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New Taliban Leader: More Dangerous Than Bin Laden?
January 09, 2008 1:31 PM
The newly appointed leader of the Taliban in Pakistan is being called more dangerous than Osama bin Laden by analysts there. His movement was created last month when 26 Pakistani militant groups joined forces to fight for an Islamic regime there, tribal sources say.
Baitullah Mehsud, also known as the emir of South Waziristan, is described by Pakistani authorities as a brutal but able leader who commands thousands of followers. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf blames him for the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, as well as a spate of recent attacks here that have left more than 400 dead. NATO authorities in Afghanistan have offered a $50,000 reward for his capture.
"I think he is now a much bigger threat than bin Laden and al Zawahri in this part of the world," said ABC News consultant Rahimullah Yusufzai.
"He seems to have a large reservoir of suicide bombers, and he is a bigger threat in this region, in Pakistan and certain border provinces of Afghanistan than even the al Qaeda leadership," said Yusufzai.
Like Mullah Omar, who leads the Afghan Taliban, Mehsud refuses to be photographed. He lives on the run, according to Pakistani authorities who are tracking him, and never sleeps in the same bed twice.
"We know he is training suicide bombers. We know he is indoctrinating suicide bombers," Musharraf told foreign journalists last week.
Mehsud was appointed the supreme leader of the newly created Taliban Movement of Pakistan, dedicated to creating an Islamic regime there, according to tribal sources. Delegates from 26 militant groups held a secret meeting last month in the volatile region of South Waziristan where the CIA believes al Qaeda is regrouping. The group's first priority will be to fight the Pakistani Army in the northern Swat Valley and in Waziristan, tribal sources say.
"This group has decided they will collectively respond to any military operation by Pakistani authorities," said Yusufzai. Ultimately, they want to establish an Islamic regime in Pakistan that would emulate the former Taliban government in neighboring Afghanistan.
Western officials in Pakistan are concerned by how sophisticated Pakistan's militants have become in recent months. They have successfully targeted Pakistani army bases, a special forces compound and buses carrying employees of the country's intelligence services. Western diplomats fear that a unified Taliban will present yet another potent threat to the already fragile security situation there.
"It's not just that they are carrying out regular attacks," says a Western official. "It is that they are able to target the Pakistan military so effectively."
Photo courtesy of BBC News.
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
January 9, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (42)
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Meshud and his followers are extremely dangerous. they won't stop targeting Pakistan's govt. until the country is split up and they control the Waziristans and tribal areas - hopfully NATO and coaltition forces will be given broader authority to target these high value targets...
Posted by: Alex | Jan 9, 2008 1:51:07 PM
Nobody in this world is more dangerous than BUSH.
Posted by: Joe MUrphy | Jan 9, 2008 1:52:21 PM
Wait a minute. I thought that none of these people are a danger or a threat to anyone! Bill Clinton didn't seem to think so, and Bush couldn't find the bathroom, let alone Bin Laden.
Posted by: Mitch | Jan 9, 2008 4:30:40 PM
Oh, what a tangled web they weave....
Posted by: ToungeTyed | Jan 9, 2008 5:57:01 PM
You can say BUSH is the most dangerous man in the world but he leaves office in a yr and was voted in twice. I always find it funny that BUSH is called stupid yet he is resposible for all the crap as well. So what is he clever and stupid.
Posted by: matthew | Jan 9, 2008 7:47:45 PM
You think Bush is dangerous? How naieve.
Posted by: Jangleling | Jan 9, 2008 10:54:09 PM
Bin Laden does not exist.
Posted by: Brian birchall, rancher | Jan 10, 2008 4:48:14 AM
Bet you a dollar to a doughnut that Binn Laden is in Mecca living the life of a king!I mean--the pope is in Rome, why shouldn't the pope of the terrorist be in Mecca? Non Muslims are not allowed in the city. And another thing, if this is a highly organized network, with world wide control, as they say, you cant tell me that the government doesn't know where the headquarters are! CAVE MY FOOT!!!
Posted by: mike | Jan 10, 2008 9:35:01 AM
MUrphy, you know nothing of this part of the world, obviously, and that's too bad. Next year, when a democrat is in office, the threat of a region-wide fundamentalist theocracy across the "Stans" will still be the big threat that it is right now...and your candidate knows this better than you do...
