Al Qaeda's Zawahiri Linked to California Terror Cell

Did al Qaeda's #2 man make a trip to Lodi, California? Strange days indeed, most peculiar momma.

As you know, we've followed the Lodi terrorism trial fairly closely (see below). From the beginning, leaks have indicated that the terror ring was connected to al Qaeda and that the investigation was much larger than was being reported in the press. In fact, except for the Sac Bee, there has been virtually no national media about this case. Could the Zawahiri connection have been known to the FBI since the start of the investigation?

At first, I found the notion hard to swallow. But there are now unrelated accusations that Zawahiri did make several trips to the U.S. during the 1990s and is believed to have had a temporary residence in California's Central Valley.

That's right, Zawahiri was here. Via AJ Strata this from the AP:

An FBI informant testified today that Osama bin LadenÂ’s right-hand man lived in the Central Valley town of Lodi before the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Via Captain Ed this from Fox News:

He may have lived in the Sacramento area for an undetermined period in or around 1995 while visiting area mosques, according to an FBI agent in Washington, D.C., who spoke Monday on condition he not be named.

The informant, though, puts the date between 1998-1999. Via Michelle this from the L.A. Times:

"Every time I would go to the mosque, [Zawahiri] would be coming or going," Khan said, according to the Sacramento Bee on Monday on its website. Khan, who said he lived in Lodi at the time, testified that he spoke to Zawahiri, but never had a conversation with him.

"He would quietly come to the mosque and leave," Khan said.

If Zawahiri was in the U.S. in any capacity and for any period of time, then the FBI, the 9/11 Commission, and the Clinton Administration have a lot of 'splainin to do.

California Conservative has also been covering this from the start.

Previous articles:
Terror Trial Begins for U.S. Citizens in Lodi, FBI Investigating Newspaper Leak
Bail Denied in Lodi Terror Case
Lodi Terror Suspect Makes Bail
Indictment in Lodi Islamic Terror Probe
Lodi Terror Suspects Face Bail Hearing
Lodi Muslims Suspect Government Mole
Lodi Terror Ring Connected to Bin Laden
A Modest Proposal to Congress: End assylum for Islamsit exiles and make "religious worker" visas predicated on reciprocity of host nations
Lodi Terror Investigation Grows
Two in Lodi al Qaeda Plot Indicted
TerrorCamp Director with Ties to Lodi al Qaeda Cell Goes Into Hiding
“Camp al-Lodi”: Just The Tip Of The Iceberg
Fifth Man Detained in CA al Qaeda Case, More Arrests to Come
Al Qaeda in California Arrests: Ties to Radical Mosques, Jihadis and Religious Schools Revealed

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