The Head Of The CIA’s Counter­terrorism Center Has Been "Unceremoniously Reassigned'

Washington Post: CIA official who directed hunt for bin Laden is being removed from post

The head of the CIA’s Counter­terrorism Center, who presided over the agency’s drone campaign and directed the hunt for Osama bin Laden, is being removed from his post, officials said, a watershed moment as the CIA turns its focus to a new generation of extremist threats.

The move, part of a major reorganization under CIA Director John Brennan, ends a nine-year tenure during which the center was transformed into a paramilitary force that employed armed drones to kill thousands of suspected terrorists and militants but also killed an unknown number of civilians.

WNU Editor: Gawker has posted the identity and details of this CIA officer.

More News On The Dismissal Of The Head Of The CIA's Counterterrorism Center

CIA’s ‘Capt. Ahab’ leaves post; Osama bin Laden tracker led counterterrorism center -- Washington Times
Hero CIA officer who led the hunt for Bin Laden and converted to Islam is removed from his post in 'restructure' -- Daily Mail
Muslim Convert Who Helped Find Bin Laden Leaves Top CIA Terror Job -- Daily Caller
CIA mastermind behind bin Laden killing, aka 'Captain Ahab', to be removed from post -- RT
CIA's Notorious Father of Drone Strikes Strategy Removed From Post -- Sputnik

US Counter-Terrorism Strategy In Yemen Has Collapsed

Washington Times: Yemen chaos leaves U.S. intel in the dark on al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Yemen’s descent into political chaos makes it the latest Mideast nation too dangerous for U.S. officials to operate in — a development intelligence sources say will dangerously limit America’s ability to track and target al Qaeda and other extremist terror movements in the region.

While some Obama administration critics see the military triumphs of Shiite Muslim Houthi rebels in Yemen as a victory by the region’s Shiite powerhouse, Iran, others say the more dangerous fallout will be the loss of real-time intelligence and on-the-ground assets following the withdrawal of U.S. special forces from a Yemeni air base that has long played a key role in the battle against Sunni extremist al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

WNU Editor: Even the base that U.S. Special Forces used in launching drone strikes and other military operations against Al Qaeda has fallen .... Yemeni President Flees as Rebels Take Base Vacated by U.S. Special Forces (Time).

More News On The Collapse Of U.S. Counter-Terrorism Strategy In Yemen

US counterterror strategy in Yemen collapses as country's violence spins out of control -- FOX News
US counterterrorism strategy in Yemen collapses amid chaos -- AP
Chaos in Yemen Stymies U.S. Counterterror Operations -- WSJ
CIA insider: U.S. intelligence to suffer from troop withdrawal in Yemen -- CBS
Homeland Security chairman: US blind in Yemen after pullout -- The Hill
No U.S. intelligence in Yemen or Syria, Homeland Security chairman warns -- Washington Examiner

Update: White House responds .... White House: Despite Yemen Withdrawal, U.S. Can Still Fight Terror (Washington Free Beacon/Reuters).

Jihadi John Still Has His Bank Account

Mohammed Emwazi does not feature on any of the asset freezing orders issued by the Government

The Telegraph: Jihadi John keeps his bank account after Treasury freezes assets of only a handful of Islamic terrorists

Official report shows just £50,000 frozen in accounts used by extremists fuelling criticism of Government over its failure to crack down on terror financiers

Only six out of more than 600 British jihadists have had their bank accounts frozen under special terror laws, according to an official report.

The review also shows just £50,000 worth of assets was frozen in bank accounts opened by terror suspects operating in the UK. The amount was branded “remarkably low” by David Anderson QC, the Government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation and author of the new study.

Update: ‘Jihadi John’ still has access to British bank account: ‘Incomprehensible’ -- Washington Times

WNU Editor: To say that this is incomprehensible is an understatement. A part of me likes to believe that the UK government is monitoring his account to find any potential leads .... but for some reason my gut is telling me that they are not. One thing that I have learned about life is that if you want to hurt the enemy .... hurt them where it counts .... their pocketbook. Unfortunately .... this is a lesson that has not been learned in Britain (and I would hazard a guess .... elsewhere in the West).

It Costs A Lot To Monitor A Suspected Terrorist Or Militant

French authorities had removed Said Kouachi and his brother Cherif, the gunmen who attacked the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris (seen at rear), from the intelligence watch list. Still from video in Paris, January 7, 2015. REUTERS/Reuters TV

David Wise, Reuters: How much does it cost to watch a suspected militant? Lots.

In 2011, U.S. intelligence informed French authorities that a French citizen had slipped into Yemen, probably for terrorist training. In November, the French security services placed the man, Said Kouachi, under surveillance. They wiretapped his mobile phone, as well as that of his younger brother, Cherif. By the end of 2013, French intelligence had dropped its surveillance of Cherif, and Said’s was terminated in mid-2014. After three years, the brothers, born to Algerian immigrants, were judged to be no longer dangerous.

WNU Editor: With open borders and a system that is being overwhelmed .... I would say that it has now become impossible to even screen and monitor a fraction of the suspected violent militants that may be in our cities.

U.S. Official: U.S. Counterterrorism Operations With Yemen Are Now Suspended

Washington Post: U.S. counterterrorism operations with Yemen suspended, officials say

Update: U.S. counter-terror ops 'paralyzed' in Yemen (Reuters)

WNU Editor: Just this afternoon White House spokesman Josh Earnest reiterated that the U.S.-Yemen counterterrorism partnership will continue even amid all of this political chaos. Now .... a few hours later .... U.S. officials are saying that "some counter-terrorism" operations will be suspended .... Some counter-terrorism efforts in Yemen frozen for now - U.S. officials (Reuters). What's my take .... these counter terrorism operations are over, and for groups like Al Qaeda .... they are now positioned to establish safe-havens that will not be continuously attacked by Yemeni/U.S. forces and CIA drone strikes. The above PBS video provides a good analysis on what is happening in Yemen, what may be the future for that country, and why this implosion is dangerous for the U.S..