So do we have bin Laden already or not?

[Bucky]

WorldThreats.com says maybe:

"We stress that WorldThreats.com is unable to confirm that OBL is in custody. However, we feel that due to the unusually high talk of the capture we should report it. Claims like this have been made before, but this time there is more credibility, and more evidence to substantiate it. However, our work with the Northeast Intelligence Network does lead us to be 100% certain that a major special operation was or is underway, and led to the capture of high-level terrorists.

"January 24, 2004 Update: WorldThreats.com and Northeast Intelligence Network have received a fourth confirmation that Bin Laden has been captured. Additionally, the strange and sudden capturing of numerous leaders indicates that there is a trail being followed, where one arrest leads to another. Today a close friend of Mullah Omar was captured on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border, and another key Al-Qaeda operative in charge of fighting Coalition forces has been captured in Iraq. Sources stress that Bin Laden’s capture will not be announced until “ongoing operations” are complete. HomelandSecurityUS.com has just posted a new analysis of the evidence that Bin Laden has been captured."

source: http://www.worldthreats.com/al-qaeda_terrorism/OBL.htm

So what does HomelandSecurityUS.com (aka, the "Northeast Intelligence Network") say?

"28 February 2004-- Reports of bin Laden's capture continue to come in from numerous sources - the latest from Iranian State Radio as discussed on Fox News this morning. Obviously, the reports of his capture have been summarily denied, and any information coming from Iranian State Radio are "suspect." Our own sources, however have advised us to maintain course and continue watching this story and 'all associated reports.'

"There are other, non-political reasons to keep the 'capture' of bin Laden under wraps," sources tell us."

source: http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/OBLCustody.htm


At least one source there sugggest that al-Zawahiri is wresting control of the al-Qaeda network from bin Laden. If that's the case then the current Pakistani manhunt for Zawahiri could be the endgame. I'm skeptical, but that's at least one possibility. Once Zawahiri's in shackles or a box, Osama can be unveiled at the administration's leisure--but that would only be icing on the cake; a flourish after sticking the landing.

Your thoughts?

[ewagner]

1. For the sake of discussion only:

What if:

Osama is either in custody or dead? AND

Zawahiri IS surrounded in NE Pakistan.

Then Zawahiri cannot be taken alive because he knows too much and could possibly mess up the October surprise.

[xchrom]

2. who knows

all this stuff is murkier than a crystal ball.
and there is nothing non-political about the capture of obl when the president is a buffoon sitting in al gore's house.

[handywork]

3. What I dont get is

How is it that we have recently stepped up the hunt for bin laden???? What the hell were we doing this whole time that all of a sudden we can step up the hunt.

[ewagner]

4. ding, ding, ding!!!!!

We have a winner!

That's the question everybody should be asking....and Kerry and any surrogate with a backbone should be screaming this from the mountaintops!

on edit:

Welcome to DU :toast: Sorry I was so rude not to welcome you straightaway!

[daveskilt]

5. its like immodium and extra strength immodium

the regular strength is for people who want to be shitting uncontrollably for a bit longer.

welcome handywork!

[newyawker99]

6. Hi handywork!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: