High-tech snooping for bin Laden

[rodbarnett]

WASHINGTON (CNN) --U.S. forces searching for al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden along the mountainous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan will soon implement high-tech surveillance tactics in the region, enabling them to monitor the area 24 hours a day, seven days a week, CNN has learned.

It's believed that the constant surveillance of the border region and the "squeeze play" by U.S. and Pakistani forces surrounding the mountainous frontier will present the best chance ever to net the world's most-wanted terrorist

<snip>

"We are putting the pieces in place to throw the net over him," one official told CNN.

Among the devices that will be in place within days are U-2 spy planes flying at 70,000 feet, taking pictures, using radar and intercepting communications.

Unmanned Predator drones, flying closer at 25,000 feet, are equipped with cameras that can spot vehicles and people and special radar that can operate through clouds. Some of the Predators may also carry Hellfire missiles.

Ground sensors may also be placed along mountain passes to listen for vehicles.

Data from the planes and sensors will be sent via satellite to analysts for quick action. The U.S. military has bought up satellite transmission capacity in the region, to ensure it can respond quickly.

http://cnn.worldnews.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=CNN.com+-+High-tech+snooping+for+bin+Laden+-+Mar.+4%2C+2004&expire=-1&urlID=9499797&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2004%2FWORLD%2Fasiapcf%2F03%2F04%2Fbinladen.search%2Findex.html&partnerID=2006

comment : think we have dedicated enough hardware and manpower to OBL?

[BR_Parkway]

1. Haven't we had all this technology since 9/11?

Why are we just using it now? Do they think we will all forget that * never mentioned the name once for how many months while all he could spout was WMD, 9.11, Saddam, etc...

[Semi_subversive]

2. Where was all this stuff before??

[SlavesandBulldozers]

3. read: Osama's thawing

gotta wait till he's completely defrosted before we frogmarch him in front of the public. What's overwhelming about all these new reports is that they are so convinced that he will be "captured" rather than die fighting.

[Cat Atomic]

5. Yep. n/t

[terryg11]

4. could be acting on recent intel

For a long while we had no clue as to his whereabouts thus the attempted downplay of his importance to us. Now, though we seem fairly sure he's in that area so intensifying the search.

Of course all of this is a sham if Osama's already been caught like many seem to beelieve. Me, I don't know.