Dinah Lord

Too good to check: Baitullah Mehsud died getting 'leg massage'?

From AFP:

Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed last week in a CIA drone attack while getting a leg massage on the roof of his father-in-law's house, CNN said Monday, citing an unnamed US official.

A US counterterrorism official told AFP, meanwhile, that "there are strong indications (Mehsud) is dead" following a drone attack.  "No one is expecting him home for dinner tonight," the official said. (Ed. Note:  Looks like he won't be down for breakfast in the a.m. either.  Bwa-ha-ha!)

US President Barack Obama is being told Mehsud was killed after a "dramatic escalation" of nine unmanned drones specifically targeting the Taliban leader in recent weeks, the US official told CNN television.

On Wednesday night, US surveillance in Pakistan spied a man on the roof of Mehsud's father-in-law's home in South Waziristan.  The description was of a "short, stocky man who was following the physical description" of Mehsud, CNN said, citing the intelligence official.

A woman was massaging the man's leg and the Central Intelligence Agency knew Mehsud had diabetes, experienced pain in his legs, and often sought relief in that way, the report said.

Officials already had authorization from Obama to strike Mehsud if they thought they had a clear shot.

"That's when the CIA decided to move in," the network said the official said.

More at the link.

AQIM gets busy with first suicide attack in Mauritania.

From France 24 - video and more background at the link.

Yesterday, a Muslim suicide bomber attacked the French embassy.  Luckily, only two embassy employees suffered minor injuries.  The first Muslim suicide attack in the country's history occurred three days after their new president, Abdel Aziz (following his successful coup attempt) was inaugurated.  Aziz claims his administration will "fight terrorism".

And on June 23rd (while I was MIA)Christopher Leggett, an American citizen working in Mauritania was shot and killed by an Al Qaeda in the Maghreb member, but there's no such thing as a jihad according to our dear leader, m'kay?

Mr. Leggett ran a school for computer science and language and also helped people obtain small business loans.  From Cleveland TN, he leaves behind a loving wife, 4 children and grieving parents.  I am sorry for their loss.

(But I'm even sorrier that the Obama administration continues to dance around the reality of Islamic Terrorism.)

Indonesia: President was the Islamists next target.

From The Straits Times:  It looks like the Indonesian police have foiled a dastardly attack on their President by Noordin Top's gang.  Intended to avenge for the executions of the Bali Bombers, two would be suicide bombers were shot and killed. Now, they're just standing on line in Jannah and waiting their turn at the virgins.

More good news:  Noordin Top's accomplices are being rounded up. 

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was the intended target of two would-be suicide bombers who were shot dead yesterday outside Jakarta, the national police chief said. 'Our President was a target,' General Bambang Hendarso Danuri told reporters, saying the information came from an accomplice of the two dead men.

During their raid on a rented house in Bekasi, police uncovered up to 500kg of explosives that can be turned into 100kg of bombs. Also found was a minibus rigged to be a mobile bomb.

The house was about 5km, or a 12-minute drive, away from the residence of the President in Cikeas, Bogor, on the outskirts of Jakarta.

Gen Danuri said the accomplice, who was not named, told police they were planning to detonate the explosives-packed vehicle at the President's house two weeks later, which would roughly coincide with the Aug 17 anniversary of Indonesian independence.  The two would-be bombers were shot dead as they tried to throw pipe-bombs to avoid arrest at the rented house, said Gen Danuri.

He identified the two as Ari Setiawan and Eko Gepeng and said they had helped terrorist leader Noordin Top in the 2004 Australian embassy car-bombing that killed 10 people and wounded scores more.

Al Jazeera, always the proverbial turd in the punch bowl, is claiming in this article that Noordin Top lives.

Watch the video and see what you think...

Islam: Critical virgin shortage in Muslim Paradise

Update 1:46 pm:  Boo. The Long War Journal says to put away our party hats. The fog of Predator War: Baitullah is alive, say Pakistani Taliban.   (I'm still holding out hope, possums. You know what liars and disinformation artists these Talibani schmoes are.)

Spokesman of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Hakimullah Mehsud and another Taliban leader Wali-ur-Rehman have been killed in an armed clash erupted during the Tehreek’s Shura meeting, Geo TV reported Saturday.

At the meeting Hakimullah Mehsud was appointed as TTP Chief after the reported killing of Baitullah Mehsud, the state media reported.

The agenda of the meeting was to appoint successor of Baitullah Mehsud, sources said.

You'll also be pleased to know that it doesn't sound like Baitullah's last days were any picnic...

Baitullah was a known hypertensive and diabetic. Whenever his health deteriorated, he resorted to intravenous infusions and he invited people to amuse him with jokes and funny remarks.

"On that particular night, Baitullah Mehsud was not feeling well and was on an intravenous infusion when a missile strike took place and he became a target. His wife and other three family members were also killed. Baitullah died on the spot," said Raqeebullah.

