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High-level al-Qaida Figure is Captured

by Rob Walker | March 14, 2008 at 10:59 am

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Washington revealed today that a high-level al-Qaida member, suspected of close links to Osama Bin Laden, was captured in 2007.
The Pentagon stated Mohammad Rahim, instrumental in helping Bin Laden escape Afghanistan in 2001, was detained in the summer of 2007.

Authorities have captured a high-level al-Qaida figure who helped Osama bin Laden escape from Afghanistan in 2001, the Pentagon announced Friday.
Defense
Department spokesman Bryan Whitman declined to say when or where
Mohammad Rahim was captured — or by whom — announcing only that he was
handed over by the CIA to the Pentagon earlier this week and is being
held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
But in a memo obtained by The Associated Press, CIA Director Michael
Hayden told agency employees that Rahim was detained in the summer of
2007.
"Rahim is a tough, seasoned jihadist," Hayden said. "His combat
experience, which dates back to the 1980s, includes plots against US
and Afghan targets."

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Swan

at 11:42 on March 14th, 2008

Hi Rob,

Have you ever noticed that when a terrorist is captured, they're always described as "high level al-Qaeda," or "top level in Hamas," "2nd lieutenant" or any other adjectives that would adequately describe them as:

MAJOR IMPORTANT TERRORISTS!

I don't suppose they ever capture just ordinary old terrorists at any time? Sometimes I have to wonder at the validity of such reports, since they all seem to indicate high ranks in terrorists organizations.

Is someone trying to pull the wool over the public's eyes? Who knows?

With the frequency of such reports, it's just always seemed odd to me.

Here's a question for anyone who cares to respond:

If we keep capturing their best terrorists - how is that those left behind are able to regroup so fast, with subordinates that can't possibly have the historical knowledge about plans, locations, bombs and many other such necessaries?