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Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity?

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Sun May 08, 2005 at 05:31:23 PM EST
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Amidst much fanfare last week, President Bush announced the capture of Abu Faraj al-Libbi, supposedly a very senior al Qaeda leader in Pakistan who might lead us to Osama. The BBC picked it up here.

Now it turns out, the capture may have been just another Emily Littella moment. The Sunday Times of London reports that European counter-terrorism experts believe Bush and Rice got it wrong, and confused al-Libbi with another much more senior al Qaeda leader named Anas al-Liby, who is thought to be a mastermind of the 1998 US embassy bombings in East Africa. al-Liby has not been captured.

When The Sunday Times contacted a senior FBI counter-terrorism official for information about the importance of the detained man, he sent material on al-Liby, the wrong man.

“Al-Libbi is just a ‘middle-level’ leader,” said Jean-Charles Brisard, a French intelligence investigator and leading expert on terrorism finance. “Pakistan and US authorities have completely overestimated his role and importance. He was never more than a regional facilitator between Al-Qaeda and local Pakistani Islamic groups.”

There's more:

No European or American intelligence expert contacted last week had heard of al-Libbi until a Pakistani intelligence report last year claimed he had taken over as head of operations after Khalid Shaikh Mohammad’s arrest. A former close associate of Bin Laden now living in London laughed: “What I remember of him is he used to make the coffee and do the photocopying.”

Some believe al-Libbi’s significance has been cynically hyped by two countries that want to distract attention from their lack of progress in capturing Bin Laden, who has now been on the run for almost four years.

Even a senior FBI official admitted that al-Libbi’s “influence and position have been overstated”. But this weekend the Pakistani government was sticking to the line that al-Libbi was the third most important person in the Al-Qaeda network.

Other international news agencies report that the interrogaton of al-Libbi is not going well--despite being administered a "truth serum" and being subjected to "phyiscal pressure."

officials said al-Libbi, believed to be Al Qaeda’s number three, has defied efforts to make him reveal valuable information about its senior hierarchy, despite coming under “physical pressure” to do so.

This isn't the first case of alleged mistaken identity. The Independent published this account of a case involving Omar Deghayes who claims he was tortured, blinded and more at Guantanamo because American and Pakistani interrogators mistook him for someone else. There's also Khaled el-Masri, the German shoe salesman and "ghost detainee" that Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice ordered released.

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    • Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? | 27 comments (27 topical)
    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#1)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:51 PM EST
    Yes I knew that one day after bush told the world, by the way do you really think bush has ordered the capture of any al qaeda guys? Bush already said he didn't want bin laden can you remember that statement?

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#2)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:51 PM EST
    Well, that pretty much puts the exclamation mark on the open thread discussion we had on this subject t'other day. Seems like I remember some wingnuts demanding that everybody believe unquestionably, and celebrate (stay alert, and stay with fox). 'Mission Accomplished,' Baby! :-O

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#3)
    by Jlvngstn on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:51 PM EST
    One American official tried to explain the absence of al-Libbi’s name on the wanted list by saying: “We did not want him to know he was wanted.” That is rich. But even more frightening is when the press asked for the fbi to send something over in support of why the arrest was so important, an agent sent the bio of the wrong man..

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:53 PM EST
    Rider wanted us to torture this suspect immediately in case any information can be had to save American lives. Hey, Rider, do you understand the problem posed by torturing suspects for information yet? We can move on to the problem of torturing confirmed terrorists at another time. This is like remedial humanity. One small step at a time.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#5)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:53 PM EST
    "Counter-terrorism experts believe Bush and Rice got it wrong, and confused al-Libbi with another much more senior al Qaeda leader named Anas al-Liby," Yup, I saw Bush and Rice down at the station, getting the ID incorrect. Don't you think that someone else got the information incorrect and passed it upwards? More than likely the Pakis?

