my son is is in the forces always a worry when he goes over there

 

brilliant news but im afraid its just a conveyor belt of evilness out there, each time someone moves up the 'rankings' so to speak they feel they have to cause mayhem. so the pain and suffering will go on forever!

 

have to agree with you mate as soon as the un protection forces pull out they will over run the place within days, they are just breeding and brainwashing their people until death means nothing to them

 

Unfortunate but sadly true. Until the brainwashing of the young and vulnerable can be stopped they will just keep on recruiting and keep replacing the evil scum that have just been killed. Is your lad on a six month tour Jumper?

 

no he's back now but goes again in August for 4 bless him it,s so scary for all concerned find myself glued to the news ststione till he comes home, me and the carver [carving knife] will get to Cyprus again in July to see him and his famliy. he's now been in 17 years loves the life

 

Well I hope he returns to you safe and sound. I was on the other side so it was people worrying about me and I suppose as a soldier you just accept it's part of your job. They deserve every credit for what they do, they are the best servicemen and women in the world and they do a fantastically brave and professional job everytime they are called upon. 17 years done so not too long to go now. If I'd served my full term I'd be retiring this year (22 years) but things changed for me and I came out; there are times I regret it so much.

 

cheers mate

 

What position does he play?