Playing Offense
The inside story of how U.S. terrorist hunters are going after al Qaeda
jihad movements with charity money.
3/03
Operations chief Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, mastermind of 9/11, nabbed in Pakistan. Also seized are Mustafa Ahmed
al-Hawsawi, financial manager who paid 9/11 hijackers, and key financial records.
3/15/03
U.S.-Pakistan team grabs logistics man Yassir al Jaziri, one of top two dozen leaders.
4/29/03
Walid Attash, another top operations man, arrested in Pakistan. Helped organize 2000 bombing of USS Cole in Yemen.
Also nabbed: Ali Abd al-Aziz, alleged paymaster of 9/11 hijackers.
Al Qaeda's Ruling Council
Although most top leaders remain at large, U.S. officials say that more than half of its key operatives have been
captured or killed.
Level 1: Leaders
Osama bin Laden - At large
Al Qaeda chief
Saudi
Ayman al-Zawahiri - At large
Al Qaeda chief
Second in command
Egyptian
Mohammed Atef - Killed
Military commander
Egyptian
Level 2: Senior management
Saif al-Adel - At large
Operations planner
Egyptian
Khalid Shaikh Mohammed - Captured
Operations planner
Pakistani, Kuwaiti
Mahfouz Ould Walid - At large
(aka Abu Hafs the Mauritanian)
Religious adviser
Mauritanian
Abu Mohammad al-Masri - At large
(aka Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah)
Operational planner/trainer
Egyptian
Sheikh Said - At large
Chief financial officer
Egyptian
Suleiman Abu Ghaith - At large
Spokesman
Kuwaiti
With Aamir Latif, Ilana Ozernoy, Laurie Lande and Monica M. Ekman
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