Did Egyptian President Morsi Meet Al Qaeda Leader Ayman Zawahiri In Pakistan?

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi. Reuters

Report: Morsi To Smuggle Al-Qaeda’s Zawahiri Into Egypt -- Human Events

According to a new report from the Arabic-language website Misr al-Gidida [translated for this story by the author], during Egyptian president Muhammad Morsi’s recent visit to Islamabad, Pakistan, he secretly met with Ayman Zawahiri, the leader of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda, and promised to smuggle the Egyptian-born jihadi back home. The Arabic report cites a Pakistani source saying that the meeting was clandestinely arranged, away from the delegation accompanying Morsi, and “facilitated by elements of Pakistani intelligence (ISI) and influential members of the international organization, the Muslim brotherhood.”

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My Comment: This story has not been collaborated by other sources .... until something more definite is revealed, this story will be treated with a certain degree of skepticism. As to what is my take .... Egyptian President Morsi has been known to give comfort and support to well known terrorist leaders .... so it is possible that such a meeting did take place.

But I personally hope for Egypt's sake that this story is not true. Ayman Zawahiri was Osama Bin laden's number two for years, and has been directly implicated in being involved in 9/11. Any Egyptian involvement to shelter him will be perceived by the American people as a grievous affront to justice and the rule of law .... and there will be dire consequences.

Al Qaeda's New Leader Calls For U.S. Attacks

9/11 Message? New Al Qaeda Leader Calls for U.S. Attacks -- ABC News

In a video released three weeks before the 9/11 anniversary, new al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri urges followers to continue to target the United States.



Dressed in white, with his automatic weapon leaning against his left side, Zawahiri urges "Muslim brothers everywhere" to pursue America in the 12-minute video.



"America today is staggering," said Zawahiri. "Hunt her down wherever you may encounter her. Hunt her down to cut what is left of her corruption's tail."



Zawahiri took over leadership of al Qaeda following the May 2 U.S. raid which killed bin Laden in Pakistan.



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More News On Al Qaeda's New Leader calling For Terror Strikes Against The U.S.

Al Qaeda chief urges attacks on "criminal" U.S. -- CBS

Al-Qaeda chief urges attacks on 'criminal' America -- USA Today

Zawahiri to Muslims: target US, avenge Bin Laden -- AFP



My Comment: 3 weeks before the anniversary of 9/11 .... should we be worried?

Ayman al-Zawahiri: Al Qaeda's New Leader -- News Roundup June 17, 2011

Pentagon: US Will Capture and Kill New Al-Qaida Leader -- Voice of America

Top Pentagon officials say the U.S. military will capture and kill al-Qaida’s new leader and that he will meet the same fate as Osama bin Laden.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told reporters at the Pentagon Ayman al-Zawahri will face challenges as al-Qaida’s new leader, saying he lacks what Gates referred to as bin Laden’s “peculiar charisma.”

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More News On Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al Qaeda's New Leader

US vows to hunt down, kill new Al-Qaeda leader -- Yahoo News/AFP
Zawahri rise as al Qaeda chief "not surprising" - W.House -- Reuters
Gates: Al-Zawahri is no bin Laden -- USA Today
Bin Laden deputy Zawahri to lead al Qaeda -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Al-Zawahri succeeds bin Laden as al-Qaida leader -- Yahoo News/AP
Al-Zawahri succeeds bin Laden as al-Qaida's leader -- Miami Herald/McClatchy News
Bin Laden’s deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, takes over Al Qaeda -- Toronto Star
Ayman al-Zawahiri: from doctor to Osama bin Laden's successor -- The Guardian
Ayman al-Zawahiri - from medical doctor to al Qaeda chief -- Deutsche Welle
Al-Qaeda's new leader could launch 'big' attack on West -- The Telegraph
Al-Zawahiri: Al-Qaeda chief overshadowed by Bin Laden -- BBC
Al-Zawahri may not be able to revive Qaida, say experts -- Times of India
Analysis: Al-Zawahiri takes al Qaeda's helm when influence is waning -- CNN
Al-Zawahiri: New Al Qaeda Leader Obvious Choice, But Strategy Remains Unclear -- Marcus Baram, Huffpost World

Ayman al Zawahiri Takes Control of Al Qaeda

Bin Laden’s No. 2, Zawahri, Takes Control of Al Qaeda -- New York Times

Ayman al-Zawahri, Al Qaeda’s No. 2, is assuming the leadership of the organization, less than two months after Osama bin Laden was killed by American Special Operations forces, the group said in a statement posted online Thursday.

Mr. Zawahri, 59, an Egyptian who long served as second in command to Bin Laden, had been expected to inherit leadership of the terrorist organization after Bin Laden’s death in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2.

