Sunday Express: Bin Laden 'Cornered'

Interesting. Isn’t this news contrary to Pakistan’s assertion that no foreign forces will be allowed to conduct operations within its border?

-jqp

I hope it’s true.

I hope it’s true, too, Mary Jane. But the article is full of holes:

“The area is under surveillance from a geostationary spy satellite while US and British special forces await orders to move in.”

A geosynchronous orbit is 22,300 miles up, a bit far away to pick up the Bearded One in profile, or in any other pose. The 100 sq mile area in question would be about 64 pixels at that distance.

“According to the source, bin Laden moved into the area, ‘in the desolate Toba Kakar mountains,’ about one month ago from another area 240 kilometres to the south, the Sunday Express said…’They studied the background in bin Laden’s last video and matched it to rocks in the Toba Kakar region,’ the newspaper said…The last known video tape from bin Laden was aired in September by the Arabic all-news television station al-Jazeera.”

Those statements just doesn’t add up.

“The Sunday Express said it was also told in London by ‘a senior Republican close to the White House and the Pentagon’ this past week that bin Laden had been located.”

It looks to me like the Office of Special Plans is still cranking out faith-based intelligence.

Dang, Chris, I guess I should read your actual link before commenting. I was snipping quotes out of this article on the same subject:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1511&ncid=1511&e=4&u=/afp/20040221/wlafp/britainusattacks040221232245

yeah…and maybe he has all those Iraqi WMD with him.

Even if they capture him, whether or not they martyr him, does anyone really think the terrorist actions are going to stop?

Is there something I’m missing here about the commonly believed magic solution of capturing Bin Laden to end most terrorism?

Capturing Sadaam certainly didn’t help things in Iraq.

Jeez, I hate to be a party pooper…

But how much has this party cost us already?

dear Christopher,

I read some mails that you answered and I really liked it, because I think with all this situation most of us are very confused.

I am living in London and studing European Management, for my module International Business we have to do a presentation about the benefits of US to control the petrol in Iraq. I thing it is very dificut topic, so I would really appreciate if you can help me with this.

Thank you in advance

Vera Galarza

If you havent been to the fbi website and looked at the most wanted page you should do so. UBL is listed in all his evil glory but the most interesting part of his listing is the crimes he is wanted for. No mention of 911 at all - strange or is this because he is innocent until proven guilty? HUH?

Pakistan launches al-Qaeda sweep

Pakistani forces have begun a fresh operation along the Afghan border against al-Qaeda and Taleban suspects.

from bbcworld:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3513209.stm

I hope they’ll get him.

Dawn, from 2/25: “ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: The Foreign Office has said that the operation to flush out Al Qaeda militants from Pakistan’s territory has not yet ended, although the crackdown in the western border town is over for the time being….Mr Khan termed the reports of arrest of Ayman al-Zawahri’s son Khalid during the Wana operation ‘wild speculation’.

… Meanwhile, according to a press release, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has said that news reports pertaining to nationality of foreign elements arrested during the Wana operation were mere speculative reporting

www.dawn.com/2004/02/26/top2.htm

And from today: US commando unit arrives in Afghanistan: KABUL, Feb 26: Scores of US commandos have arrived in Afghanistan from Iraq to arrest Osama Bin Laden. The same commando unit was involved in the capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussain. US have intensified its search operation for the arrest of Osama recently. (PPI) (Posted @ 11:45 PST)

www.dawn.com/2004/02/26/welcome.htm

This is a reply to Dawne’s comment on 2-22-04.

If you think the party has been expensive, the hangover is going to be worse.

Ken A., USA

My guess? US/UK gov’t joint propaganda, and they’ve ALREADY caught him, and are waiting to announce it until it’s closer to the presidential elections - why? Because the capture of Saddam has had so LITTLE impact on the US.

 Iran`s state radio says Osama bin Laden captured

(Adds confirmation)

Tehran, Feb 28, IRNA — Iran`s state radio has quoted an informed

source as saying that Osama bin Laden had been captured in a tribal

region in Pakistan.

The radio`s external service, broadcast in Pushtun, said US

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld`s trip to Pakistan on Thursday

had been made in connection with the capture.

The radio said, “The capture of the al-Qaeda leader has been made

sometime before, but (US President George W.) Bush is intending to

announce it when the American presidential election is held.”

Contacted by IRNA, an IRIB announcer at the Pusthtun service,

confirmed the news, which he said, they had got from a `very reliable

source` in Peshawar, Pakistan.

“Osama bin Laden has been arrested a long time ago, but (US

President George W.) Bush is intending to use it for propaganda

maneuvering in the presidential election,” he said.

Osamas head on a platter is believed to be a big boost to Bushs

presidential chances, which are increasingly being eclipsed by

Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry.

The Saudi-born dissident is accused of masterminding the September

11, 2001 attacks on American landmarks in New York and Washington.

Visiting Kabul on Thursday, Rumsfeld said he believes Osama will

be caught, but has no idea when.

BH/210

End

http://www.irna.ir/?LANG=EN&PART=_HOME&TYPE=HP

Arjan should be aware that AP is quoting one of the sources that Iran radio used as saying he was misquoted. AP quotes him as saying that he said merely that the US could pick up bin Laden any time he wanted.

Also, the British press is openly saying that the intelligence services are putting out false reports in an attempt to flush out bin Laden. Somehow the irony that the psychological warfare works mostly against their own populations does not discourage this sort of silliness.

See, for example, www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,1284,1158870,00.html

I posted the orginal IRNA dispatch which stated that bin laden was captured and I provided a link to IRNA. I didn’t say anything about it, I thought it would be interesting for others to read this report.

Charles should be aware that by giving this link and the dispatch is think the story is correct.

Charles should further more be aware that he’s making assumes about someone I he doesn’t know.

Interesting how somebody doesn’t need to read someone’s opinion, to formulated an opinion about someother person’s ideas.

Charles should be aware that by giving this link and the dispatch is think the story is correct

This should be:

Charles should be aware that by giving this link and the dispatch this doesn’t mean that I think the story is correct

Arjan, I had no opinion about whether you believed or disbelieved what Iranian radio put out.

But you can bet that I now believe you’re a tad paranoid based on your reaction to what was a simple statement of fact.

As for whether bin Laden has been captured or not, time will tell. Your opinion, nor mine, is particularly important in that regard.