CIA: Bin-Laden Actively Ran Al-Qaeda

Politico reports:

Osama bin Laden maintained operational control of Al Qaeda from his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, a senior U.S. intelligence official said during a Pentagon briefing Saturday, citing material found in the compound.

“This compound in Abbottabad was an active command-and-control center for Al Qaeda’s leader,” the official said. “He was active in operational planning and in driving tactical decisions within Al Qaeda.”

The official showed reporters a video seized from the compound of bin Laden watching himself on television, and other video showing him rehearsing his video messages. The official said these videos were proof that the United States had gotten bin Laden because they appeared not to have been intended for public release.

“It is improbable that this kind of footage would be anywhere but with bin Laden. He jealously guarded his image,” the official said.