U.S. Military 'Sure' to Catch Bin Laden

[Emillereid]

Thursday January 29, 2004 8:31 PM

By STEPHEN GRAHAM

Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - The U.S. military is ``sure'' it will catch Osama bin Laden this year, a spokesman said Thursday, but he declined to comment on where the al-Qaida leader may be hiding.

Bin Laden, chief suspect in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that sparked the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, is widely believed to be holed up somewhere along the mountainous Pakistani-Afghan border with former Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

Following last month's capture of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, American commanders in Afghanistan have expressed new optimism they will eventually find bin Laden. Spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty said the military now believed it could seize him within months.

``We have a variety of intelligence and we're sure we're going to catch Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar this year,'' Hilferty said. ``We've learned lessons from Iraq and we're getting improved intelligence from the Afghan people.'' ...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3685123,00.html

I wouldn't doubt that they already have bin Laden, but are waiting for a more 'opportune' time to show him off.

[Sagan]

1. hmmm.. what about Pakistan not letting the US operate there?

That would make it kinda hard, wouldn't it?

[IronLionZion]

2. they'll get him closer to election time

in a spider hole and he'll look dazed and confused

[Barrett808]

3. October Surprise, baby

Either OBL or a "terrorist" attack on SF. The attack has the advantage of martial law and suspended elections.

[progressivebydesign]

9. Why do I think that Bush is so awful?

Because I honestly believe that he would risk many more American lives by doing nothing to find OBL until the election year.. that he would let him run free until it was politically expedient. OR that he would have captured him already, let the people and the economy be held hostage by fear, and stage his capture for politcal means. These people (PNAC) will do anything.

[LiberalFighter]

23. He is more than awful...

Bush is evil!!!

They talk about character being important but anyone with the type of character he has would be shot or in prison.

[Dogmudgeon]

15. Why SF?

I would think the "terrorist" attack would be on NYC or Los Angeles; perhaps Washington, DC. San Francisco doesn't seem to be a very "logical" place for a terrorist attack, contrived or otherwise.

--bkl

[eagler]

22. Rush said about a week ago that Bush will look very good

WHEN the next attack occurs in October- not IF!

[havocmom]

40. Heard a pair of old-school republicans yesterday

declare that this would pccur about Oct 7. They were not pleased. The disgust in their voices was amazing.

[Trainman91765DB]

46. Tell me why

if Bush is the master of all conspiracies --- why did he allow Kay to report there was no WMD in Iraq? Why didn't he plant WMD over there?
Why did he allow his main reason for going to war be proved wrong - if he is so involved in so many conspiracies - why did not be proactive in this area?

[ThoughtCriminal]

47. There was a pretty good consensus

from weapons inspectors that they could not get away with it.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[maggrwaggr]

4. I'll bet ya $100 they've already got him

and they're waiting for the next big scandal to display him and distract everybody

[mike1963]

5. Something tells me nobody around here is gonna call that bet

:evilgrin:

[Beaker]

29. i'll take that bet.

if they had him, they'd let us know ASAP.

[webtrainer]

6. Like others here have said . . .

when they "catch" Osama, you better look real close for the freezer burn!

[progressivebydesign]

7. Well. duh.. it's an election year.

He's probably already captured, ala Saddam in the Kurdish custody. This is ridiculous. Do they think Americans are that stupid? Bush "caught" Saddam, and it was barely a blip on the poll radar. I'd be more impressed with Bush if he'd go after the financeers of the 9/11 attacks.

Okay.. do we even really know for sure that OBL was behind the hijacking? Other than that wierd tape where he supposedly is praising the attacks? The tape that was rather questionable?

Believe me, I think OBL is a waste of oxygen.. and should be caught and brought to trial for everything he's done. But, I can't remember, if I ever read of any credible link to OBL and 9/11, besides Bush's "intelligence", and speeches.. which we all know now are bullshit.

[peekaloo]

8. I was about to ask that OBL/Sept.11 connection question myself.

Funny thing about all the intelligence gathering ain't it....when it makes the thugs look good it's the bestest in the world, but when it exposes their lies, well, it's just bad, bad!

[tom_paine]

18. Yes, they do think the Imperial Subjects of Amerika are that stupid

What terrifies me is that they might be right.

[DemonFighterLives]

24. I'm glad you brought that up

I have yet to understand the Bush/Bin Laden ties. If Bin Laden worked within the Lihop theory or all alone? The tape was very questionable and has basically disappeared.
If Bin Laden does get arrested, it could still be according to the big plan and he will go and live his life out in some tropical paradise as we cheer the arrest of the poster boy.

[radwriter0555]

10. Bin laden has been dead since Dec 2001. Show me a photo, videotape

or VERIFIABLE audiotape of bin laden dated anytime after Dec 2001.

there isn't any.

he died of kidney disease, the same thing he was treated for in the American Hospital in Dubai, in July of 2001.

[0007]

14. I bet they got someone to take his place with a missing tongue

[pinniped]

34. Ya but they have that actor who played him...

in that "manufactured" videotape.

