Pentagon: Top al-Qaida Operative Escaped (*bangs head*)

[deadparrot]

FORT BLISS, Texas - A man once considered a top al-Qaida operative escaped from a U.S.-run detention facility in Afghanistan and cannot testify against the soldier who allegedly mistreated him, a defense lawyer involved in a prison abuse case said Tuesday.

Omar al-Farouq was one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants in Southeast Asia until Indonesian authorities captured him in the summer of 2002 and turned him over to the United States.

A Pentagon official in Washington confirmed Tuesday evening that al-Farouq escaped from a U.S. detention facility in Bagram, Afghanistan, on July 10. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

An Army lawyer for Sgt. Alan J. Driver, a reservist accused of abusing Bagram detainees, asked Tuesday where al-Farouq was and what the Army had done to find him in time for Driver's court proceedings.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051102/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/al_qaida_escape

[democracyindanger]

1. 1) Don't worry, they'll find another "top" AQ operative soon enough

2) Good news for the alleged abuser, eh? Pretty convenient, that.

[Old and In the Way]

2. I'm shocked this could happen.

No, not really.

[Rose Siding]

3. Escaped, huh?

Another blow to the prosecution.

In earlier cases of prisoner abuse in Afghanistan, the alleged victims either were dead or unidentified. Other alleged victims in Driver's case also cannot testify. One was released from custody and cannot be found, and the other has died.

It could happen...

[radwriter0555]

31. Yeah, he escaped to death.

What a co-inky dink.

[Pithy Cherub]

4. Was this al Qaeda guy just the top and not the tippy tippy top?

Because everybody is tops when the Pentagon captures them. Did they let him go so there was no witness? Or as we all know because there is another top guy really really close by. :eyes:

So when (IF) they ever get Osama is he tippy top cubed or what?:shrug:

[texpatriot2004]

5. Which # 2 was he? nm

[C_U_L8R]

6. Doh !

Hey are we sure this isn't the same
"top al-Qaida" guy they keep capturing
over and over again.

[adrenaline]

15. too much

LMAO

[Mokito]

37. Then we must be talking about the infamous #2

Fariq Al-Houdini

[gordianot]

7. Is he number 2? Not another one. Who is the bottom Al-Qaida?

[No Exit]

11. LOL, I think they're all "No. 2"!

Oh, wait. The bottom guy... I think that might be that nutjob out in California, the one who calls himself "the American Al Quaeda" or something.

What a burlesque this "al quaeda" crap is!

[gordianot]

16. If they would have killed him he would have been number #2.

Just goes to show you the advantage of being number #1.

[No Exit]

18. Heh heh... yeah, ol Bin Laden's no fool!

[Inland]

20. It's like the local bank branch, where everyone is a V-P

Or Star Trek, where there are no ranks below Chief Petty Officer.

[gordianot]

23. That always bothered me about Star Trek too many Ensign's.

The Chief did not come about until the next generation.

Maybe being number 2 makes you willing to sacrifice yourself. Wonder when Fitz will get ** number 2?

[Straight Shooter]

29. It's an inverse pyramid.

There are 3 million comprising positions Number 1, Number 2, Number 3, and Number 4. Only one lonely guy in position Number 5. The U.S. isn't looking for him, because he's just the cook.

[gordianot]

46. Good explanation.

Maybe Bush will make a similar argument in defending outing a covert CIA agent.

[0rganism]

32. "You are number six." "I am not a number, I am a free man!"

:rofl:

[gordianot]

45. I wonder if he was being chased by a balloon?

If I recall correctly they were also constantly replacing number 2 on the Island. Another case of life imitating art.

[No Exit]

8. ...escaped into a 6-foot-deep hole in the ground...

I think it's called a "grave".

[mallard]

35. ..or was disappeared

into a 'graib'

[VegasWolf]

9. Did they look in the garbage dump for a muslim with holes in the back of

his head?

[MGKrebs]

10. Hmm. One might begin to think that they don't really want to

prosecute this case.

[stillcool]

12. How Conveeeeenient...

standard operating procedures..

[buddysmellgood]

13. Isn't there a silent, long suffering cat or dog that will now step in and

capture the evil doer? That's how I've usually seen this sort of thing work out.

[killbotfactory]

14. Escaped into a desert grave?

Escaped from this earthly plane of existance?

[Roland99]

17. Rather interesting the key witness escaped

What's more important? Covering up the crimes of a "bad apple" or protecting national security?

[Inland]

19. And the kicker: how he escaped is classified. nt

[DebJ]

21. They let Osama pick him up!

[ContraBass Black]

22. Holy cow.

I was going to say a hundred different angry, belligerent, and cynical things.

That wiped them all clean out of my mouth.

[electricray]

24. This guy "escaped" to the afterlife. n/t

[Kralizec]

25. Now we have another #2 running around.

"Make it so."

[Canuckistanian]

26. Doh! He said he'd be back in a minute

Just wanted out to get a coffee, so I gave him the keys to my car....

