CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE POINTS TO DEATH OF AL-ZAWAHIRI

From The Strata-Sphere:

From some discussions with folks who are tied into the intelligence community I have learned that there does exist circumstantial evidence that Ayman al-Zawahiri was injured and/or killed recently, most likely in the July 28th strike in South Waziristan Agency. Like others with sources into the IC, I am hearing there is a serious lack of solid collaborating evidence, but that lack of solid evidence is in both directions. It neither proves Zawahiri is fine or otherwise. Therefore the circumstantial evidence that Zawahiri is injured, dying or dead still stands, albeit unproven either way.

I have been noting the quiet over this matter, which tells me the evidence is strong, but not bullet proof. Everyone in the IC and in the media seems to be keeping their powder dry, waiting on something firm one way or the other. The more likely it is Zawahiri is hurt or dead, the more solid the evidence needs to be before people get up in front of the world to announce his demise. This is a fact of life, no one needs to claim Zawahiri has been taken out until there is solid proof.

And solid proof is hard to come by when the bodies have been recovered and controlled by the enemy. But there are ways which take days to work through. I suspect we may know for sure if Zawahiri was present at the strike site very soon.

ATTACK MAY HAVE KILLED AL-ZAWAHIRI

Breaking news:

An online report says U.S. government sources are trying to confirm that an airstrike in northwestern Pakistan has killed al-Qaida's deputy leader, Ayman Zawahiri.

According to the subscription report at Stratfor, the airstrike was on July 28, and sources were reporting that an announcement from the U.S. government is expected soon.

The report said the attack was carried out by a U.S. Predator attack plane.

According to the blog Jawa Report, officials had said earlier "the hunt was on" in Pakistan for a "big fish."

UPDATE: From Fox News:

Al Qaeda’s second in command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, may be injured or even dead, according to a CBS News report based on an intercepted letter that urgently requests a doctor to treat Zawahiri.

CBS News says it obtained a copy of the letter from sources in Pakistan, where Zawahiri, second only to Usama bin Laden, is thought to be hiding.

The letter, reportedly written by a local Taliban leader and dated Tuesday, says Zawahiri is in "severe pain" and his "injuries are infected," according to the report.

A missile strike Monday in Pakistan’s tribal areas reportedly killed Al Qaeda operative Abu Khabab al-Masri, considered a "Top Ten" target as the terrorist organization’s top expert on chemical and biological weapons.

That strike also killed five others, though it isn’t clear whether Zawahiri was at the scene or in the area.