Please, Oh Please

Wolf Blitzer is reporting that the target of a CIA directed airstrike on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border was Ayman al-Zawahiri, al Qaeda's #2 man. Approximately seventeen are believed killed in the attack. This is the 2nd attack in the area in as many days. Reports also are speculating that there may have been as many as 5 al Qaeda operatives in the building (or area, the report is a little unclear at the moment). Obviously, there are no confirmations, yet and won't be for some time. We've had near misses and disappointments before.

Let's hope that Zawahiri has indeed come to justice. Even if this is another near miss, it appears the dogs have the fox's scent and are hot on his tail. At this point, it sounds is though the worst case result of the attack is a couple less al Qaeda operatives and one less safe house to deal with.

If Zawahiri is dead, the only thing that could be better is that he lived just long enough to experience great pain and suffering.

If we did miss Zawahiri, but know he is in the area, he couldn't have gone far. Do you scorch the area or wait for another lead?

UPDATE: Sounds like another near miss, unfortunately. Also unfortunately, our tenuous relationship with Pakistan requires us to choose the latter option above. You will now hear complaints of innocents killed. It is a possibility, but if you house al-Zawahiri, know where al-Zawahiri is or have any leads that would help the authorities capture or kill him and you don't pass the information on, you have forfeited your innocent status.