Did Media Fall for False Claims About Death of Alleged Al-Qaeda Leader?

[sabra]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001614168

Did Media Fall for False Claims About Death of Alleged Al-Qaeda Leader?


ISLAMABAD All weekend, the U.S. media trumpeted the death of a man in Pakistan said to be near the very top of al-Qaida's operations, allegedly ranking just below Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri. But for a man reputedly at the forefront of al-Qaida's global terror operations - with one finger in plots to target America and another in attempts to assassinate Pakistan's president - Hamza Rabia kept a remarkably low profile.

The Egyptian wasn't on the FBI's list of the world's 15 most wanted terrorists, nor had he made Pakistan's most wanted list. In fact, there had been little public mention of Rabia--before he was apparently killed last week in an explosion at his tribal hideout.

U.S. officials haven't confirmed the death, despite claims by Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf that he is "200 percent" sure Rabia died. Yet officials in Islamabad and Washington have been quick to agree that Rabia's demise would be a major blow to Osama bin Laden's terror network, saying he ranked in the top five of its hierarchy.

U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley described Rabia as al-Qaida's head of operations, adding in an interview with "Fox News Sunday" that "we believe he was involved in planning for attacks against the United States."

How could a man so powerful, in such a critical position, escape attention for so long?

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. It just keeps getting better!

What a profound question to ask: How could a man so powerful, in such a critical position, escape attention for so long? Yet, suddenly, in the span of 24-48 hours the nation has become aware of this top dog and his demise.

[NNN0LHI]

2. I think Bush is using the CIA to knock off Musharrafs political opponents

Wouldn't be the first time.

Don

[SeattleRob]

3. Why not

They fall for every other hand fed Bush propaganda story - so why would anyone expect this case to be any different?