[MadisonProgressive]

27. He escaped to his death. God Bless the USA!

[abb9]

28. Another No # 2 Guy again I bet? .

Seems like all these groups opposing Americans in Iraq and Afhanistan only have Top,important,Key,number 2 guys

[WhiteTara]

30. how convenient for the soldier

:kick:

[IndianaGreen]

33. This is like reading stories from the old Stalinist gulag

Were we always like this, and we never took notice, or is this something that started with Bush?

[UpInArms]

34. I wish I knew the answer to that question

because it torments me.

Was I just unaware or was this mal-administration truly responsible for turning this country toward fascism?

I remember Nixon/Watergate
I remember Iran/Contra
I remember the S&L debacle

somehow the blue dress doesn't seem to meet any of those standards

now we have this continuing decline in what the US actually represents - the monied few versus the rest of the world - we can send our military/CIA around the world to torture and kill anyone.

I am never certain whether to weep for my country or my lost innocence (and I am way too old to be very innocent).

[IndianaGreen]

36. I suspect we were always like this, but not to this degree

Like Hitler in Germany, Bush has taken existing legislation and practices and expanded on them without fear of Congressional oversight or press inquiries.

We have remained free because of the Constitution which has now been subverted by PATRIOT and a Federalist Society controlled judiciary. The other two players in our freedom were Congress in its war making and oversight responsibilities, and an independent press. Congress forfeited its responsibilities a long time ago, Reid's shutting of the Senate notwithstanding, and the press has been reduced to being a PR arm of its corporate owners' ideology.

We are in a world of shit!

[underpants]

39. DoD has some sort of catch and release program

#2's are caught tagged and then released. They aren't tracked for intelligence reasons only for huge appropriations for the soft ware and so contributors can play "find the #2"

This whole thing is laughably funny. I know that AFghanistan isn't exactly Silicon Valley but were they simply keeping this "high priority" on a chain or in a cave?

He got loose and can not longer testify on a some lowly GI?


Puhleeeeeeeeeeease

[WhiteTara]

44. it started with his father and the Iran/Contra Affair

because we were unable to clean the nest because Poppy pardoned the whole disgusting lot, when Clinton got in, we weren't able to do anything and because a good 60% of the population had no idea that Poppy had tried to subvert the constitution and had a shadow government (yep, these very self same people) ready to take over. It was very touch and go then, but now it is almost unstoppable. Which is why I almost died when some of the smartest people I know fell for the Nadir trick and I saw my greatest nightmares come true. Baby Bush forever before we see nuclear night.

[Eugene]

38. AP: U.S. Boosts Afghan Security After Escape

U.S. Boosts Afghan Security After Escape

By DANIEL COONEY, Associated Press Writer 49 minutes ago

KABUL, Afghanistan - Security has been tightened at the U.S. military
prison in Afghanistan following the escape of a suspected al-Qaida
leader, a U.S. official said Wednesday, as Indonesian terror officials
accused Washington of failing to inform them of the breakout.

Omar al-Farouq, born in Kuwait to Iraqi parents, was considered one of
Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants in Southeast Asia until Indonesian
authorities captured him in 2002 and turned him over to the United
States.

He was one of four suspected Arab terrorists to escape in July from the
detention facility at Bagram, the main U.S. base in Afghanistan. It was
not clear how long he had been held in Afghanistan.

<snip>

A video the four men made of themselves after they escaped from Bagram
was broadcast on Dubai-based television station Al-Arabiya on Oct. 18,
according to two editors at the station who spoke on condition of
anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

<snip>

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051102/ap_on_re_as/al_qaida_escape

One of the most dangerous men on the planet just picked the lock
and walked out while the guards were mostly off duty? Interesting.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

40. Top al-Qaida Figure Among Afghan Escapees (from U.S. Military Prison)

Top al-Qaida Figure Among Afghan Escapees

By DANIEL COONEY, Associated Press Writer 46 minutes ago

Security has been tightened at the U.S. military prison in Afghanistan following the escape of a suspected al-Qaida leader, a U.S. official said Wednesday. Indonesian anti-terrorism officials accused Washington of failing to tell them of the breakout.

Omar al-Farouq, born in Kuwait to Iraqi parents, was considered one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants in Southeast Asia until Indonesian authorities captured him in 2002 and turned him over to the United States.

He was one of four suspected Arab terrorists to escape in July from the detention facility at Bagram, the main U.S. base in Afghanistan. It was not clear how long he had been held in Afghanistan.

Although the escape was widely reported at the time, al-Farouq was identified by an alias and the U.S. military only confirmed Tuesday that he was among those who fled.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051102/ap_on_re_as/al_qaida_escape&printer=1

[SoFlaJet]

41. Now that's convienent

now they can state that they capurted another #2 operative.

[asjr]

42. I just wonder how many "top" Al Aqueda figures

are left. Seems like they are always catching No.2.

[warrens]

43. Those goofy Al Qaeda guys. All chiefs, no Indians