“Even if the CIA succeeded in capturing or killing bin Laden, [Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah] Massoud argued to his CIA visitors [in October 1999], the United States would still have a huge problem in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda was now much bigger than bin Laden or [second-in-command Ayman] al-Zawahiri alone. Protected by the Taliban, its hundreds and even thousands of international jihadists would carry on bin Laden’s war against both the United States and secular Central Asian governments.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, Page 471