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Volpone · Mar 15, 2008

We got another one. The CIA took out al Qaeda's #3 guy with an airstrike in Pakistan.

February 1, 2008 -- Updated 0725 GMT (1525 HKT)
U.S. officials: CIA kills top al Qaeda terrorist in Pakistan

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Abu Laith al-Libi, a wanted al Qaeda terrorist, was killed in Pakistan by a CIA airstrike, three U.S. officials told CNN Thursday.

Al-Libi was described as a senior al Qaeda leader believed to have plotted and executed attacks against U.S. and coalition forces, including a February 2007 bombing at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan during a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney.

He was on a "most wanted" list of 12 accused terrorists which was issued in October by the Combined Joint Task Force-82 -- an anti-terror unit in Afghanistan.

Earlier, a knowledgeable Western official and a military source confirmed al-Libi's death to CNN. The same official said al-Libi is "not far below the importance of the top two al Qaeda leaders" -- Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.

The officials said al-Libi was killed by a missile from an airplane.

Radical Islamist Web sites announced al-Libi's death.

"May God have mercy on Sheikh Abu Laith al-Libi and accept him with his brothers, with the martyrs," said a eulogy posted on a main Islamist site, Al-Ekhlaas.

Al-Libi, 41, was of Libyan descent and was believed to have been in the Afghanistan/Pakistan border region, according to the U.S. military.
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A U.S. counterterrorism official told CNN he was a significant, senior al Qaeda figure who had taken on a more prominent role in the organization in recent years. This official also confirmed that al-Libi was responsible for plotting attacks targeting U.S. and coalition forces as well as Afghan officials.
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CNN's Pam Benson, Samson Desta, Elise Labott, Wilf Dinnick, Kelli Arena and CNN senior Arab affairs editor Octavia Nasr contributed to this report.
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Ward · Mar 15, 2008

#3 AQ is turning into a job only a desperate temp would take.

Liet · Mar 15, 2008

Al-Qaeda #3s are like corporate executive vice-presidents: there's far too many of them, and even after you kill off a score like we have you've barely made a dent.

Marso · Mar 15, 2008

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Bin Laden and Zawahiri place "Help Wanted" ad...

Volpone Zombie Hunter

Ward A Stepford Husband

Liet Dr. of Horribleness, Ph.D.

Marso High speed, low drag.

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Bin Laden and Zawahiri place "Help Wanted" ad...

Volpone Zombie Hunter

Ward A Stepford Husband

Liet Dr. of Horribleness, Ph.D.

Marso High speed, low drag.

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