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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Map, News) – A missile from a U.S. Predator drone struck a suspected terrorist safehouse in Pakistan and killed a top al-Qaida commander believed responsible for a brazen bomb attack during a visit last year by Vice President Dick Cheney to Afghanistan, a U.S. official said Thursday.

The strike that killed Abu Laith al-Libi was conducted Monday night or early Tuesday, said the official, who would neither confirm nor deny that the U.S. carried it out. The attack was against a facility in Pakistan’s north Waziristan region, the lawless tribal area bordering Afghanistan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss the strike publicly.

The killing of such a major al-Qaida figure is likely to embarrass Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who has repeatedly said he would not sanction U.S. military action against al-Qaida members believed to be regrouping in the wild borderlands near Afghanistan.

An estimated 12 people were killed in the strike, including Arabs, Turkeman from central Asia and local Taliban members, according to an intelligence official in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said the bodies of those killed were badly mangled by the force of the explosion and it was difficult to identify them.

Unidentified bodies can be anyone you want them to be … how convenient.

The Predator is an unmanned aircraft developed by the CIA that can be armed with Hellfire anti-tank missiles. The U.S. says al-Libi – whose name means “the Libyan” in Arabic – was likely behind the February 2007 bombing at the U.S. base at Bagram in Afghanistan during a visit by Cheney. The attack killed 23 people but Cheney was deep inside the sprawling base and was not hurt.

The bombing added to the impression that Western forces and the shaky government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai are vulnerable to assault by Taliban and al-Qaida militants.

Terrorism experts said al-Libi’s death was a significant setback for al-Qaida because of his extensive ties to the Taliban, but they said the terror network would likely regroup and replace him.

However …

Pakistani officials denied any knowledge of al-Libi’s death. A Web site that frequently carries announcements from militant groups said al-Libi had been “martyred with a group of his brothers in the land of Muslim Pakistan” but gave no further details.

Residents near the Pakistani town of Mir Ali in North Waziristan said they could hear U.S. Predator drones flying in the area shortly before the explosion, which destroyed the compound.

But Pakistan’s Interior Ministry spokesman, Javed Iqbal Cheema, insisted authorities had “no information” indicating al-Libi was dead.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he did not “have anything definitive” to say on reports of al-Libi’s death.

Funny, we can get all excited about something that has not been acknowledged or verified. If this story was true, wouldn’t Gates be jumping up and down, holding press conferences and hugging Bush in front of strategic cameras to get his ‘good side’. Wouldn’t the Republican candidates use this news to justify the “progress” we are making in the famous GWOT?

Oh well. World news sources are picking up the story. If its in the news, it must be true.

• Al-Qaeda hit
• Top Al-Qaida Operative Killed in Pakistan
• Al-Qa’ida commander reported dead in Pakistan
• NEW: Abu Laith al-Libi was killed by a missile from an airplane, officials say
• Al-Libi plotted attacks against U.S. and coalition forces, officials say
• Source: Libyan behind 2007 February bombing of Bagram Air Base
• Top al-Qaeda commander ‘killed’

Posted by bosskitty January 31st, 2008 | Category: Abu Laith al-Libi, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, CIA, Casualties, Cheney, Collateral, Karzai, Musharraf, Pakistan, Politics, Taliban, Waziristan, cruise missiles | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL