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Thursday, 21 November 2024 | ||
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The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 08-11-14The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>CONTENTS[01] CIA: Bin Laden Alive but IsolatedAl-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is alive and ``largely isolated,'' said CIA Director Michael Hayden, who added that U.S. intelligence had disrupted a terrorist attack that ``would have rivaled the destruction of 9/11.'' Hayden, speaking in Washington to the Atlantic Council of the United States, an international relations group, said that while al-Qaeda has suffered setbacks, the terrorist organization is ``determined and adaptive.'' ``This war --- and no one should mistake it as anything else -- is far from over,'' Hayden said. He didn't give details on the disrupted attack.Al-Qaeda is working with extremists in Somalia to establish more of a foothold there, which could further destabilize the east African country, Hayden said. Al-Qaeda also has increased operations in north Africa and in Yemen, where the U.S. embassy in the capital of Sana'a was attacked in September. Bin Laden ``appears to be largely isolated from the day-to- day operations of the organization he leads,'' Hayden said. ``The truth is, we simply don't know what would happen if bin Laden is killed or captured, but I'm willing to bet that it would work in our favor.'' For months, Hayden has told reporters about U.S. intelligence and military successes against the terrorist group. Yet he said the group has proven it is resilient. He repeated his assertion that al-Qaeda in Iraq, or AQI, is ``on the verge of strategic defeat,'' leading the group to transfer operatives out of the country to attack elsewhere. The flow of money, weapons and fighters out of Iraq ``is as much a concern now as the ongoing threat of AQI attacks inside the country itself,'' Hayden said.Al-Qaeda also has succeeded in using the northern tribal region of Pakistan as a base of operations, the CIA director said, adding that cross-border attacks into Afghanistan are ``more violent and aggressive.'' Still, U.S. success in keeping al-Qaeda's leadership pinned to this remote region has made it difficult for the group to plan operations, Hayden said. News item: 15533 The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |