I decided to do a little deep reading around an initial link from Hot Air here. Check this out, as putting together three disparate reports, it at least suggests why and how several top AQ operators, including Adam Gadahn and Abu Laith al-Libi, may have been sold out. It's speculative but it certainly adds up. Keep in mind, top AQ guys are always moving, meaning any intel for a successful strike has to be fresh.
Twelve militants were killed in a single missile attack on a residential compound in Khushali Wazir in the Mirali tehsil during the night of January 28. A loud explosion rocked the area at 11:22 p.m. According to well-informed NEFA sources in Pakistan, among those reportedly killed in the attack were senior al-Qa’ida commander Abu Laith al-Libi, his former deputy Abu Suhail, Hamza al-Somali (of Australian or US nationality), and Azzam al-Amriki (an a.k.a. of American al-Qa’ida member Adam Gadahn) [Gadahn’s death has yet to be officially confirmed]. Abu Ubayda Tawari Rakhis al-Mutairi and “Abu Adil”, both from Kuwait, were also reported killed in the attack—along with at least at least three Uzbek nationals. On January 30, the bodies of the 12 foreigners were retrieved and buried in a local graveyard. A large number of local militants had surrounded the site and cordoned it off.
First an independent news report that also mentions a school hostage taking which would have been on the morning of January 28 in Northern Waziristan. Keep in mind, all the events below happen on the same day within a few miles of one another. Similar to Anbar, did elements of Al Qaeda go too far, in this case with a school hostage taking?
MIRANSHAH: Twelve occupants of a ‘guest house’ in North Waziristan were killed in what local residents said was a missile attack, hours after gunmen held 300 children hostage at a nearby school, security officials said on Tuesday.
You'd think after a school hostage taking you might see a crack down of sorts, yes? But not so fast. Same day, same place - see page 3 of this pdf for events on the day of January 28 in North Waziristan - also reported here in an article:
MIRAMSHAH, Jan 28: Security forces have released seven tribesmen as a goodwill gesture amid reports that the government and militants are inching towards an agreement for restoring peace in North Waziristan.
Officials said the tribesmen had been held under the collective tribal responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulations and they were not militants.
Reciprocating the government’s move, the militants extended till Feb 10 a ceasefire they had announced earlier and returned the weapons they had snatched during attacks on security forces, a tribal negotiator told Dawn on Monday.
Based upon page 13 of this pdf, and also in this report - it would seem the cease fire didn't apply later that very same night just a few miles away - and if that many high value targets were hit in one place, you can bet your burqa someone gave them up.
MIRAMSHAH, Jan 30: Militants retrieved and buried on Wednesday the bodies of 12 foreigners who had been killed in a missile attack on a residential compound in the Khushali Toorikhel area of North Waziristan on Monday night (ed. note - Jan 28th).
Local people said the identity of the militants killed in the attack remained unknown but according to unconfirmed reports seven of them were Arabs while the other five from central Asian.
The compound, located about three kilometres south of Mirali town, is owned by Abdus Sattar, a driver, who survived the attack.
A large number of militants had surrounded the site to get the bodies which the later buried in a local graveyard.
“Militants are still keeping the local people away from the place,” a villager told Dawn on phone. He said that unmanned air vehicles had hovered over the area on Wednesday.
The attack is a mystery because it is still not known who had fired the missile.
Some local people claimed that a drone had fired the missile but officials have been keeping quiet.
“I heard the sound of a plane just before the explosion,” said the man who identified himself as Zaheer Gul.
Several places in the North Waziristan have come under attack in the recent past. A house was attacked in Mosaki village in Mirali tehsil in December 2005 in which Al Qaeda’s operational commander Hamza Rabia was killed.
I suspect that, even more so than in Vegas, what happens in Waziristan stays in Waziristan, so we may never know for certain - but it sure is fun speculating as to why and how this traitor might be staying in Northern Waziristan forever, except for the stray tooth, or body part, perhaps brought back for a confirm. heh! If we did get him, I wonder if anyone collected the million bucks?