They will probably use that guy.

[dennis4868]

11. I think Bush and Rove will....

bring out Bin Laden at the end of the summer and take him around in a cage at every stop Bush makes on the campaign trail....they will probably throw in Sadaam in the same cage for affect....

[0rganism]

12. Hmm, sounds like a done deal to me

Go get him, says I. Word of advice: check in Dick Cheney's icebox before y'all invade Pakistan.

[kskiska]

13. Maybe Madeleine Albright was onto something, after all

when she joked to Morton Kondracke. Does anyone really put it past * to do this for political gain?

[hatrack]

16. OK, if we're so "sure" to catch bin Laden

Then why in blue FUCK do we have 10,000 troops in Afghanistan (where he is) and 140,000 troops in Iraq (where he is not)??????

Would anyone at ChimpCo maybe take a moment from their busy day and answer that little question?

[PaDUer]

25. He's probably a guest

in the Lincoln bedroom.

[pinto]

17. the election's not about Osama binLaden, imho friends, it's about

our domestic policies and our foreign policies. Osama has become the poster boy for broad discontent in the Islamic world with American policy vis-a-vis Saudi Arabia and Israel..and a poster boy, along with an increasingly amorphous al Qaeda, for this Administration, which knows we will find him.

His capture will be welcomed by anyone interested in bringing the perps of 9/11 to some kind of justice - how that plays out will be another story, if he's taken alive....but as far as domestic electoral politics, we have been side tracked to think it's all Osama all the time. As they did with all Saddam all the time.

Those who see the election hinging on his capture or non-capture (but continued threat) may be supporting a tunnel vision that stifles our day-to-day political discourse. And stifles public review of the basic flaws in this Admin, from its world view in the large scale, through its imperialistic foreign policy, to its rape of an historic surplus, to its systematic realignment of domestic priorities from individual focus to corporate interests.

Osama will be caught. I'll not base my vote on that.

[DuctapeFatwa]

19. Leaked copy of classified memo to Tenet and Cheney

Dear Messrs. Tenet and Cheney,

Attached please find the results of our latest and we believe, our most impressive, effort to provide the Occupation Forces a credible Osama bin Laden in time for the fall launch of your new automated vote "tally" system. We understand the new system is modelled on the manual process that has been employed so successfully in Egypt for many years, and we would like to extend our congratulations to the Diebold company for this significant contribution to democracy.

To return to the subject at hand, you will notice that all the gentlemen included in this latest lot are of the required height, and we apologize for the inclusion in a previous submission of a few who fell short of this specification. We regret any inconvenience our error may have caused.

You will also note that each specimen has been fitted with state of the art contact lenses, and provided with either chemical hair color or implants, whichever was most appropriate in the individual case. We have also taken the precaution of treating the specimens with a dual process melanin-enhancement process, consisting of daily full-body treatments in the sunbeds installed in our finest 5 star hotels in Karachi, and we have taken the additional precaution of coating each specimen with the universally recognized tan enhancer, in order to bring all skin tones into spec compliance.

We have also taken care to assure correct and natural-looking facial hair in both configuration and coloring.

As per our agreement, each specimen comes dressed in a fashionable but conservative swimtrunk or unitard, and all costume selections will be billed and shipped separately.

While it is true that we were unable to secure a reputable Yemeni source, we are aware that the United States and Norway have a long-standing and cordial history of both trade and diplomatic relations, and we believe that both you and Agent. bin Laden will be pleasantly surprised and extremely pleased with the results we have been able to obtain with these Norwegian specimens.

Naturally, we would have preferred to work with a domestically available raw resource, but unfortunately, the height requirement as stated in the purchase order was incompatible with the relatively short stature of most Pakistanis, with the exception of the Balochs, of course, but believe us, you don't want to go there.

As always, it is a pleasure to do business with you and we look forward to working with you to insure a festive and successful Spring Offensive.

Sincerely,

Liutenant General Ehsan ul Haq
Inter-Services Intelligence

[mithnanthy]

41. Good one, DuctapeFatwa...

I believe they will get some body, blow it to smithereens, manipulate the DNA report, and swear it's OBL. End of story. Big accomplishment for Bunnypants. Osama is reported killed in the battle to capture him. Meanwhile, the real OBL, has had extensive plastic surgery and new outfits and is living life to the fullest, knowing (in his mind) that he is the most talked about man on earth. He finally has the attention he always craved. That's my take on it.

[Snappy]

20. Another Lie

"Bush "caught" Saddam. The Kurds caught Saddam.

The Military Dictator of Pakistan has said that he doesn't want US troops on his soil.

[abb9]

21. Sure to catch bin laden

Yes,they are sure to catch Bin Laden,just like they were sure to find the stockpiles of WMD,that they sure,they knew were they were hidden,,and like they sure we were going to get Candy and flowers tossed at us.:mad:

[Enraged_Ape]

26. I have no doubt they'll "catch" bin-Laden sometime this year

The question is, how will they explain the freezer burn all over his body?

