How Did We Know That All Roads Lead Back to Afghanistan?

The Times of London reports that the London bombers, who were British citizens, instead of being a terror group who sympathized with al-Qaeda, seem to have direct ties to al-Qaeda in Afghanistan:

THE British-born mastermind of the London attacks had direct links with al-Qaeda, police sources confirmed yesterday.

He is believed to be connected to a senior figure who took part in an al-Qaeda terror summit in Pakistan 16 months ago where a list of future targets was reportedly finalised.

Forensic scientists said last night that the explosives used by the London bombers was the same type used by the convicted British shoe-bombers Richard Reid and Saajid Badat. Scientists hope to establish today whether it originated from the same batch.

It was made from ingredients known to be taught to al-Qaeda recruits in Afghanistan training camps and elsewhere, confirming suspicions that the London bombings were the work of al-Qaeda.

It was first suspected that it was the work of a UK radical group that sympathised with Osama bin Laden’s ideas, and the operation had been planned and executed in Europe. That view may now have to refined.

The mastermind, who is of Pakistani origin, is thought to have been trained in an alQaeda camp in Afghanistan and has been linked to previous terror operations.

It seems as if there was a "terror summit" that met in Pakistan 16 months ago, with this "mastermind" in attendence. Also at this summit was another shady character:

Investigators are also tracing the mastermind’s alleged links to three major al-Qaeda figures. One of these is said to be in US custody.

Intelligence is being re-examined from the summit held last year in a mountain village in the northwestern province of Waziristan.

A month after he took part in that summit, Mohammed Barbar, a New York computer executive, was arrested near his home in Queens. He admitted to being an “al-Qaeda sleeper”. He had arrived at the summit carrying cash and supplies for jihadis fighting in Afghanistan.

Babar, 29, has betrayed a number of fellow sleepers during his interrogation and the information led to the arrest of 13 people in Britain. The US authorities have charged him with trying to buy materials to make bombs for attacks in the UK. Britain has asked the FBI to question him about the London operation. Another key suspect in US custody, Abu Faraj al-Libbi, was handed over by Pakistan last month. He was described as al-Qaeda’s operational commander, so is expected to know what was discussed at the summit last year. So far he has been unco-operative.

A little thought experiment: we know that U.S. authorities captured a man who admitted to being an al-Qaeda sleeper. I'm assuming that this little birdie didn't sing without a little "coercion." According to the article, Babar was "interrogated" by unknown methods, but the result was the arrest of 13 other people in Britain who were planning further bombings.

Knowing this, would anyone be upset that there it was highly probable that this man at least wore some women's underwear on his head? Would it be of dubious character to call this man a homosexual and have him dance around with other men in order to get him to reveal what he knew about al-Qaeda's plans to kill more civilians?

I know I am in danger of building a strawman argument here, however I speculate that some coercive methods were used to get Babar (the terrorist, not the elephant) to talk. The war against the Islamic fascists is going to be full of these types of wins that fly under the radar screen--we catch someone, we do some not so nice things to them, they give up others they are working for, and we arrest the other sleepers. Some of these guys are going remain elusive, and will successfully pull off another terrorist attack. Fortunately, it seems that within a matter of days, we have been able to link these terrorists to members other cells that are in custody.

Anyway, I'm betting that since Mr. Babar has links to the London bombers, it is exceedingly likely that he is sitting in a cell with a fat pair of worn granny-panties wrapped around his shaved face.

And civilization is better off, not worse, because of it.