CNN Reporting airstrike in Pakistan May have killed al Qaeda’s number 2, Ayman al-Zawahiri

BREAKING NEWS

Pakistan officials are checking if a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan killed al Qaeda’s number 2, Ayman al-Zawahiri, sources tell CNN

CNN is reporting that a CIA airstrike in Pakistan on a building that may have killed Osama bin Laden’s second in command Ayman al-Zawahiri. This is one missing persons case that we do not mind covering.

The building where Ayman al-Zawahiri was thought to be was in a small village near the Afghan border.

There has been no confirmation that al-Zawahiri was killed in the attack. However, sources say there was intelligence suggesting he was in the building at the time of the strike.

Pakistani officials were at the scene of the strike, trying to determine if Al-Zawahiri was killed.

These types of reports have been previously claimed. We will wait anxiously for the developing news of any possible confirmation.

According to ABC News, Forensic Tests to Reveal Fate of al Qaeda Number Two.

Today, according to Pakistani military sources, U.S. aircraft attacked a compound known to be frequented by high level al Qaeda operatives. Pakistani officials tell ABC News that al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s top lieutenant, may have been among them.

Local reports to ABC the following:

Villagers described seeing an unmanned plane circling the area for the last few days and then bombs falling in the early morning darkness.

Eighteen people were killed, according to the villagers who said women and children were among the fatalities.

But Pakistani officials tell ABC News that five of those killed were high-level al Qaeda figures, and their bodies are now undergoing forensic tests for positive identification.

Pakistani officials also went on to say:

that the bodies of the five suspected al Qaeda figures will be recovered at first light in Pakistan, but it will still take a day or two for any kind of positive identification. U.S. officials in Washington did not comment.

 MSNBC stating that predator drones fired as many as 10 missiles.

Pakistani officials say U.S. aircraft, apparently CIA Predator drones, fired as many as 10 missiles at the residential compound.

The attack came in the Bajur region of Northwest Pakistan, along the Afghanistan border.

The CIA Predators carry as many as four Hellfire missiles. Only last month, the CIA used a Predator to kill the No. 3 man in al-Qaida in a similar Hellfire strike in Pakistan.

Blogger covering the story:

• When it comes to the the war on terror always check out Rusty at the Jawa Report to see Zawahiri Dead!?!?!!!!!!!!

• Michelle Malkin with AL-ZAWAHIRI: DEAD OR ALIVE?
• The Counterterrorism Blog with CIA Targets Ayman al-Zawahiri in Pakistan
• The Moderate Voice, US Missile Strike in Pakistan
• Making Sense of Jihad; Over, Rover?
• The Gateway Pundit, Al Zawahiri, Al Qaeda #2, Targeted in Pakistan Attack

UPDATE: We do many missing person stories on Scared Monkeys all the time. Looks like the Independent Sources blog has one of their own. Make sure you take a look at their AMBERT ALERT and milk carton.

UPDATE (1/14/06 12:15 pm edt): Qaeda No.2 away during attack: Pakistan official (Reuters)

A U.S. airstrike on Pakistan village targeted al Qaeda’s second-in-command, U.S. intelligence sources say, but Pakistani officials said Ayman al-Zawahri was not there and condemned the attack.

“Al-Zawahri was not there at the time,” the official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters.

Al Arabiya satellite television said on Saturday Zawahri was alive, quoting a source which it said has contact with al Qaeda.

UPDATE: Zawahiri escapes by missing dinner visit

A dinner invitation to Al Qaeda’s second-in-command triggered a US airstrike in Pakistan but Ayman Al Zawahiri failed to show up, Pakistani intelligence officials said yesterday.

Here’s One Sure Way To Get Removed From an Airplane

Ever wonder how people get themselves removed from airplanes? Even have a plane diverted to let one passenger off?

Hint: Start yelling you had a baby named Jesus, that your uncle impregnated you and that President Bush was behind it all. Truth is stranger than fiction.
(Read the full bizarre story at The Travel Bloggers)

Flying Murdering Shrimp and Other Stories

Our roundup of interesting and unique stories around the internet. Read it and enjoy… or weep.

