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Al-Qaeda Chiefs Are Seen to Regain Power

[New York Times] Mark Mazzetti and David Rohde - Senior leaders of al-Qaeda operating from Pakistan have re-established significant control over their worldwide terror network and over the past year have set up training camps near the Afghan border, according to American intelligence and counterterrorism officials. American officials said there was mounting evidence that Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, had been steadily building an operations hub in the mountainous Pakistani tribal area of North Waziristan. The U.S. has identified several new Qaeda compounds including one that might be training operatives for strikes against targets beyond Afghanistan. The concern about a resurgent al-Qaeda has been the subject of intensive discussion at high levels of the Bush administration and has reignited debate about how to address Pakistan's role as a haven for militants without undermining the government of Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Analysts said North Waziristan became a hub of militant activity last year, after President Musharraf negotiated a treaty with tribal leaders in the area and pulled back Pakistani troops. Officials in Washington and Islamabad conceded that the agreement had been a failure.
2007-02-19 01:00:00
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