Al-Qaeda in retreat - CIA chief

Al-Qaeda in retreat - CIA chief

The CIA chief gave an upbeat analysis of the fight against al-Qaeda The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has said al-Qaeda is essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and on the defensive elsewhere. Michael Hayden's remarks, which correspondents describe as strikingly upbeat, come less than a year after the CIA warned of a resurgent al-Qaeda. He told the Washington Post that US counter-terrorism successes extended to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden is thought to be hiding out in the area. on balance, we are doing pretty well," said the CIA director. "Near strategic defeat of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Near strategic defeat of al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Significant setbacks for al-Qaeda globally." No complacency Mr Hayden said capturing or killing Bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, remained a top priority. Mr Hayden said Bin Laden was losing his appeal in the Arab world "The ability to kill and capture key members of al-Qaeda continues, and keeps them off balance - even in their best safe haven along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border," he said. However, the CIA chief warned against complacency, which he said could halt or reverse any progress against al-Qaeda. Just two years ago, the CIA warned that the militant Islamic group was using the US-led war in Iraq as a successful propaganda and marketing tool. But now, Mr Hayden said, al-Qaeda was losing the battle for hearts and minds in the Islamic world. Iranian interference He said there was a growing public resentment toward jihadism, and described the insurgency in Iraq as "more and more a war of al-Qaeda against Iraqis". It is the policy of the Iranian government... to facilitate the killing of American and other coalition forces in Iraq Michael Hayden CIA director "Despite this 'cause celebre' phenomenon, fundamentally no one really liked al-Qaeda's vision of the future," said Mr Hayden. He praised the increasing competence of the Iraqi military in combating extremist groups. But he warned that progress in Iraq was being undermined by growing Iranian interference. The US accuses Tehran of funding, arming and training insurgents. He said: "It is the policy of the Iranian government, approved at the highest levels of that government, to facilitate the killing of American and other coalition forces in Iraq. Period." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7427176.stm

 

 

*미국 CIA 헤이든 국장 “알카에다 붕괴 임박”

알 카에다가 붕괴 직전에 놓였다는 주장이 미국 정부 관계자들에 의해 잇따라 제기됐습니다. 마이클 헤이든 미국 중앙정보부 국장은 워싱턴포스트와의 인터뷰를 통해 이라크와 사우디아라비아 내의 알 카에다 조직이 거의 붕괴됐으며 세계 대다수 국가에서도 수세에 몰리고 있는 상황이라고 밝혔습니다. 헤이든 국장은 또 알 카에다 지도자인 오사마 빈 라덴이 살고 있는 것으로 추정되는 아프가니스탄과 파키스탄 국경에까지 대테러리즘 작전이 성공을 거두고 있다고 말했습니다. 그는 빈 라덴과 2인자인 아이만 알 자와히리를 찾아내 그들을 생포하거나 사살하는 일이 이제 최우선 과제로 남았다고 덧붙였습니다.