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"The American-born spokesman for al Qaeda is under arrest in Pakistan. A senior Pakistani government official confirms that Adam Gadahn was captured today in the city of Karachi." (CNN)
But it wasn't Adam Gadahn, who some call the American face of al Qaeda. A case of mistaken identity led Pakistani officials to initially report they had Gadahn in custody.
According to The Orange County Register, Gadahn grew up in California, and a U.S. intelligence officer cleared up questions about the arrest saying:
"The resemblance of the name initially caused confusion, but now they have concluded he is not Gadahn.”
Rumors of Gadahn’s arrest started the same day a video of him calling for attacks against America was released.
“We should look for targets which epitomize Western decadence, depravity, immorality, and atheism."
The U.S. government believes the man arrested is another important lower-level al Qaeda member but officials have not confirmed his identity. MSNBC correspondent Richard Engel says if Gadahn had been arrested, it would have been good press for both countries.
“It would have been a big propaganda victory for both Pakistan and for the United States. It would have been another example of this cooperation that seems to be building.”
A CNN reporter says this capture adds a string of arrests showing Pakistan is making progress against terrorism.
“Over the past couple of months, we’ve seen a number of high value targets arrested more and more evidence that Karachi is becoming a hiding place for Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives. ... This is an unprecedented success for Pakistani security forces and these people that they are capturing – certainly [have] potential to be gold mines for information on Osama bin Laden.”
Former Press Secretary Dana Perino tells Fox News that the U.S. relations with Pakistan are not completely clear—but gives credit to the Obama Administration’s effort to expand the fight against terror.
“We have a very complex relationship with Pakistan to say the least. ... Every time they capture one it makes their organization a lot weaker and so in that regard I think President Obama deserves some praise for the continuum of anti-terrorism tools.”
A BBC analyst encourages the U.S. to continue to search for Gadahn. He could give critical information about terrorism networks inside US borders and his capture would be seen as a threat to all terrorists.
“Whatever the United States will be able to get out from this issue is the fact—As a warning to those that have been recruited and will be recruited by al Qaeda—That at the end of the day they will be caught.”
The FBI has been looking for Gadahn since May 2004, and the U.S. government has offered a $1 million reward for his arrest.
Writer: Chelsea Donohoe
Producer: Newsy Staff
