He was the subject of the 2010 CNN documentary "American al Qaeda," which told how an all-American kid from Long Island became radicalized and traveled to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region in 2007 to join al Qaeda. He also revealed he acted as a lookout for approaching Pakistani helicopters as al Qaeda fighters fired rockets during a cross border raid on a US base in Afghanistan. 'He has provided us priceless information'In 2010, a senior US counterterrorism official told CNN that Vinas had provided "extremely helpful information" in targeting al Qaeda operatives in the tribal areas of Pakistan. What officials have acknowledged, however, is that he became a powerful resource in the US war against al Qaeda. "Vinas was as valuable as having our own agent penetrate al Qaeda," the official added.

Source: CNN May 06, 2017 18:45 UTC