Asia Times Online cannot
independently confirm whether Khalid Shaikh Mohammad is
dead, alive, free, or in captivity. Confusion,
conspiracy theories and rumors abound.
Our
article of October 30, 2002, A
chilling inheritance of terror, quoted an unnamed
Pakistani official who was present at the shootout in
Karachi on September 11, 2002, as saying that Khalid had
died in that raid.
Clearly, statements by
official or unofficial sources on all sides in this "war
against terrorism" should not be taken as fact.
Nevertheless, they sometimes need to be reported, though
with suitable qualification.
The problem with
covering this "war on terrorism" is to discern the facts
amid the fog of disinformation and lies. Asia Times
Online will continue striving to do just this, while
admitting that we are bound to get it wrong
occasionally.
