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| Al-Qaeda in retreat - CIA chief |
| The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has said al-Qaeda is essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and on the defensive elsewher
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| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
, 30-May-2008
8:15:7 AM |
| Michael Hayden's remarks, which correspondents describe as strikingly upbeat, come less than a year after the CIA warned of a resurgent al-Qaeda.
He told the Washington Post that US counter-terrorism successes extended to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden is thought to be hiding out in the area.
"On balance, we are doing pretty well," said the CIA director. "Near strategic defeat of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Near strategic defeat of al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Significant setbacks for al-Qaeda globally."
No complacency
Mr Hayden said capturing or killing Bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, remained a top priority
"The ability to kill and capture key members of al-Qaeda continues, and keeps them off balance - even in their best safe haven along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border," he said.
However, the CIA chief warned against complacency, which he said could halt or reverse any progress against al-Qaeda.
Just two years ago, the CIA warned that the militant Islamic group was using the US-led war in Iraq as a successful propaganda and marketing tool.
But now, Mr Hayden said, al-Qaeda was losing the battle for hearts and minds in the Islamic world.
Iranian interference
He said there was a growing public resentment toward jihadism, and described the insurgency in Iraq as "more and more a war of al-Qaeda against Iraqis".
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