Osama Bin Laden 'largely isolated' from Al Qaeda, says CIA

Yet the Al Qaeda organization remains the "most clear and present danger to US security," Director Michael Hayden said in a speech Thursday.

By Arthur Bright

posted November 14, 2008 at 9:40 am EST

Though nominally still in charge of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden is "largely isolated" from the group and is focused on protecting himself, according to the head of the CIA.

CNN reports that in a speech Thursday at the Atlantic Council in Washington, CIA Director Michael Hayden said Mr. bin Laden is "putting a lot of energy into his own survival – a lot of energy into his own security," and "appears to be largely isolated from the day-to-day operations of the organization he nominally heads." Nonetheless, the US is continuing to pursue him, Mr. Hayden added.

Regardless of whether bin Laden is actively helping lead the terrorist organization, the CIA believes capturing or killing him would be a huge blow to al Qaeda, according to Hayden.

"This is an organization that has never been through a change at the top," he said. "For 20 years, bin Laden has been the visionary, the inspiration or harmonizing force behind al Qaeda."

Hayden said it remained to be seen whether bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, could maintain unity in the ranks without him.

"The truth is, we simply don't know what would happen if bin Laden is killed or captured. But I'm willing to bet that whatever happens, it would work in our favor," Hayden said.

Reuters reports that despite bin Laden's isolation from his terrorist group, Hayden said Al Qaeda is the greatest threat to US security.

"Al Qaeda operating from its safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas remains the most clear and present danger to the safety of the United States," Hayden said.

The hunt for al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden "is very much at the top of CIA's priority list," Hayden said.

The Washington Post writes that Hayden said Iraq is no longer the top concern in the US war against terrorism. "Today, the flow of money, weapons and foreign fighters into Iraq is greatly diminished and al-Qaeda senior leaders no longer point to it as the central battlefield," Hayden said. ABC News adds that Hayden said Al Qaeda in Iraq, which is affiliated with bin Laden's Al Qaeda, is "on the verge of strategic defeat." But Hayden also expressed concern about terrorists leaving Iraq to fight elsewhere. "Iraq veterans also have been involved in planning attacks in Europe and the United States," he said.

Another of Hayden's concerns is the recruitment and training of Westerners by Al Qaeda. The Guardian reports that he said Westerners have been traveling to northwest Pakistan for terrorist training, and are valued by Al Qaeda for their ability to blend in to Western society.

Hayden also warned that Al Qaeda is increasing its operations around the world, writes the BBC. Among the recent activity Hayden cited:

• East Africa: "Al-Qaeda is engaging Somali extremists to revitalise operations... al-Qaeda could claim to be re-establishing its operations base in East Africa"

• The Maghreb: Attacks have worsened since the merger in 2006 of al-Qaeda and the Algerian militant group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). The GSPC has renamed itself al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

• Yemen: Saw an "unprecedented number of attacks" in 2008, and could become a launch-pad for attacks in Saudi Arabia

• Pakistan: Safe haven has allowed al-Qaeda to train a "bench of skilled operatives"

Hayden noted that there have been successes against Al Qaeda's terrorist network, writes US News and World Report. Hayden said Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an Indonesia terrorist group with ties to Al Qaeda, is on the ropes due to Indonesian efforts, and the group's "capabilities and confidence are simply not what they were three years ago."

In praising Indonesia, Hayden called the Indonesian government's recent execution of three men who bombed a Bali hotel in 2001 a "dramatic step that underscores Jakarta's commitment" to the fight against terrorism.

Hayden credited counterterrorism efforts by domestic law enforcement for driving much of the success. "While JI still exists today, its once-robust relationship with al Qaeda is gone, its plots are increasingly detected and disrupted, and hundreds of its leaders and operatives have been captured or killed by the Indonesian national police."

Hayden also discussed his future at the CIA, writes The Washington Post.

As for his own plans, Hayden said that he and Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell recognize that "we serve at the pleasure of the president." He added that they understand "there has to be a personal relationship" between the president and his top intelligence directors and would "fully understand" if either or both were replaced.

He said if asked to stay, "we would stay for a period," repeating almost verbatim what McConnell had said at an awards ceremony yesterday. "If they ask us to stay for some reason, for a period of time, we would stay and assist them in the transition," McConnell said.

Hayden and Mr. McConnell, both appointed by President George Bush, have been the subject of fierce criticism for their public support of the White House's "enhanced interrogation" program for terrorists, which critics say is synonymous with torture. Some Democrats are seeking their ouster when Barack Obama assumes the presidency in January.