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More News On Ayman al-Zawahiri To Lead Al Qaeda

Al-Zawahri succeeds bin Laden as al-Qaida leader -- Yahoo News/AP
Al-Qaeda names Zawahiri to succeed bin Laden -- Yahoo News/AFP
Bin Laden deputy Zawahri takes over as Qaeda leader -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Al Qaeda Names Osama Bin Laden Successor -- ABC News
Al-Qaida Appoints Egyptian Zawahri as New Leader -- Voice of America
Al-Qaida Makes Al-Zawahri It New Leader -- NPR
Al Qaeda Appoints Zawahiri As Its New Leader -- New York Magazine
Zawahri: Suburban doctor to chief of al Qaeda -- MSNBC
New al-Qaida leader mentored Osama bin Laden -- MSNBC
Ayman al-Zawahiri new al-Qaeda head: how does succession work? -- The Telegraph
Analysis: Zawahri seeks to rally embattled al Qaeda -- Reuters
Timeline: Messages attributed to al Qaeda's Zawahri -- Reuters
Al-Qaeda's new leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in his own words -- The Telegraph
Ayman al-Zawahiri in his own words -- BBC
Zawahiri statement: Selected quotes -- BBC
Ayman al-Zawahiri: new al-Qaida leader won't command instant loyalty -- Jason Burke, The Guardian
Profile: Ayman al-Zawahiri -- Al Jazeera

Ayman Al-Zawahiri Is Now The World's 'Number One Terrorist'

Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden attend a press conference in 1997 Photo: REX

Ayman Al-Zawahiri The World's 'Number One Terrorist' -- The Telegraph

Barack Obama's National Security Adviser has declared Ayman al-Zawahiri to be the world's "number one terrorist" but said al-Qaeda's long standing deputy lacked Osama bin Laden's charismatic appeal.

One week after bin Laden's death and with no successor yet named, the assessment will heighten speculation that al-Qaeda is heading for a leadership battle.

Tom Donilon said: "Our assessment is that he is not anywhere near the leader that Osama bin Laden was." He also said there was no evidence yet to suggest that Pakistani authorities were aware that bin Laden had set up home only 30 miles from the capital Islamabad.

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My Comment: Barack Obama's National Security Adviser declares that Ayman al-Zawahiri lacks charisma to lead Al Qaeda. Oh please .... Al Qaeda has nothing to do with charisma, and everything to do with its ideology.

News Roundup On Ayman al Zawahiri, Al Qaeda's #2

Osama bin Laden (L) sits with al-Qaida's top strategist and second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri in this 2001 file photo. Photo: Reuters

Was Bin Laden Betrayed By His Right-Hand Man? Al Qaeda's Deputy Leader 'Led U.S. Troops To Pakistan Hideaway' -- Daily Mail

Osama Bin Laden's deputy led U.S. troops to the Al Qaeda leader's hideout so he could take over the terrorist group, it was claimed today.

Egyptian Ayman Al Zawahiri, who has been touted widely as the man who will succeed Bin Laden as the head of Al Qaeda, turned his back on his terrorist leader following a prolonged power struggle, according to a Saudi newspaper.

The plot to get rid of Bin Laden began when Zawahiri’s faction persuaded bin Laden to leave the protection of the tribal areas along the Afghan-Pakistan border.

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More News On Ayman al Zawahiri

Bin Laden raid intel yields leads on al Qaeda No. 2 al Zawahiri -- CBS News
Al-Zawahiri Likely bin Laden's Heir Apparent -- Voice of America
Osama bin Laden dead: Ayman al-Zawahiri could replace him as al Qaeda boss, on FBI Most Wanted list -- New York Daily News
Who will be America's next Most Wanted? -- Sydney Morning Herald
Ayman al-Zawahiri: How will he shape Al Qaeda? -- Dan Murphy, Christian
Will Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Bin Laden's Heir Apparent, Re-Shape Al Qaeda? -- Huffington Post

The Hunt For Al Qaeda's Number Two Leader Continues

Ayman al-Zawahiri

US Targeted Zawahiri During Past Raids In Pakistan -- Threat Matrix

The Associated Press reports on three US attempts to kill or capture Ayman al Zawahiri, al Qaeda's second-in-command. All three near-misses took place in northwestern Pakistan: the first in the city of Peshawar in 2003, the second in the tribal agencies of South Waziristan in 2004, and the third in Bajaur in 2006. Note that there hasn't been a report of a near-miss since January 2006. Here are the details from the AP report on the raids:

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More News On the Hunt For Ayman al Zawahiri

AP Exclusive: Close calls for al-Qaida's No. 2 -- AP
Close Calls for Al Qaeda's No. 2 -- ABC News/AP
U.S. came close to al Qaeda's number 2 -- CNN
AP Exclusive: Close calls for al-Qaida's No. 2 -- Jawa Report

My Comment: One day he will be in someone's cross-hairs .... and that will be the end of him.

Intelligence Agents Were Only A Few Hours Off In Capturing Or Killing Al Qaeda's Number 2

Osama Bin Laden And Al-Zawahiri

Close Calls For al-Qaida's No. 2 -- Stars And Stripes/AP

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The CIA has come closer to capturing or killing Osama bin Laden's top deputy than was previously known during the last nine years, The Associated Press has learned.

Tragically, the agency thought it had its best chance last year at a secret base in Afghanistan, but instead fell victim to a double agent's devastating suicide bombing.

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My Comment: Close .... very close .... but no cigar.