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:54 PM EST
    What are Bush and Rice responsible for, Wile E.? Getting elected is the only thing they've taken responsibility for as far as I can tell.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#7)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:54 PM EST
    Mfox: I was wrong, they are responsible for the mis-identification of the person. Feel better? Bush was also wrong to go into Iraq. He is responsible for that. But since we are there, we should see it through.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#8)
    by Johnny on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:54 PM EST
    Wile, that kind of like saying "The 4 year old was wrong for getting into the cookie jar, but as long as he is already there, save some face and at least get a cookie." The sentence should read "Bad boy! You are GROUNDED mister!" Accountability.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:54 PM EST
    Well, I hope we got some good torture in, it's good for practice.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:54 PM EST
    The seeing it through argument is persuasive, Wile E. My perception is though that every day we stay to stabalize Iraq we are creating more terrorists. Is this true in your opinion? If so, is saving face more in our self-interest than long-term American economic and security interests? Just questions. It seems like we have to stay there (in for a penny, etc) but I wonder if it really, really is in America's best interest (as opposed to the Presidents). I'd like to hear an argument for disengagement that I could get behind.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:54 PM EST
    And re: the mistaken ID... Oy. At least now when they announced the arrest I had immediate reservations, so was not completely shocked by this newest PR.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:54 PM EST
    It's not about saving face, and it's not a 'mistake.' USPNAC plotted, out loud, to take over the US gov't, have a 'second Pearl Harbor, and then use it to invade Iraq and establish AIR BASES, dismantling the country in the process. Mission accomplished. This is no more a 'mistake' than it was a 'mistake' to lie to the UN, the US, and the UK. Purposeful lying isn't called a 'mistake' by anyone except a priest hearing confession. Since they are not erring in their eyes (and conspiracies), they will not be admitting failure until they are defeated, and that means removed from power. There is only one party that can do that. What remains to be seen is whether the R party wants to survive, or whether it has completely sold itself to an insane, genocidal plot to redraw the world, in total violation of treaties and laws. This 'mistaken identity' capture is odd for several reasons: 1) Pakistan is under pressure to produce AQ captures. 2) This man is identified as having tried to assassinate Musharaf TWICE. 3) If in fact he is low-level, then that's unlikely. 4) The timing of his capture suggests it is another Centcom lie, prepacked to make an initial splash (Tony sends his thanks), and then evaporate in backpage errata. 5) The list of such Bait'n'Switch news pieces is long. 6) How many times can they go to 'the well'? It's a gusher of treason.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#13)
    by jackl2400 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:54 PM EST
    Paul in LA: are you (in real life) a television character actor who was a pollwatcher for Election Protection in Miami-Dade County for the 2004 election (I'm wondering if we met and went to the Kerry "victory" party at the Beach House in Miami Beach, i.e....if you're the same "Paul".