"Baitullah Mehsud was badly injured and his face was disfigured. He was buried later on in the night at Jangri area in south Waziristan," he added.

This puts me in such a good mood I thought I'd offer up a little tune in honor of the occasion:

(FYI - some additional fun facts on the Islamic Jihad's latest suckers can be found below the fold)

Good News: Pakistan Army frees student hostages.

From Asian Age:

Pakistani soldiers on Tuesday rescued scores of students and staff from a military-run college who were abducted by Taliban militants in the northwest of the country, a military spokesman said.

The abduction took place on Monday as the Pakistani Army pressed on with an offensive against the Taliban in the Swat Valley, in another part of the northwest.

Military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said the Taliban were taking the kidnapped students to the South Waziristan region, a militant stronghold on the Afghan border, when soldiers challenged them on a road and a clash erupted.

"Under cover of the firing the militants escaped and we have recovered them all," Gen. Abbas said, adding 71 students and nine members of staff had been rescued.

College principal Javed Iqbal Piracha, who was among those rescued, said 10 to 15 students appeared to be still missing.

Taliban fighters seized the students’ convoy heading home for the summer holiday near the Afghan border in North Waziristan.  There are several Taliban- and Al Qaeda-linked groups based in North and South Waziristan in a loose alliance with the Taliban in Swat.  South Waziristan is also the base of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.

South Waziristan is also the base of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud and officials have said an offensive there was expected after Swat was secured.

Brigadier Zahid Abdullah, who led the rescue and said he believed everyone had been recovered, said the militants might have wanted to use the students as human shields.

Sharia Flu: It's spreading.

It's now the official law of the land in Somalia (oxymoronic, I know.)

The president of Somalia's interim government, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, has officially signed Shari'ah into law as the Horn of Africa country's national legislation, Radio Garowe reports.

President Sheikh Sharif told a press conference at the Villa Somalia presidential compound on Wednesday afternoon that he is unaware of why armed groups oppose the law.

About those 'armed groups'?  They are now being joined by government troops putting Somalia on the verge of al-Qaeda takeover.

Meanwhile, just across the Gulf of Aden:  Al Qaeda calls for Islamic rule after Yemen violence

Al Qaeda on Wednesday called for Islamic rule in Yemen and vowed to retaliate for what it said was the killing of civilians in clashes between police and locals in the south, where secessionist sentiment is strong.

The country is trying to shake off an image of violence and lawlessness to promote tourism and foreign investment. It is battling Al Qaeda, separatist calls in the south and Shia rebels in the north. “The time for the rule of Islam has come so that you could bask in the justice and tolerance it brings,”

LOL about that basking "in justice and tolerance that Sharia brings"  line.

CIA torture pics already being leaked?

Well, that's what is being alleged.  (And just in time for the Messiah's address to the whole Muslim world.)

Daily Mail:  Obama's bid to suppress prisoner abuse pictures fails as images are leaked

Further images purportedly from the 2,000 include one of a naked man covered in excrement with a guard standing in front of him.

Others yet to be released are alleged to show guards threatening to sexually assault a detainee with a broomstick and hooded prisoners in transport planes with copies of Playboy magazine showing naked women open on their laps.

The president had previously committed to allowing them to be seen but changed his mind after senior generals said it could place U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in greater danger.

The images were released in Australia yesterday where they were originally obtained by the television channel SBS in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.

The release comes at an inopportune time for President Obama who is trying to build bridges with the Islamic world.

(Warning:  Pic of naked terrorist hanging upside down from his bunk bed at link.  Too bad they don't show the "naked man smeared in excrement standing in a corridor with a guard standing menacingly in front of him"  P.S.  If I was a guard and had to clean up after a terrorist who shit himself and then smeared it all over himself and his cell I wouldn't exactly be happy, either.)

Somali Islamist leader acknowledges 'foreign fighters'.

Are they from Minneapolis, I wonder?

From AFP:

Somalia's hardline Islamist rebels admitted Tuesday receiving backing from foreign fighters in recent battles against government troops.

"Those who say our Muslim brothers are foreigners are wrong. They came to assist their brothers in Somalia," Sheikh Hussein Ali Fidow, a senior Shebab official said without specifying the fighters' nationalities or number.

A senior official in the embattled government of President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed confirmed the presence of foreign fighters on Somali territory.  "Our country is at war with foreign mercenaries who are destabilising Somalia," said the official on condition of anonymity.

"We will fight them and defeat them. We are also urging the Somali people to support the government," he added.

But the Shebab official said: "Some of them have been martyred, others were injured while the rest are still ready to fight for the sake of their Muslim brothers."

The top UN envoy for Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah called in a statement for an end to the violence which be blamed on "irresponsible elements backed by foreigners ... in an attempt to seize power by force".

