The week leading up to New Year’s Day was a rather sad one for the CIA, with the assassination of seven CIA agents in Afghanistan early in the week. The attack has been touted as the “deadliest assault on the CIA” since the bombing of the Beirut Embassy in 1983.

What the attack has accomplished, based on statements given by CIA spokesperson George Little, is an even greater resolve within the CIA to locate and attack the leaders of Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Little reportedly gave the following statement: “There is much about the attack that isn’t yet known, but this much is clear: The CIA’s resolve to pursue aggressive counterterrorism operations is greater than ever.”

Details regarding the bombing are sketchy, although the Pakistani Taliban has already claimed responsibility for the attack, a claim that is not readily accepted by some. It was allegedly a former CIA operative who “switched sides” and decided to help the Taliban who carried out the mission.

These attacks have been said to have caused the deaths of top Taliban commanders, among them Baitullah Mehsud.

The area where the attack took place is apparently near a stronghold of the Taliban, where rebels based in Pakistan are said to have the ability to travel easily across the border. As in most cases of bombing, the attack involved a suicide bomber who was said to be dressed in an Afghan military uniform. He was apparently a possible informant who was going to have a meeting with a senior CIA debriefer; he blew himself up in the gym where he was brought for the meeting.