tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4549570844246420522.post2497698288123716636..comments2024-01-28T09:52:33.515-05:00Comments on al Sahwa: Pakistani Taliban Leader Dead?Pat Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13937507399915070637noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4549570844246420522.post-84867527010003558822010-02-03T22:25:23.375-05:002010-02-03T22:25:23.375-05:00@JD: That's true, but I think even Faqir's...@JD: That's true, but I think even Faqir's appointment took some time. It's also possible that their organization is sufficiently disrupted that that hasn't happened yet. <br />Of course I will admit that this is arguing from the 'dead' perspective, but I'm doing that on purpose. If it's a matter where neither party is certain of whether or not they're right I like to deliberately take the opposing side. It keeps debate interesting.Gyrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11139372297929361578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4549570844246420522.post-31231305596676894102010-02-03T15:41:36.250-05:002010-02-03T15:41:36.250-05:00Pat/Gyre,
The one aspect of this story that makes...Pat/Gyre,<br /><br />The one aspect of this story that makes me think Hakimullah is still alive is the lack of a public announcement naming an interim leader. I think it is imperative for any terrorist or criminal organization to immediately appoint new leadership or interim leadership to hold the group together. I doubt that the TTP could have an interim leader appointed without the open source media catching wind of it. Even if Hakeemullah was severely wounded and could possible make a recovery, the TTP would still need to appoint an interim leader. Faqir Mohammad filled this role following Baitullah Mehsud's death, I see no reason why Faqir would not fill this role following Hakeemullah's death.JDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15229922275251649001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4549570844246420522.post-15887237328975180082010-02-03T00:19:40.023-05:002010-02-03T00:19:40.023-05:00Gyre:
I agree. And you're right, it took sev...Gyre: <br /><br />I agree. And you're right, it took several weeks to announce the death of Baitullah Mehsud this summer. Along these lines, today Hakimullah's spokesman (Azam Tariq) <a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2010/02/no_tape_from_hakeemullah_neede.php" rel="nofollow"> announced that the group did not plan to release a video </a> of their leader, which is in direct contrast to his statement from the day before. In my mind, this makes it more likely that Hakimullah is in fact dead. <br /><br />Also, for some more background on the top TTP leaders (and likely successors), check out <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2010/0201/Who-s-who-in-the-Pakistan-Taliban" rel="nofollow"> this excellent article from the CS Monitor. </a>Pat Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13937507399915070637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4549570844246420522.post-56730268904579570042010-02-02T18:16:53.170-05:002010-02-02T18:16:53.170-05:00Their denials don't mean much. If memory serve...Their denials don't mean much. If memory serves they denied Baitullah's death for weeks or months after the fact. That isn't to say that Hakimullah can't be alive, simply that barring a sudden public appearance (verifiable) we should consider him to be possibly dead.Gyrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11139372297929361578noreply@blogger.com