This undated photo made available by the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center shows Atiyah Abd al-Rahman. U.S. and Pakistani officials said Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011 that al-Qaida’s second-in-command has been killed in Pakistan, delivering another big blow to a terrorist group that the U.S. believes to be on the verge of defeat. (AP/National Counterterrorism Center)

Al-Qaeda’s second in command Atiyah Abd al-Rahman was killed in Pakistan this week.
The AP reported:

U.S. and Pakistani officials said Saturday that al-Qaida’s second-in-command, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, has been killed in Pakistan, delivering another big blow to a terrorist group that the U.S. believes to be on the verge of defeat.

Al-Rahman was killed Monday in the lawless Pakistani tribal region of Waziristan, according to a senior administration official who insisted on anonymity to discuss intelligence issues.

A Pakistani intelligence official said al-Rahman died in a U.S. missile strike in Machi Khel village in North Waziristan on Monday.

Since Navy SEALs stormed Osama bin Laden’s compound and killed him in May, the Obama administration has been unusually frank in its assessment that al-Qaida is on the ropes, its leadership in disarray. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said last month that al-Qaida’s defeat was within reach if the U.S. could mount a string of successful attacks.

“Now is the moment, following what happened with bin Laden, to put maximum pressure on them,” Panetta said, “because I do believe that if we continue this effort we can really cripple al-Qaida as a major threat.”

…He once served as bin Laden’s personal emissary to Iran. Al-Rahman was allowed to move freely in and out of Iran as part of that arrangement and has been operating out of Waziristan for some time, officials have said.

The Long War Journal has more on Atiyah Abd al Rahman.

 

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  1. #1 August 27, 2011 at 8:25 pm

    Winston commented:

    good riddance

  2. #2 August 27, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    bear commented:

    Is our Military GREAT, or what? Another deacon of the “religion of peace” prepped for the lake of fire.

  3. #3 August 27, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    bear commented:

    I’m reminded of the Yankees announcer as another one heads out of the park, “SEE YA!!”

  4. #4 August 27, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    KOW commented:

    I would love to know how many “2nd in command” have we killed? I am going with 20.

  5. #5 August 27, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    squeaky commented:

    ayman was #2 until usama was dispatched. we’ve gotten a bunch of 3′s.

  6. #6 August 27, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    Swifty commented:

    And this was done even with Obama getting us out of the wars that he inherited. tic

  7. #7 August 27, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    jony101 commented:

    no offense to anyone, but its hard to defeat terrorists when you fight with one hand tied behind your back. I think the success we had so far has more to do with luck, but that eventually runs out. Obama has been doing everything that is opposite of winning.
    It’s best not to taunt the terrorists (by saying its defeat is imminent) unless we are willing to back it up, just like its best not to provoke the crazy neighbor unless your willing to get bloodied too.

  8. #8 August 27, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    listingstarboard commented:

    Was the price for his death 22 Navy Seals? Are we really going to believe unamed sources?

  9. #9 August 27, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    gus commented:

    So naturally we are cutting our DEFENSE budget.

  10. #10 August 27, 2011 at 10:49 pm

    Molon Labe commented:

    This is pathetic. You can kill one coackroach but what about the millions who will attend the furneral?

    By this I mean as long as the USG refuses to go after those who fund, organize and support these people in the sanctuary states (the Gulf, Saudi, Iran, Lebanon, etc) you are just acting like some muscle bound cretin on the beach rather than ending the problem. Perhaps if Saudi oil depots started blowing up, and certain financial supporters had strokes or car accidents you might have far better results than eliminating a mid level official in a vast terrorist organization.

    The Germans eliminated the Red Brigade problem by insuring that belonging to it was a sure way to end up dead. Its a lesson the US should learn.

  11. #12 August 28, 2011 at 7:07 pm

    BurmaShave commented:

    Al-Qaeda Second in Command [found and] Killed in Pakistan.

    What a surprise.

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