Stratfor has: "A missile strike on a building in Pakistan on Jan. 13 carried out by the CIA targeted senior al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who might have been killed in the attack. The Pakistani military said U.S. aircraft attacked a compound near the Afghan border known to be used by high-level al Qaeda operatives, and al-Zawahiri -- Osama bin Laden's deputy -- might have been among them."

Australia's Courier-Mail has:

AL-Qaeda No.2 Ayman al-Zawahiri may have been among victims of a US strike Friday on a Pakistani village which killed 18 people, US ABC television reported today, citing Pakistan military sources.

The sources said five of those killed in the raid were "high level Al-Qaeda figures" whose bodies are undergoing forensic tests for identification

To say that this is good news, if true, is an understatement.

And to think that only a few days ago, he said in a video tape that President Bush was a pathological liar" continuing the U.S. military presence in Iraq despite these forces "suffering and ailing and trying to find a way our from Iraq!" He then rambled on to say, "you have to confess that you are defeated in Iraq, and you are defeated in Afghanistan and you will soon be defeated in Palestine, with Allah's help."

Too bad, Allah must have been really ticked off at Al-Zawahiri for being such a murderous lying thug!

More coming...

Here's an interesting piece from a Muslim in Pakistan that shows how some Muslims are begining to feel about Al-Qaeda, and particularly, Al-Zawahiri:

An open letter to Osama, Al-Zawahiri
By S.A.Rehman Fri, 6 Jan 2006, 09:36:00

Aslam-o-Alaikum! Do you know what degree of shame, abomination, misery and wretchedness is being heaped on the innocent and peace-following Muslims all over the world because of this so-called and self styled Jihad of yours?

Do you know how many innocent, unsullied people are being daily butchered as result of this professed Jihad of yours? How many children are being orphaned and women being widowed precisely for the same reason.

And do you know, killing one faultless human being is like killing the entire humanity. You must definitely be knowing that you will surely be held accountable for this all bloodshed. Will you, then, be able to face your God? I challenge, no!

Then, why have you become an agent of some hidden hand. Why are you taking the responsibility of the murder of entire humanity to yourself on his behest. Why are you dragging the Muslims down? Why are you demeaning Islam by presenting it as a terrorist religion? Acting like this, which religion are you rendering a great service to? Are you raising the standard of Islam high or you (if you reflect on it) are causing the heads of the followers of the path of the righteous bow down with shame in-front of the entire humanity.

Today most of the Muslims believe that you are not a true Muslim but planted by the enemies to destroy the image of Islam.

For God's sake, take recourse to sense, and announce a CEASEFIRE at once so the inhabitants of world may be introduced to that divine aspect of the Muslims at whose hands no soul suffer, whose words and actions bear no tinge of dichotomy, whose speech, when uttered, conveys to others the message of love and protection, whose thoughts, when thought, are devoted to the well being of others. Herein lies the true success, and herein lies the victory of the true religion of Allah.

Islamabad, Pakistan

Other coverage: Jawa Report, In The Bull Pen, Clarity & Resolve,

Update - Reuters (14 Jan 2006 01:51:45 GMT/ 20:51:34 EDST):

The Pakistani information minister said on Saturday. "Our investigation is still going on ... I cannot confirm anything," minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told Reuters.

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