Officials: Al Qaeda's Mad Scientist Killed

CIA Drone Targeted Chemical Weapons Expert Abu Khabab Al-Masri On Afghanistan-Pakistan Border

(CBS)  Written for CBSNews.com by Farhan Bokhari, reporting from Islamabad.

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One of al Qaeda's top chemical and biological weapons experts was killed in an air strike by a CIA pilotless drone in a remote Pakistani border region, senior Pakistani intelligence officials told CBS News Tuesday morning.

Intelligence officials investigating the early Monday missile attack confirmed that Midhat Mursi al-Sayid Umar, also known as Abu Khabab al-Masri was one of six men killed and his remains had been positively identified.

"We now have a positive ID on the body. I can confirm to you that Al-Masri has been killed," a Pakistani intelligence official told CBS News on the condition of anonymity. Earlier reports claimed that the six men killed included three Arabs, while the other three were believed to be Afghans or Pakistanis.

However, the intelligence official who spoke to CBS Tuesday said all six men were Arabs. Those killed also included Sheikh Ibrahim, a mid ranking al Qaeda operative believed to be either Egyptian or Jordanian. The other four victims were described as ordinary foot soldiers. The intelligence official did not provide the full names nor the citizenship of the four lower ranking militants.

Al-Masri, an Egyptian national, became notorious for developing chemical and biological weapons for al Qaeda. He was known to have used a variety of animals, including dogs, cats and frogs in brutal experiments which often left the animals dead.

The Western security official, who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity, said al-Masri's animal experiments were filmed and used by al Qaeda to train new volunteers in the use of chemical and biological weapons.

The attack took place in Waziristan - a region along the Afghan border which has become notorious for its local tribes playing host to al Qaeda and Taliban militants, including some who fled U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

While al-Masri was among al Qaeda's senior-most operatives, it was difficult to ascertain the damage his death could theoretically inflict upon the terror group, if confirmed. A senior Pakistani security official, who also spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity, said that, despite heightened fears after Sept. 11 that al Qaeda was determined to carry out chemical and biological weapons attacks, the group has largely relied on suicide and conventional arms attacks in locations such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Al Qaeda has never proven itself as a potent force in using chemical and biological weapons," said the official. "If al-Masri has in fact died, his death will not cripple al Qaeda or the Taliban."

The timing of the report on al-Masri's death also aroused suspicion - coinciding with a visit to the White House by Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. In the past week two U.S. officials, speaking on deep background, told CBS News that they expected Pakistan to overtly demonstrate its support for the U.S. fight against terrorism by assisting in the arrest or killing of an important Islamic militant, close to the time of Gilani's Washington trip.

Though the attack was carried out by the CIA, the Pakistani official who spoke to CBS News said, "this case once again demonstrates that without active cooperation from Pakistan, key militants cannot be targeted" in the border region. The official refused to elaborate on the kind of support that may have been extended by Pakistan.

Western diplomats told CBS News that Pakistan may have supported the U.S. in tracking down al Masri. However, many concerns remain that Pakistan's border territory remains a haven for senior militants.

"Every time you have someone prominent like al-Masri getting killed in Pakistan, everybody has good reason to ask, 'Why are all these people getting found in Pakistan? Shouldn't Pakistan do more to push out these guys from its soil,'" asked one diplomat, who asked not to be named.

Gilani, appearing Monday on the White House lawn after meeting President Bush, told reporters, "We are committed to fight against those extremists and terrorists who are destroying and making the world not safe."

President Bush said Gilani had made a "very strong commitment" to securing the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, which the U.S. considers the principal gateway for Islamic militants crossing back and forth from Afghanistan to attack Western troops.

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Farhan Bokhari has been covering Southeast Asia for several large European news organizations for 16 years. Based in Islamabad, he focuses his coverage on politics and security issues surrounding the war against terrorism.

[garytown]

Maybe this time he will stay dead.
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=1517986

[benedu-2009]

Will CBS, the U.S. government or anyone else out there with credibility; explain how this person could have been killed, when he was killed in January 2006?
Please see this link: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=1517986

[benedu-2009]

Will CBS, the U.S. government or anyone else out there with credibility; explain how this person could have been killed, when he was killed in January 2006?
Please see this link: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=1517986

[benedu-2009]

Will CBS, the U.S. government or anyone else out there with credibility; explain how this person could have been killed, when he was killed in January 2006?
Please see this link: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=1517986

[benedu-2009]

Will CBS, the U.S. government or anyone else out there with credibility; explain how this person could have been killed, when he was killed in January 2006?
Please see this link: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=1517986

[feeelfree4u]

jydavis1, I''ve personally been to the funerals of some of those murdered on 9-11. I assure you it is no myth, and the deaths of those 2900+ people is very real to the loved ones left behind.

[jydavis1]

more "terror" propaganda to make you feel good about all the money that''s being diverted into this bogus war on an emotion -- stop consuming this myth !

[ajaxtheleast]

We see the republican nominee for the
presidency of The United States of America,
John McCain, entering from the right,,,

And now the democratic nominee for the
presidency of The United States of America,
Barack Obama, is entering from the left,,,,

AND THERE''S THE LADDER BOY RUSHING OUT TO
SET THE LADDER!!

JOHN McCAIN STEPS ON THE FIRST,,,NO,
THE SECOND RUNG OF THE LADDER,,,

JOHN McCAIN SHAKES HANDS WITH BARACK OBAMA!!

