American and Pakistani officials are reporting that a CIA drone strike killed Al Qaeda’s number two man, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, on Saturday. If the news is true, this could be yet another blow to the organization’s high command, following the death of Osama bin Laden in May. But a senior Pakistani security official in the region told Agence France yesterday that he doubts the reports are true, and others have been unable to confirm whether Rahman has in fact been killed. We’re speaking with Mark Mazzetti, national security correspondent for our partner, The New York Times, for more on the story.
Our coverage reaches millions each week, but only a small fraction of listeners contribute to sustain our program. We still need 224 more people to donate $100 or $10/monthly to unlock our $67,000 match. Will you help us get there today?