[Elwood P Dowd]

27. I agree.

I think he's been on ice and will be thawed out at the proper time. If
that doesn't do the trick, then WMDs will magically appear. If that
doesn't work, terrorist attack and martial law. Unless, the Bushits have
made all the money they want and sufficiently ruined the country to the
satisfaction of their bosses. Then they will let a Democrat win and
laugh as he tries to clean up the mess.

[pinniped]

33. The monkeyboy regime is not done yet...

There are still too many places with nice timber...errr....forests that AHOLE needs to have cut down. Way too many.

There are too many companies that donated money to the chimp and need those damm pesky pollution rules relaxed.

And then there's the oil thing.

Monekyboy will not be done until ALL the oil in the world is extracted and under its control.

The list goes on and on.....................

[leesa]

28. I knew he was hiding in Cheney's rat hole.

I'd much rather see some proof OBL was involved with 9-11 instead of hearing the neanderthals bleeting for his blood. How bout some proof of involvement, or is that no longer required?

[pinniped]

32. They showed us that "manufactured" videotape of that actor dressed as...

OBL chillin' with that cleric dude. Boy did that tape sure fade away fast. Pretty fancy how they just happened to stumble upon that videotape in some busted down house in AFG.

I'm surprised they didn't "manufacture" a videotape with a Sadaam actor walking next to a Minuteman missile silo.

But ya, proof is no longer required under the BULLshyt regime.

[suegeo]

45. Exactly leesa

Even Hitler's henchmen got a trial.

So does the belief that it is a basic right to have a trial before one's peers make me a terrorist abettor? I guess in this America it does...

Our founding fathers believed that it was a basic right to have a prosecutor bring evidence into a trial, in order to be judged by a group of one's peers. Although the exact number of this right in our Bill of Rights slips my mind. But I'm pretty sure this right is spelled out there somewhere.

In my opinion, the scariest part of the boy prince's state of the union was when he said words to the effect of "some people think capturing people and putting them on trial is a good way to bring about justice. Well, not this cowboy, we're just gonna take 'em out."

Sigh.

[aeon flux]

30. They need a boogie man

All their policies are based on the threat that OBL imposes on America. With OBL out of the picture, they would need to invent a new boogie man to keep the people shaking in their boots. A distraction is needed to cloak their radical agenda.

[mouse7]

31. Either they have Bin Laden or Bin Laden is in Malasia by now

Bin Laden can read a newspaper... if he's not already in a morgue, he's in Malasia by now. He won't be in that area of the planet when the offensive begins.

If Dumbya doesn't have him, he's an idiot. What goddamn good does it do to use COVERT special ops forces teams, if you are going to announce the freakin' date the offensive begins?

By the way, if you're going to announce when the offensive is going to begin months ahead of time, USE TANKS! Tanks are bulletproof and RPG proof.

[gate of the sun]

35. let the *ucking hype begin

blah blah blah blah.

[dusty64]

36. As with everything

our regime says and does, this REALLY smells funny. Since when does the military proclaim that they are "sure" about anything? Why would al-Qaida sit idly by if bin laden was captured and on ice. I've always figured a slew of terrorist strikes would ensue if he were actually captured. Is it possible they've known where he was along and chose not to get him, if so why? This whole thing is beyond strange and I'm not getting it at all.

[demgrrrll]

38. I don't think they have him. After three years why all of a sudden do the

think they are going to capture him within the next 10 months.
I find this whole thing desperate and odd. I think they will keep
talking about finding him to create some news and replace other news
with this silly chatter. I think this is all they have left.

[0007]

37. btt

[indepat]

39. Is catching bin Laden important only in an election year?

[reprobate]

43. The only importance of Osama Bin Missing to the * regime......

.....is how trotting him out in late october will effect the election.

Remember, KKKarl Rov is the one who will make the decision of when to show off their "October Surprise".

[Tommy_Douglas]

42. I'm coming around to the OBL is dead theory...

The man was quite ill from my understanding and running around in the hills and hiding in dirt holes doesn't sound like the sort of thing that would improve his health.

Regardless if he is dead or not I'd be surprised if he was captured alive. Unlike Saddam he does seem the type that would sooner Martyr himself by fighting to the end.

Capturing OBL might actually escalate terror attacks. He's a champion of the anti-US movement but isn't the sole factor in that movement.

[vanityfair]

44. Sure, they'll find him...

not to difficult to do when you know where he is and can be conveniently "captured" at the "right" time to make the Chimp look like a hero.


When will people wake up?

[sungkathak]

48. all to boost bush

Former state secretary Albright said she believed Bush knew where was Bin Laden. He just keeps O.B.L. there until the election time when the arrest can boost his approve rate.

I think Saddam was under surveillance all the time. US left him there because either they could find more relationship whom support Saddam or they planned to force him to escape to Syria so Bush could have another excuse to start Syria war. But Saddam didn't go Syria. And all his relationship were exposed after these days refugee. When he is of no use, they arrested him. To buffer Iraqi's resistance, to surpress anti-war sentiment and to boost Bush.