(New York Times) David E. Sanger and Mark Mazzetti - Michael E. Leiter, director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, said Wednesday that American intelligence officials now estimated there were somewhat "more than 300" al-Qaeda leaders and fighters hiding in Pakistan's tribal areas. Taken together with the recent estimate by CIA Director Leon Panetta that there are about 50 to 100 Qaeda operatives now in Afghanistan, American intelligence agencies believe that there are most likely fewer than 500 members of the group in the region. However, American officials say al-Qaeda has forged close ties with a number of affiliated militant groups. Leiter said "we've had some incredible successes" against al-Qaeda's leadership, and that the group "is weaker today than it has been at any time since 2001." But he quickly added, "Weaker does not mean harmless."
2010-07-01 10:42:02Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive