ABCNews.com: US and Pakistani Officials Center Hunt for Bin Laden on Caravan

ABCNews.com ^ | March 7, 2003 | John Ross

[mikegi]

March 7 — U.S. and Pakistani officials have narrowed their search for Osama bin Laden to a caravan near the border of southwestern Pakistan, ABCNEWS has learned.

The CIA and Pakistani Army are electronically tracking the large caravan of people on foot and horseback through the rugged mountain area of Pakistan between the borders with Iran and Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden may be traveling with the caravan and may be on foot. Officials have cast a net around the caravan — using electronic U.S. surveillance and planes with cameras that can see through darkness to monitor its movement along a trail.

U.S. officials say they are not 100 percent sure that bin Laden is in the caravan, but they have a high degree of probability that he is and have closed off the area to all other traffic.

The area is so rugged that officials may not be able to move in with military vehicles, but instead could launch an operation with CIA paramilitary forces attacking the caravan from helicopters if it is determined that bin Laden is there.

President Bush has also authorized the launch of a missile attack if bin Laden is positively identified.

[mikegi]

I guess this is the target of the operation Ross wrote about yesterday. I can't believe that Bin Laden would be in such a large group but you never know. It's probably his wives and children, if anything.

[Semper Paratus]

This makes me nervous. There was similar talk of a 'net' around Tora Bora, but a ton of Al-Queda got out.

[Sacajaweau]

Dear Terrorists: Peek-a-boo!!!! BOOM.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Our new Office of Strategic Information is doing a terrific job!

[sirchtruth]

President Bush has also authorized the launch of a missile attack if bin Laden is positively identified.

I don't understand how they would positively ID this "guy"...if he still is a "guy?"

[Sacajaweau]

We do have some fascinating technology. Here's hoping we catch something big (though I think Usama is dead).

[fooman]

In excellent reporting, Geraldo said that is was faux negotiations that got him out..

[MindBender26]

I don't understand how they would positively ID this "guy"...

Why bother? Take them all down. Let God sort them out.

[norton]

For some time I've wondered if we might not be aware of bin laden's whereabouts and able to monitor him sufficiently to make it possible to cut off some of the terror cells that we have read about.
It may not be probable, but it could be that he was more valuable as an asset than as a corpse.

[honway]

President Bush has also authorized the launch of a missile attack if bin Laden is positively identified.

Bin Laden's son Saad was recently in the Iranian capital, Tehran, European anti-terrorism officials told ABCNEWS, and it was a cell phone call to him that turned authorities onto bin Laden's trail

"His son, apparently Saad, is in Iran and some of his wives also are in Iran and he has made apparently a big mistake," said ABCNEWS terrorism consultant Vince Cannistraro.

Though bin Laden's voice patterns were identified in the intercepted cell phone conversation, U.S. officials are aware that the call could have been a decoy to try to get bin Laden's pursuers off the trail.

[ASA Vet]

[DugwayDuke]

The Predator drone has a TV camera. Quite handy in identifying targets prior to engaging them with Hellfire missiles.

[norton]

(posted too soon)
It is also likely that, IF we knew where he was, it would be great PR to haul his butt into custody just before pulling the trigger on Iraq.

[Wright is right!]

"The Predator drone has a TV camera. Quite handy in identifying targets prior to engaging them with Hellfire missiles."

We need to develop a special version of this missile called the Emeril Hellfire, which has a two-stage warhead consisting of high explosive mixed with PORK FAT. We also need to drop leaflets 'splainin' to those on the ground that our "FAE" bombs are "Fat-Air Explosives."

Michael

[BluH2o]

... tracking the large caravan of people on foot and horseback through the rugged mountain area of Pakistan between the borders with Iran and Afghanistan.

Not sure they're describing the right area ... according to my detailed Nat'l Geographic of the region the topography of this specific area is relatively flat ... more desert like. There are mountains to the west ... but they're in Iran.

[Coop]

Flag

[irish guard]

it would be most excellent if the hellfires would systematically eliminate all the others in his caravan, so that all that is left is a horse which is hauling Usama's sorry ass across the hills....then our guys can come in with a big giant "we're baaaack!" and make him lick the horse's balls as an initial punishment...followed by rusty garden tools, rolling in pig entrails and other such lovely entertainment.

Finally, after we have interrogated him until hell won't have it, we can have Rudy Guiliani celebrate next New Year's eve by tossing bin Laden off the top of the Empire State Building as the big ball drops!

[BluH2o]

... according to my detailed Nat'l Geographic map of the region

Well ... upon further study, there is an area that is in the far NW corner of Pakistan (Balochistan) that is shaped like a narrow triangle, the border area with Iran is mountainous. If this is the region then it's obvious OBL is trying to cross the border into Iran.

[RippinGood]

Emeril Hellfire? Let's kick it up a notch - BAM!

RG