• Family: Man Died After Ducking Flying Shrimp
• Kate Moss and Lindsay Lohan in Shared Pole Dance
• Blue-Faced Robbery Suspect Arrested After Not Washing Well
• Man Arrested For Assaulting People With A Poisoned Handshake

The Lindsey Lohan and Kate Moss pole dancing story is true, my morning wake up radio drive time show folks told me so. You would think that Lindsey Lohan would have more sense to hang around with Kate Moss, who is under investigation for drug use in England. Of course, you would think Lindsay Lohan would have more sense to do a pole dance with Kate Moss in public, maybe she was getting fashion advice to get off the worst dressed list. Oh well, enjoy…

Paul Van der Sloot and Family to Sue Aruban Government For Damages in Natalee Holloway case

If Arubans, Aruban officials, or those assigned the task of figuring out or preventing a boycott from taking away from the already declining tourism numbers in Aruba want to understand why it is occurring? You all need to look no further than the following events taking place today in Aruba as described in the Amigoe and Bon Dia articles, “The Vand der Sloot family suing for damages”.

Individual have a sense as to what they consider right and wrong. No politician has to tell them this, they are able to make up their own mind. Thus the reason why although a boycott backed by a politician is nice, but not necessary. The idea that Paul Van der Sloot is suing for damages after spending a couple days in jail and having taken part in discussing with the three prime suspects how to potentially cover each other’s stories let alone coach the three suspects is beyond imagination to many. The idea that two black security guards who were initially arrested and spent more time in jail than did Paulus due much in fact because Paulus’ son Joran Van der Sloot lied to police have yet to be considered “not suspects” is beyond the pale. What is probably the most insulting is how exactly can a suspect in an unsolved crime be a party to sue for damages?

“… the Court of Appeals ruled in favour of the Van der Sloot family members that also the damages suffered by the family members, including Joran qualify for compensation.”

The idea that a suspect in an ongoing investigation to what the Prosecution has said, “… young lady in question has lost her life as a consequence of a punishable crime committed against her.

The idea that a suspect in an ongoing crime investigation let alone individuals who may have knowledge of what that suspect said or did is able to not only have their day in court but sue for damages while the rest of the investigation has been handled the way it has and the past court decisions made only make many American question everything about Aruba.

An American family has lost a daughter and somehow a suspect who has lied to police repeatedly that even resulted in others being falsely imprisoned and is still a suspect in a criminal investigation is somehow under Aruban law allowed to be compensated for damages?

And people wonder why Americans do not want to visit Aruba? Surely you cannot be serious?

Amigoe; January 12, 2006: The Van der Sloot family can claim damages

ARUBA — Paul as well as his family members can claim damages due to the arrest of Van der Sloot in connection with the investigation on the disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

The Common Court of the Neth.Antilles and Aruba decided this yesterday in the appeal case that was instituted by the family members of Van der Sloot. The actual damage claim case serves this Friday. In November, the judge in the court of first instance ruled that only the damages suffered by Paul van der Sloot himself can be considered for compensation. However, the Court of Appeals ruled in favour of the Van der Sloot family members that also the damages suffered by the family members, including Joran qualify for compensation. The Court decided that not only the suspects, but everybody that suffered a loss can claim compensation, including his family members.
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Chris Breaz, Melinda Superville’s brother gives a Heartfelt Thank you

Texas EquuSearch was honored yesterday by the Houston Corporate Paralegal Association. They picked Texas Equusearch as their nonprofit of the year for 2006. Texas EquuSearch stated that “they appreciate and are very grateful for this honor”.

Their monthly luncheon was today and Tim Miller opened it with a speech about his daughter Laura being abducted and murdered and how Texas Equusearch came to be. Next they played the latest missing person DVD that has the “Laura Song” on it.
(the rest of the story at Missing & Exploited)