(9)Spring Cleaning in Pakistan
We are continuing to see the benefits from the arrest of Abu Farraj al-Libbi, al Qaeda's commander of operations. Austin Bay states his capture has created a "cascading effect" - a landslide of information created by exploiting the intelligence obtained from al-Libbi. His personal notebook has been obtained and is being torn apart by US intelligence:
U.S. officials are working feverishly to decipher numbers and apparent codes in a notebook retrieved from suspected al Qaeda leader Abu Farraj al-Libbi, ABC News has learned... Sources said officials believe al-Libbi's seized notebook contains "hot" contact information. They said officials are hopeful the notebook contains useful information because al-Libbi was stunned when he was captured... Al-Libbi was trying to destroy the notebook when he was apprehended, multiple sources said.
Britain's MI6 intelligence service will be participating in the interrogation of al-Libbi. His arrest may be having cascading effects in some unsuspecting areas. al-Libbi was behind the failed assassinations of Pakistani President Musharraf, with some help from inside the military. Mushtaq Ahmad, a Pakistani Air Force officer who was involved in the assassination attempts with al-Libbi, has been recaptured (after escaping from jail last year). The Pakistani military is reported to be conducting further purges to rid itself of al Qaeda and Taliban supporters.
With the capture in Pakistan of Libyan Abu Farraj al-Libbi of al Qaeda, wanted in connection with two assassination attempts against President General Pervez Musharraf in 2003, Pakistani authorities are stepping up investigations into al Qaeda's investment in the Pakistan army.Information gleaned from well-connected military analysts suggests that army officials connected with the Afghan cell during the Taliban period in Afghanistan (1996-2001) are likely to be in the firing line. Action is expected soon against several serving and retired army personnel.
This is but a small start to resolve the myriad of problems in Pakistan. Like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan is an ally with we must exercise constant vigilance. Islamists, Taliban and Al Qaeda sympathizers have penetrated its military and security services. The sponsorship of the Kashmiri terrorist groups morphed into these groups partnerships with al Qaeda. The western frontier regions of Waziristan, the North West Province and Balochistan are lawless areas that are exploited by Islamists and use these regions to arm, train and infiltrate fighters into Afghanistan.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are being given the opportunity to clean up the messes they have created in their own country. These governments have chosen the option of rounding up or killing al Qaeda members. This is a necessary short-term solution to the problem, but the war will not be won until the inherent problems of Islamist extremism, education, the madrassa and open and accountable forms of government are addressed.
Also Read:
Dan Darling has more information on al-Libbi. He also contends al-Libbi is not al Qaeda's #3 in command. The CIA claims otherwise, according to the AFP. I suspect there may be some splitting of duties between Saif al-Adel and al-Libbi after the death of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, hence the confusion.