Posted by: Jazz | Jan 10, 2008 10:16:45 AM
Unfortunately, Pakistan is only reaping what it sowed between 1977 and 1988, when instead of LEARNING from the split-off of Bangladesh, the military (headed by a 1971 war-criminal) decided to turn to ultra-religiosity and seeded militant cadres.
Posted by: Sadhasiv | Jan 10, 2008 10:23:01 AM
Bush's ability to dismantle America depends on the existence of his "great religion of peace". Keeping the idiot population focused on Bin Laden takes their mind away from Bush's assault on our Constitution.
Posted by: Richard | Jan 10, 2008 10:54:44 AM
The one thing the internet/media does is tout these people with phrases such as 'more dangerous than bin laden.. this is honey to their egos - instead of saying things like this, they should say: is trying to overthrow bin laden. get a good thing going to possibly eliminate BOTH of them. don't stroke their egos in national media - use a different method. who knows, it might work...
Posted by: frostyredbird | Jan 10, 2008 11:52:14 AM
Joe MUrphy,
Nobody is more dangerous than Bush? Not likely,
Posted by: Jim | Jan 10, 2008 12:18:03 PM
Osama is dead and buried. He lives only in theory.
Posted by: Nick | Jan 10, 2008 12:48:55 PM
Do NOT forget about Mullah Omar.
It is said that he donned the (actual) Cloak of (the false prophet) Mohammed.
The significance of this is lost on most who are not familiar with the mind-set of the East, but what it means is that he is seen by many (including bin Laden) as "legitimately" taking over the mantle of leadership/authority from Mohammed.
Omar is considered by many to be the pre-eminent leader of authority in the reforming Caliphate. In fact, bin Laden calls him "the Emir of the faithful". Emir is today translated as "General" or "Commander" or "Prince" or "Chieftain"~ alluding to militaristic command.
DRS
Posted by: DRS | Jan 10, 2008 12:56:51 PM
So if this guy is the new Leader, What happed to Mr Bin-ladin. Is Mr. Bin-Ladin finally and hopefully dead. As we can see this evil doer has reved up the attacks on Pakistan. Pakistan should at this time permit or allow outside forces into the country for security and terrorism control. any short of this will only lead too further Terror and dismay. Without outside intervention, I fear this country is headed a very disatrous events. example look what happed today 01/10/2008. Mr Musharrif Please Wake up and smell the coffee., and yes Bush #2 is the worst thing too happen to America, Bush has failed to apprehend mr. Bin-ladin and his henchmen. Bush gets an F from me.
Posted by: AdeebN | Jan 10, 2008 12:57:33 PM
The Egyptian media reported Bin Laden's obituary in 2001, and in her final TV interview Benazir Bhutto named the man who killed him. Nobody with half a brain should forget that there would be no Taliban and 'Al-Qaeda' (Arabic slang for going to the toilet - 'ana raicha al-qaida) if it wasn't for Reagan's arming and funding them in the 1980s against the Soviets.
Posted by: A. Magnus | Jan 10, 2008 1:14:38 PM
I think the "Blame it on Bush" folks have swallowed way to much koolaid. I wonder what they would do to counter the threat from Radical Islam. Bush has stuck to his principles and policies in dealing with these State sponsored Jihadist. Bush haters should just move on and get a life. Your boring jabs and extremely low intelligence of global political complexities is just to much for you to comprehend. We need to unify this country, not divide it. Respect goes a long way, even when fighting your enemy. Know one wants war, yet when we were attacked, as on 9/11, Bush went out and kicked some butt, while all you koolaid drinkers got your war protest signs out and yelled your rights were being hijacked. Your have the right of free speech but you lack the ##### to fight for it. Thank are great Armed Forces ...they do have what it takes.
Posted by: Dalton PRIDDY | Jan 10, 2008 3:51:54 PM
Mike is not wrong. Possibly, Bin Laden enjoying in Mecca or Medina, but I am not surprised if somebody finds him in India. Indian Congress party and allies are the sympathizer of Islamic terrorism in India.
Posted by: KMR | Jan 10, 2008 4:33:19 PM
Speaking of OBL, here we are over six years later and the FBI's 10 most wanted list doesn't even mention 9/11 as reason he is wanted. Am I the only one that finds that odd?
Posted by: Topsey Krett | Jan 10, 2008 4:39:39 PM
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