Tipping Off Zawahiri

Benjamin Wittes
Friday, May 6, 2011, 7:46 AM
Why on earth would the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee say this?
Other gleanings from the roughly 100 pieces of computer gear seized Sunday included possible leads on the whereabouts of other senior al-Qaeda leaders. While intelligence officials declined to comment on specific tips, a key congressional leader briefed on the findings suggested that the search for al-Qaeda’s No.

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Why on earth would the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee say this?
Other gleanings from the roughly 100 pieces of computer gear seized Sunday included possible leads on the whereabouts of other senior al-Qaeda leaders. While intelligence officials declined to comment on specific tips, a key congressional leader briefed on the findings suggested that the search for al-Qaeda’s No. 2 leader was in a newly active phase. “We have lots of information on him,” said Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), chairman of the House intelligence committee. “I can’t say it’s imminent, but I do believe we’re hot on the trail.” Rogers predicted that the intelligence leads from the bin Laden raid are “going to be a good for the global war on terrorism in the months ahead.”

Benjamin Wittes is editor in chief of Lawfare and a Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. He is the author of several books.

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