Coalition forces intensify hunt for al-Qaeda suspects --(Hunting Bin Laden)

Hi Pakistan ^ | Feb 7 2004 | NA

[Dog]

WANA: A marked increase has been witnessed in the number of coalition forces in eastern Afghan provinces to hunt down al-Qaeda and Taliban elements believed to be hiding in the border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Local tribesmen, who are able to move both sides of the Durand Line, claimed of the unprecedented movement of the US and other allied forces in Birmal area of Paktika province of Afghanistan during the week. Dozens of helicopters are hovering over the area day and night, which sends signals of fear and uncertainty among the tribesmen living on both sides of the divide.

The search for suspected terrorists has been increased in Nawey Ada, Macha Dad Kot, Shakin and Gomal areas of Paktika province and local tribesmen are also subjected to body search while using the access roads in the area.

It has been learnt that as many as 60 containers have been shifted to the area to be used for residential purpose. A number of fresh US and allied forces, eyewitnesses said, have been moved to the area, where a major operation is likely to be launched any moment to comb the mountainous region for Osama Bin Laden and his other top lieutenants.

In another development, some mysterious armed persons issued warnings to barbers and music shopkeepers in Azam Warsak and Rustam Bazaar area of South Waziristan agency on Friday not to shave beards of the people or sell cassettes or videos in the area, which is against the teaching of Islam.

"Those who shaving people’s beards would face death and those selling cassettes would be taken to task as well," the armed persons onboard two pick ups warned the shopkeepers in the Pakistani border areas.

However, Assistant Political Agency Wana, Headquarters of the agency, Rehmatullah Wazir denied that any such incident has taken place. But local barbers and music centre owners have closed down business and sought security of life and property from the authorities. It was learnt that the armed persons manhandled some of the shopkeepers after they reportedly showed some resistance to close down shops.

The armed persons also smashed the mirrors inside the barbers’ shops and collected hundreds of cassettes terming them un-Islamic, local tribesmen informed. Reuters adds from Munich: Nato moved on Friday to shore up the credibility of plans to expand its peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan as allies tentatively lined up troops for lawless provinces ahead of crucial elections in June.

But the transatlantic alliance took a cautious line on US-backed proposals for a Nato role in Iraq, with the organisation still smarting from the wounds inflicted on its cohesion by last year’s US-led invasion of the country.

Major-General Andrew Leslie, commander of Canadian forces in Afghanistan, told a news conference in Kabul that Nato forces could be in Afghanistan for up to 10 years and the number of soldiers may rise as rehabilitation work expands.

[Dog]

Remember that end of this year comment by the General in Afghanistan....seems the hunt is on.

[Dog]

Cap I posted this as a stand alone thread.

[OneTimeLurker]

I hope the hunt has been on.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Sen. Grassley of Iowa was quoted saying Osama would be caught or killed by the end of the year...
I'd like to be there when they hang the bastard.

[Dog Gone]

I don't get what beards and barbers have to do with this, but something's up in the frontier provinces, and it's about time.

[George W. Bush]

Just get Osama now. Saddam is a sideshow.

Osama was the perp of 9/11.

[Dog]

I couldn't delete it..

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I think Saddam was part of the action on 9/11!

Indirectly, he keep his part very well hidden!

[Dog]

Hey Doctor Frank fan ......think we still are distracted?

[Dr. Frank fan]

YES I DO!!

Bush's damn war in Iraq is distracting us from the real war against "Al Qaeda"!!!1

(shall I close with "/sarcasm" just in case...? ;-)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Militant Islamic Hydra has many heads!!!!!

[Dog]

Would have been nice if you had placed the sarcasm tag in the other post....I can't read a freepers intent when they make a post.

[Dr. Frank fan]

The Militant Islamic Hydra has many heads!!!!!

Wrong! It's only "Al Qaeda" and nobody else.

Saddam is "SECULAR" which means he is incapable of working with "RELIGIOUS" people in any way. He would explode if he approached a "RELIGIOUS" person, by the laws of physics.

That's why this damn war in Iraq is Distracting us from the real war against "Al Qaeda"!!11

/sarcasm

[Dr. Frank fan]

Would have been nice if you had placed the sarcasm tag in the other post....

Guess I thought the sarcasm was clear... the story was about finding Al Qaeda links IN Iraq after all... :)

[dc-zoo]

I'm tired of reading about "hunting". I want to read about "finding" and "killing".

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

The Talibunnies forbid such.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OK! Now I understand!

Just in case you have not read this yet:

Larry Elder: Were we misled? (about Iraq's WMD)

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Those who shaving people?s beards would face death and those selling cassettes would be taken to task as well,"

Wonder how ZZ Top would do over there?

[labolarueda]

"Sen. Grassley of Iowa was quoted saying Osama would be caught or killed by the end of the year...
I'd like to be there when they hang the bastard."

I, personally, don't want to know when OBL is caught and killed, much less be there to see him die. Just kill him on the spot and avoid the making of a myth about the scumbag. The war on terror is much more than the killing of a single individual.

[Dog]

I have did a little research this afternoon...it seems Macha Dad Kot has a US Firebase nearby which sits on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Coop remember that raid in Angoor Adda last October in which the Canadian AQ leader was killed it turns out it is across the border from this area US forces are massing.