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#14)
    by Wile ECoyote on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:55 PM EST
    Mfox: Initially we created more. They seem to be running out of recruits now. I have been talking with alot of people I used to fly with who have been over there twice or more. To a person they say it is getting better. The worse thing would be to leave before the job is done, IMO. The biggest problem was there was no plan for the post-war.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:55 PM EST
    You don't listen to Cheney, coyote. He said the war will never be over. As for Afghanistan, how could the war be over? The pipleines aren't finished, the Tajik oil is still going to Russia, and Pakistan hasn't yet put in the oil and LNG terminal on the Persian Gulf which is why Pak. is our ally, even though it was Pak which supplied N. Korea, Iran, and Libya (anther new ally) with the intel they needed to grow nukes. Wow, that's an ally. We can't 'leave' an ally like that until EVERYONE is a threat, and everyone hates the USA. That will make SURE that Cheney and his pals make lots and lots of money. Not so good for the soldier with a hole in his shoe where his head used to be. Not so good at all. No such luck, jackl. Kerry won the election, that much we agree on. I haven't been to Florida for over a decade, and since the South is busy turning into a vast experiment in 'error, won't be for decades more.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#16)
    by pigwiggle on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:55 PM EST
    “Seems like I remember some wingnuts demanding that everybody believe unquestionably, and celebrate (stay alert, and stay with fox).” Need I point out the irony to those who are willing to do just that with the contradicting story; from a ‘French Intelligence investigator’ no less? This is the same ‘investigator’ that has been running to ground the TWA flight 800 tragedy [read, running to the bank with book profits]. He would have us believe that his nearly omnipotent French Intelligence contacts likewise have information pinning the TWA 800 explosion/crash on a US Navy missile test. Perhaps this is a case of mistaken ID, but I’ll withhold judgment until a more credible source comes forward. Come on folks, when a story too neatly fits your worldview it calls for a bit of extra scrutiny, certainly not less.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:55 PM EST
    No irony too big for Bush, pigwiggle. He's the master of irony. Like the irony of the Bushies telling the US that Hussein had nukes and was going to blast them with his DRONES! Like the irony of Bush lecturing other countries about fair and legal elections. You lot are going to spend the rest of your lives picking Bush's lies out of your teeth. And you deserve that fate. The rest of us will be picking our splattered neighbors off the streets where the enemies Bush created got to them. And we didn't deserve that, at all.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#18)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:55 PM EST
    p-wiggles, No need to point out any irony to those of us who were skeptical when the White House declared its wondrous capture. The debate was over whether we ought to believe right off the bat, and celebrate. Things are in my mind now as they were then, indeterminate. If you remember, some people expressed sadness that we couldn't just "say this was a g good thing." Of course, at this point anybody who takes White House/MSM statements at face value has real problems.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:55 PM EST
    Rider, where are you on this thread. Your position has been for the urgent need to torture the detainees for information that could save american lives. This case illustrates the problems with your approach. Can you sign on here and discuss your resolution of this potential problem with your approach?

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#20)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:56 PM EST
    CA...quit troll baiting. You know the answer anyway...the guy was some type of ay-rab therefore he must be guilty of something...so let's torture him until we find out what.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#21)
    by Jlvngstn on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:56 PM EST
    Hey Pig, why was he not on any US watch lists if he was 3rd in command?

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:56 PM EST
    If you don't believe Abu Faraj al-Libbi was on any US watch list, then you have to believe this story, Al-Qaeda kingpin gets away in Pakistan, from Nov 4, 2004 is just a huge coincidence.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#23)
    by Jlvngstn on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:56 PM EST
    U.S. officials described the arrest as the greatest blow to al-Qaida in more than two years -- though al-Libbi is not on the FBI's list of most-wanted terrorists. Al-Libbi is a confidant of bin Laden and was behind only Egyptian Ayman al-Zawahri and the al-Qaida chief himself in the terror organization's hierarchy, they said.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#24)
    by Jlvngstn on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:56 PM EST
    "Al-Libbi's name was not on the FBI list of most-wanted terrorist."

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#25)
    by Jlvngstn on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:56 PM EST
    But al-Libbi only recently came to the attention of U.S. authorities as a major figure. Despite his high rank in al-Qaeda, his name does not appear on the FBI's list of most wanted terrorists nor on the web page of the State Department's "Rewards for Justice" program, which pays for information that leads to the capture of terrorists or thwarts terrorist attacks.

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:56 PM EST
    Wow, that's some fancy dancin' by people who can't admit that there's something really fishy about a so-called "number three guy" not being listed...and it's not because he just came to their attention, they said themselves that they didn't want him to know that he was wanted... Well, how the hell does anyone else who's supposed to be looking for know he's wanted, if he's not on the list? The easiest and most obvious answer: Fall guy/fake suspect/patsy/wrong freakin' guy/ One or all, take your pick... And uh, since Bush says he's not concerned with Bin Ladin anymore, why does every news report on a captured #3 guy (Libbi's like the fifth #3 guy they've captured, right?) end with "and he may bring Coalition forces nearer to capturing Bin Ladin?" Another ploy to rope-a-dope Bin Ladin....or the American sheep?

    Re: Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:58:56 PM EST
    Oh yeah- Blaghdaddy almost forgot... Blaghdaddy called this last week... The Proof

    Al Qaeda Capture: Mistaken Identity? | 27 comments (27 topical)