Killing of al-Qaida’s CFO offers psychological boost

It is easy to forget that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan against Islamic extremists are part of the larger U.S.-led assault on global terrorism, which is why the killing of a top official in the world’s leading terror organization, al-Qaida, is of such importance. It not only provides a psychological boost for troops from America and its allies, but serves as a warning to terrorists: Your days are numbered.

To be sure, the grand prize in the war, Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on our homeland, remains at large. But, one by one, members of his inner circle are being killed or captured.

The latest target of a missile attack by a U.S. drone is 55-year-old Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, also known as Sheik Saeed al-Masri, the third-ranking leader in al-Qaida. He was one of the co-founders of the international terrorist network and was its operational head. Al-Yazid was al-Qaida’s chief financial officer and managed secret bank accounts in the Persian Gulf that were used to help finance the 9/11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., according to a report in The Seattle Times.

He also was responsible for operational planning in Afghanistan and as the CFO orchestrated and paid for bomb makers and foreign fighters responsible for the deaths of hundreds of NATO soldiers, including Americans.

His violent death was justified — and necessary. The unmanned drone fired its missile into his hideaway in Pakistan’s tribal areas close to the Afghanistan border.

While al-Qaida is no longer a centralized operation as it was when bin Laden, his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, and al-Yazid directed the attacks on the U.S. and other countries around the world, every death or arrest of a leader makes the organization that much weaker.

The closer the U.S. and its allies get to bin Laden, the greater the possibility of their finally killing him. That will be the shot heard round the world.

Al-Qaida has been successful in inspiring new recruits who are just as committed to attack and kill Americans, but bin Laden remains the architect of Islamic extremism. He also is viewed as the spiritual leader and his call for the removal of all non-Muslims from “Arabia” has struck a responsive chord.

So long as he remains at large, he is seen by his followers as invincible. That makes picking off his confidantes one by one a good strategy.

List of victims

In addition to al-Yazid, the list includes Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks and is now being held in Guantanamo Bay; Mohammed Atef, who was killed in U.S. air strikes in Afghanistan; Abu Laith al-Libi, who was killed in a drone strike, and Abu Farraj al-Libbi, who was captured and detained in Pakistan.

All served in the third spot in al-Qaida’s hierarchy.

The use of unmanned drones has been criticized by leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan because of the civilian deaths that have occurred during the missile attacks. In this case, Al-Yazid’s wife and children were also killed. But, the remoteness of the areas where al-Qaida leaders hide with their families makes conventional military campaigns difficult at best.

The killing of al-Yazid proves the drone strategy is an effective one.