General's Capture a Major Blow to Taliban

(CBS)  He was the top commander of Taliban fighters killing American soldiers in Afghanistan. Now he is a prisoner, reports CBS News chief national security correspondent David Martin.

"This is the most significant victory we have had in nine years of fighting the Afghan Taliban," said former CIA officer Bruce Riedel.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was second only to Taliban leader Mullah Omar and in charge of day-to-day operations.

"Any time you take down a significant player like this it's disruptive immediately because everyone in the Taliban has to wonder who ratted him out," Riedel said.

Baradar was captured in the Pakistani city of Karachi by a joint U.S.-Pakistani operation -- a stark reversal of Pakistan's claims that Taliban leaders are not hiding there.

"Until now Pakistan has turned a blind eye on the Afghan Taliban activities in Pakistan," said Haroun Mir, a leading Afghan expert on the Taliban.

Officials call Baradar the linchpin of Taliban strategy in Afghanistan and his capture comes just as the U.S. and its allies have launched a new offensive in Helmand province.

"At the same time we're pushing against their forces in southern Afghanistan, we've captured their top general," said CBS News national security analyst Juan Zarate.

Between whatever laptops and cell phones he had at the time of his arrest and what he knows, he is a potential gold mine of intelligence.

"The unique thing about this individual was that he had been working for the Taliban for well over a decade," Riedel said. "He knew the inside and outside of how the Taliban operates."

Baradar is in Pakistani custody and the Americans have to go through them to get to him.

"I think they're going to be very certain to keep their grip on this interrogation process," Riedel said, adding that he thinks the Pakistanis may limit U.S. access.

Barader is said to be talking but mostly about what kind of deal he can get if he cooperates.

[Empire-George-]

by hermitdave February 16, 2010 11:32 PM EST

General??? Is this some kind of make the fake terror dudes appear to be a real army. When are we going to capture the Admiral of the huge Taliban Fleet? Any chance we are gaining in cutting out attacks by the Taliban Air Force? This whole Muslim mastermind thing is silliness multiplied by stupidity. The only masterminds in this fake war on terror are the clever white Christian/Zionist men in suits and ties, who dreamed up this money making venture for the Military Industrial Media Complex.
__________________

Wow, you should really get out more often, you really have no clue whatsoever about what's going on...do you ?

Fake war ? I've got ruins in my city, where two of the tallest skyscrapers used to stand and you call this a fake war ?

[bankersvox]

Isn't this a disproportionate USE OF FORCE ?? Think Is. vs. Hamas and how CNN protrays that conflict. What was the body count. Remember, we can't be killing more of them vs. our side. Again think stupid CNN ilk.

[rwsmith29456]

A 'major blow' isn't the end of the war. Don't count your Talibans until they are rooted and routed and out of business permanently.

[jsf14]

Grandiose claims, are they ever productive?

[jxknowles]

I never thought I'd see it, but some possibility the Taliban will surrender. I guess the military commanders, State Department and Commander-in-Chief were correct to extend the campaign for another 18 months. Finally some light at the end of the tunnel.

This, in addition to the new terror intelligence coming from Yemen, could set Al Qaeda back as well. Pakistan and Yemen's new appetite to fight terrorists in their own countries is paying big dividends.

I won't say it yet, but the current administration's successes are making Dickless Shamey's comments look even more stupid. I guess that really wasn't that hard to do.

[brutus83]

It will not be long before the whole world is at war,or should be at war with radical muslim militans. We, meaning all other people of the earth, must unite to eradicate these people out of existence. Any religion that preaches its congregation to strap a bomb around their waist and walk into a crowded cafe should not be allowed to exist. This threat is not going away by any other means. Let us take a stand against these radicals once and for all time.

[ludvig1-2009]

First, he should get an ankle bracelet with a tracking device, because his captors will very likely let him escape.

[omegaron2]

breadline1 wrote, "HE SHOULD BE BEATEN TO WITHIN AN INCH OF HIS LIFE. ALLOWED TO RECOVER, AND BEATEN AGAIN. THIS SHOULD BE REPEATED CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE TALIBAN ARE ALL EXECUTED. THEN HE SHOULD BE BEATEN TO DEATH AND PUT IN A LANDFILL TO BE TURNED INTO METHANE TO RUN A GENERATOR. FORGOTTEN FOREVER!"

Now, that's the kind of patriotic fervor CBS News likes! A statement of mine in this matter was deleted by CBS within a minute or two of my successful posting. But they like your violent redneck rant. It will, no doubt, stay.

I am remembering again why I stick with MSNBC.

[jxknowles]

And you are here posting because....?

[wdh3007]

It should read terrorist's capture a Major Blow to Taliban