The latest fighting in Mogadishu that killed at least 41 people, was among the heaviest in months. The Shebab launched attacks on government troops in February, shortly after Ahmed was elected.

The hardliners have rejected talks with Ahmed's government, even after it endorsed plans to introduce Islamic law, a key demand of the opposition militants.

(Sound familiar?  Doesn't this sound like what happened in the Swat valley of Pakistan?  Hmm?  File this under:  You can Never Do Enough to Appease these Bastards.)

Afghanistan: Bombers take hostages in attack on government buildings.

Homicide bombers in burkas  and the US troops ride to the rescue (with an Afghan assist.)  And yes, the Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.

From Fox News

Eleven Taliban homicide bombers attacked government buildings in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, sparking running gunbattles that killed at least 20 people and wounded three U.S. troops, officials said. U.S. and Afghan troops freed 20 hostages taken by the insurgents.

The assault began around 10 a.m. when a homicide bomber in a burqa attacked the governor's compound in Khost, an eastern city on the border with Pakistan that houses a major American base. That blast was followed soon after by a homicide car bomb explosion, said Wazir Pacha, the spokesman for the provincial police chief.

U.S. forces attending a nearby meeting responded to the attacks and killed an unknown number of militants, said Lt. Cmdr. Christine Sidenstricker, a U.S. military spokeswoman.

Khost residents hid from booming explosions and running street clashes that lasted until 5 p.m. At least eleven insurgents and nine others — including police and civilians — died, the Defense Ministry said.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, claimed that 30 homicide bombers had attacked the government buildings. A U.S. spokesman summed up the chaos in the midst of battle: "A lot of stuff is going on right now."

Militants in recent months have carried out an increasing number of complex attacks that involved several assailants. Military analysts have said the increasing sophistication of attacks in Afghanistan is a result of training by Pakistani militants and Al Qaeda fighters.

The Khost attack came as President Obama sought to put his stamp on the war, appointing a former three-star general as the country's ambassador and replacing the top American military commander in Afghanistan. Karl Eikenberry presented his credentials to President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday.

The attack began with several homicide attacks on the Khost governor's compound, which drew small arms fire from nearby U.S. troops, said U.S. military spokesman Chief Brian Naranjo.

Then a team of six homicide bombers tried to attack the nearby police headquarters, but were rebuffed by security forces and entered the neighboring municipality building, Pacha said.

Three bombers detonated their explosives, the Interior Ministry said, while other militants took 20 city employees hostage, Pacha said.

A second U.S. team was sent from the nearby American base, Camp Salerno. But those troops were fired on en route, Naranjo said. A U.S. soldier and an Afghan policeman were wounded and taken to Camp Salerno for treatment where they were in stable condition, he said. A number of militants were killed, he said.

After the militants entered the municipal building, a number of explosions reverberated from within, as U.S. and Afghan forces surrounded the area, an Associated Press stringer said from within the police chief's compound.

U.S. and Afghan forces later stormed the building, freed 20 hostages and killed three insurgents, Pacha said.

Taliban and other insurgent fighters have increased their attacks the last three years and now control wide swaths of territory, and Obama is seeking to reverse their momentum.

Say what? Ayman al-Zawahiri is in Quetta?

Yid with Lid has this scoopage.  Is it true?

Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's No. 2 leader, the most wanted terrorist after Osama bin Laden, with a $25 million bounty on his head, is holed up near Quetta, Pakistan, according to a highly placed Pakistani intelligence source.

The Egyptian-born radical is a master of disguise, a meticulous planner and the deadliest of terrorists. Yet Pakistani intelligence sources say he roams openly and with impunity in the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. While Predators continue to strike at a variety of key terror targets in that area, our source tells us that the CIA and other intelligence agencies cannot get al-Zawahiri, though they usually know for the most part where he is.

Al-Zawahiri's recent movements can be tracked with some specificity. He was positively identified in the North Waziristan Agency of Pakistan in June 2008, and the locations pinpointed where he conducted high-level meetings.

Subsequent U.S. drone attacks forced him to move to South Waziristan Agency in August 2008. Thereafter he moved south to Baluchistan and crossed into Afghanistan from the border city of Zhob. He returned to the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) sometime in December or January. A well-placed source in Pakistan's intelligence service tells me that he may have relocated recently to somewhere outside of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan.

Al-Zawahiri hides in plain sight. He has given up the trappings of a high-value target, has no large entourage and dresses in the manner of the people in the areas in which he resides. He moves his wives frequently to preclude any identification by that means.  He does not trust locals and is protected by a security force of trusted Egyptians. However, quite a few old veterans of the conflict in Afghanistan recognize him as he moves about the area.

Pakistani intelligence agencies have shared with the CIA their knowledge of al-Zawahiri's location in the Quetta suburbs.

But the No. 2 most wanted man in the world is still roaming free.

If this is true, I am beyond pissed.