THE LADDER BOY RUSHES THE LADDER BACK
BEHIND THE CURTAIN!

AND THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OF
2008 IS UNDER WAY!!!

[jackie0428]

You can wallow in ignorance if you want, but the US has not created one--not one--terrorist. People make a choice if they want to be in in violent Jihad; they are not created, anymore than watching a rap video is going to create a gangster.
Why a certain subset of people insist on thinking that we created terrorists is beyond me.
These people attacked and killed 3000 of your fellow citizens on 9-11. Their movement was huge on 9-11 and their hatred of us was white-hot then as well. You can blame every problem in the world on GWB, but that doesnt make it so.

[hungry1968]

It cannot be denied that GWB has killed more terrorists than all other Presidents combined.
Posted by jerr111 at 08:30 PM

As true as the fact that terrorist numbers have never swelled as rapidly under any other president as well.

Posted by onemoretim at 10:26 PM : Jul 29, 2008





It ALSO cannot be denied that GWB has killed more innocent civilians, and started MORE UNPROVOKED wars than all other Presidents combined, too.

[notfooled]

It cannot be denied that GWB has killed more terrorists than all other Presidents combined.
Posted by jerr111 at 08:30 PM

It also can''t be denied the bush has killed more innocent women and children than Sadam ever did - thus creating more terrorists than all the presidents in history - combined.

But then few presidents kill for oil profits and yearn for endless war for the military industrial profits of it - I''d say his scheme is working out all according to plan.

If he murders another half-million women and children at a cost of 3 trillion dollars, that''ll still leave several million innocent people to kill later, just think how much that will swell profits. Hell that oughta drive the cost of gas to about $25 a gallon - woo-hoo.

[promaclaura]

According to CIA intellegence pre-Iraqi invasion Al-Queada numbers were a few thousand. Now, they are over 100,000 world wide in just 5 years. Why? How?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by onemoretim at 10:50 PM : Jul 29, 2008

I think that alot of them come from radical schools that embrace jihad. Pakistan has many of these schools, as does the rest of the world. They''re right under the noses of the British and let''s not forget Sudan. It''s downright chilling watching footage of young boys rocking over the Koran and chanting word''s of hate and jihad for the U.S. George can''t take credit for those things that already are in existance.

[promaclaura]

Sorry, but the US doesn''''t "create" terrorists or "Swell" their numbers
Posted by jackie0428 at 10:31 PM

I agree, I''ll place that squarely on the shoulders of their leaders. The royal families, dictators, tyrants, Saddam''s of the world, take our money and then keep it for their palaces while their people starve. Those people who are repressed and fed misinformation about their lot in life tend to bite. The fanatic''s embrace the radical side of their religion to elevate their lives where their government never would.

[jackie0428]

Sorry, but you''re incorrect. And you''re confusing and reversing cause and effect. US foreign policy is a REACTION to Islamic terrorism, not the other way around. Radical Islam and ALL it''s core beliefs existed over 800 years before the USA even existed.
If you don''t understand Islam and Jihad, there are many websites that will educate you. May I suggest
www.jihadwatch.org

[obama441]

jackie0428 if I was an Iraqi and American soldiers just kill my family that would make me an instant Jihadist

[jackie0428]

Sorry, but the US doesn''t "create" terrorists or "Swell" their numbers. That is pure nonsense. Does anyone really believe these terrorists were all simple shoemakers and farmers and bakers who one day said "Hey, I hate the USA and Bush, I''m giving up my trade and becoming a Jihadist!" If you believe that drivel, I have a bridge you might want to buy.

[obama441]

Theres never been so many terrorists in our prisons. Posted by BagdadsHere2 "our prisons" ? you live in Brazil,you''re a Brazilian citizen working for Chavez...

[bagdadshere2]

It cannot be denied that GWB has killed more terrorists than all other Presidents combined. Having said that, the Democrats won''''t give him an ounce of credit simply because he hasn''''t killed one specific, virtually-impossible to pinpoint person: bin Laden. Or so they say. I assure you if bin Laden was killed tomorrow, the Dems next week would be saying. "Yeah, but what about Zawahiri?" And so on and so on. We can all see right thru this cynical game.


Posted by jerr111 at 08:30 PM : Jul 29, 2008
----------------------------------------


Demoncrats may criticize but they cant deny GWB is the greatest terrorists hunter in history. Theres never been so many terrorists in our prisons.

[toolmangler-2009]

As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan for about an hour on his visit to "The War Zone". I wanted to share with you what happened. He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle, got to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who is the commander here at Bagram.
As the Soldiers where lined up to shake his hand he blew them off and didn''''''''t say a word as he went into the conference room to meet the General. As he finished, the vehicles took him to the ClamShell (pretty much a big top tent that military personnel can play basketball or work out in with weights) so he could take his publicity pictures playing basketball. He again shunned the opportunity to talk to Soldiers to thank them for their service.
I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the Senators, who wants to be the President of the United States. I just don''''''''t understand how anyone would want him to be our Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great country.
If this is blunt and to the point I am sorry but I wanted you all to know what kind of caliber of person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.
American Soldier


This is a flat lie, go here
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/obama.asp

[jackie0428]

dmw1167, if Pakistan didn''t have nuclear weapons, you can bet the US military would be acting with impunity in Pakistan. Oh gee, who allowed them to get nukes? Three guesses. Well, their first bomb went off in May 1998, so gee golly, that was 2 years before Bush came in. Try again, you have 2 more guesses.