February 11, 2008
Top Taliban Leader Killed [UPDATE: Captured?] in Pakistan
UPDATE 12:00: Some conflicting reports here. New reports indicate Dadullah has been captured alive and that his wounds weren't critical. That's even better news.
So, would anyone seriously object to waterboarding Dadullah since we know he was on the Taliban's operational side?
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Mansoor Dadullah, one of the top men in the Taliban's organization, was killed today after a shootout with the Paki military. Dadullah had operational control over Taliban forces in Southern Afghanistan, but last month an offical statement came out saying that Dadullah had been removed from his post.
Zabiullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson who is frequently mentioned here at The Jawa because of our ongoing conflict over his website, had made the original announcement that Dadullah had been removed from the Taliban leadership, but today Mujahid claimed that Dadullah was still part of the Taliban. If you'd like to give Zabiullah Mujahid a call or drop him a note, his telephone and e-mail address are provided at the end of this post.
Last June Mansoor Dadullah starred in a Taliban "graduation film" [pictured above] in which advised would-be jihadis who had just completed training to blow themselves up. You first Mansoor. You first.
In any event, Jimbo suggests that it's time to break out the cowbell. I'm inclined to agree.
Mansoor Dadullah, brother of slain Taliban military commander Mullah Dadullah, was among five militants caught after a shootout near a seminary in southwestern Baluchistan province around 10 a.m., a local intelligence official told The Associated Press.A senior military official said Dadullah died of his wounds while being flown to a hospital with the other four injured men.
On Monday, Mujahid said Dadullah was still part of the Taliban movement, but that he was no longer an operational commander in southern Afghanistan. Mujahid said he had no comment on Dadullah's reported capture and death.zabihullahmujahid@yahoo.comDadullah told the AP in a phone interview in January that he remained a Taliban commander and had asked the militia's supreme leader Mullah Omar to dispel "rumors" of his dismissal.
He also claimed that he had met with al-Qaida's No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri a few months ago but had never met with Osama bin Laden. He said Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in Helmand were fighting alongside each other and sharing tactics.
The operation was carried out in the Gwal Ismailzai village, 150 miles northeast of the Baluchistan capital, Quetta, by a joint force of police, anti-terrorism forces and army commandos.Source
Zabiullah's satellite phone: (011 from US, then) 8821621360585
By Dr. Rusty Shackleford at February 11, 2008 12:01 PM | | l digg this
