Posted on 02/28/2004 9:44:19 AM PST by Dog
Bin Laden 'On The Run,' US Official Says Michael Kitchen Islamabad 28 Feb 2004, 15:13 UTC
A top U.S. anti-terrorism official says al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is on the run,<./b> amid what officials say is an intensifying hunt for fugitive members of the terror network. The U.S. official says he believes Osama bin Laden will be captured soon. Ambassador J. Cofer Black, coordinator for the State Department counter-terrorism office, say the United States and its allies will find Osama bin Laden.
"I feel confident that it will be sooner rather than later, although I'm not going to speculate on the exact date," he said.
In an interview with VOA, Ambassador Black said the United States knows Osama bin Laden is still in touch with other al-Qaida leaders, though on a limited basis.
"[The contacts are] infrequent, imperfect, but he still has contact. He has some limited form of contact," he said.
The U.S. government has blamed Osama bin Laden and his organization for the terror attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001.
Ambassador Black says that, although Osama bin Laden still evidently takes a role in planning al-Qaida operations, the majority of his focus is now spent avoiding capture.
"He's on the run. He's hiding. He spends most of his time trying to keep from getting caught," he said.
Mr. Black was in Islamabad Saturday, meeting with Pakistani counterparts to discuss anti-terrorism issues.
Pakistan launched a military operation Tuesday aimed at flushing out suspected foreign terrorists in the semi-autonomous South Waziristan agency.
On Saturday, the Pakistan military says one of its checkpoints in the South Waziristan capital of Wana engaged in an early morning shootout with an unknown vehicle.
Eleven people were reportedly killed in the incident, including civilian bystanders.
Military officials report 16 arrests following the incident, and say an investigation is under way.
The military says the firefight coincided with a mortar attack on their forces in Wana.
South Waziristan is located along the Afghan-Pakistani border, where Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding.
Yes indeed!!! Being of about 75% Irish descent, I would say Harp goes with just about anything. Watching bin Laden in custody ala Saddam Hussein would be priceless!! It would certainly be time for a pint of Harp ... or Guinness!
O'MinuteGal
"I feel confident that it will be sooner rather than later, although I'm not going to speculate on the exact date," [Ambassador J. Cofer Black] said.
Then, I'll speculate. No earlier than September 20 and no later than October 15. They already have a pretty good idea where he is and could have him in custody within a few weeks, if they were to make a major push into the area. But, the hype surrounding his capture would wear off before the election. Whenever possible, major victories, captures, etc., are always timed to coincide with elections (this has been true for both parties). Since it is possible in this case, I look for a major operation in the area to start up in late August or early September, with a view toward capture in early October. Since Dubya is not really doing anything serious to boost his poll numbers now, it's quite likely that he is rather certain of a major media coup before the election and this is made to order.
If I were a betting man, I would bet on an announcement around October10.
But maybe there's some way to smuggle a dialysis machine and a generator to run it and a doctor to operate it and all the filters and supplies, all in parts (except the doctor) (maybe) into the aforementioned rathole by goat/camel/yak/oxcart... Or something... that I just can't comprehend somehow...
Frankly I hope we never catch him, so we can go on killing rug pilots all over the Middle East forever while we "search" for him. (So many rug pilots... so little time...)
Also I don't want Al Quaeda to get demoralized and disband and go underground into disjoint ratholes where we can't find them, before we kill the lot of them, either, so we need to keep *them* thinking that the esteemed exalted almighty Sheikh (Goatfeces Be Unto Him) is still alive...
they probably know the area and have friends now. sure would hate to have some of those guys chasing me for a few years.
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