re: #57 celticdragon

By 1999, the U.S. Government was attempting to run surveillance on Abu Zubaydah.[24] By March 2000, United States officials were reporting that Abu Zubaydah was a “senior bin Laden official”, the “former head of Egypt-based Islamic Jihad”, a “trusted aide” to bin Laden with “growing power,” who had “played a key role in the East Africa embassy attacks.”[25] None of these allegations have been corroborated at this point, however.

Internationally Abu Zubaydah was convicted in absentia by a Jordanian court for his alleged role in plots to bomb U.S. and Israeli targets in Jordan.[26] A senior Middle East security official stated Abu Zubaydah had directed the Jordanian cell and was part of “bin Laden’s inner circle.”[27]

In August, 2001 a classified FBI report entitled “Bin Laden determined to strike in U.S.”, which would not become public until much later, stated that the foiled millennium bomber, Ahmed Ressam, had confessed that Abu Zubaydah had not only encouraged him to blow up the Los Angeles airport, but had facilitated his mission.[28] The report also claims Abu Zubaydah was planning his own attack on the U.S.[28] An unclassified FBI report also stated that Ahmed Ressam attempted to buy a laptop for Abu Zubaydah.[29]
….
It is unclear how the Government found Abu Zubaydah. U.S. officials claimed he was tracked down after making a phone call to al-Qaeda leaders in Yemen.[30]

He seems nice.