U.S. plans Al Qaeda offensive (in Pakistan). (Capture Bin Laden?)

Chicago Tribune ^ | 1/28/04

[areafiftyone]

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration, deeply concerned about recent assassination attempts against Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and a resurgence of Taliban forces in neighboring Afghanistan, is preparing a U.S. military offensive that would reach inside Pakistan with the goal of destroying Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network, military sources said.

U.S. Central Command is assembling a team of military intelligence officers that would be posted in Pakistan ahead of the operation, according to sources familiar with details of the plan and internal military communications. The sources spoke on the condition they not be identified.

As now envisioned, the offensive would involve Special Operations forces, Army Rangers and Army ground troops, sources said. A Navy aircraft carrier would be deployed in the Arabian Sea.

[theFIRMbss]

Troops in Pakistan pretty much sews up Iran. Pak could be step one...

[The_Victor]

I think this is operation is already underway and has been for some time. This leak is to get everybody ready for an aboveboard commitment. Welcome to act three of the war on terror.

You're probably right. The intel aspect of any war is about feint and counterfeit, and any "leak" has to be considered as potentially intentional. It still bothers me to see blaring headlines announcing ops that should be (in my mind) kept secret.

[Molly Pitcher]

This'll interest you.

[js1138]

I'm sure plans for all sorts of things are made all the time. Why is this one being leaked ?

These operations are ongoing. Leaks might flush a rabbit, perhaps from a hole in a comlpetely different location.

[hedgie]

Bin Laden and Omar will be captured by end of year "The sands in the hourglass of all of the al-Qaeda senior leadership is running out," -- General Barno (Head of Afghanistan operations). 1/26

"It's very difficult to find individuals. What will happen is, with absolute certainty ... [Bin Laden] will be captured some day, just like we captured Saddam Hussein," Chairman JCS Richard Myers 12/18

I think these comments from our military leadership are indicitive of their confidence in the results and information already being generated by our covert special operations forces.

[Reader of news]

"It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success."

-President Bush, Sept. 22, 2001. Address to the Congress and the American People about the War on Terror.

In my opinion, the operation has already begun although we cannot watch on TV. When we find Bin Laden, President Bush will announce the operation and the capture.

[Reader of news]

Irani regime will fall this year or in 2005. It will not be necessary a military intervention.

[night reader]

I'm sure plans for all sorts of things are made all the time. Why is this one being leaked ?

To spook him into making a move, perhaps?

[swarthyguy]

Should've never called off the campaign in Spring 2002 allowing jihadis to escape, shelter and resume their attacks from Pakistan.

[beckett]

Get the action started before the election, Georgie. Good plan. Because if you happen to lose in November, at least your successor will not so easily be able to let al-Qaeda off the hook, as he will no doubt be wont to do, if American troops are hunting jihadis in the mountains of Pakistan.

[Coop]

Reuters just came out with a similar article. Interesting excerpt here:

But a military source described as "well-placed" told the newspaper: "Before we were constrained by the border. Musharraf did not want that. Now we are told we're going into Pakistan with Musharraf's help."

Let's hope it's true.

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=447920&section=news

[Prodigal Son]

What I find so fascinating about this type of thing is: A Chicago Tribune reporter writes an article using spurious un-named source(s). Then Reuters writes an article based on the ChiTrib article. Then it's on the news wires and other papers pick it up. It travels around the world. Pretty soon, you've seen it in so many different places, you just assume it's honest to God fact.

This is what happened with Jessica Lynch. The Wash Post did an article claiming to have sources saying she had been shot. Everyone else- assuming, I guess that the WP is a good source- wrote articles based on that account. Pretty soon it looks like the official truth.

The Pentagon never said any of that. CENTCOM never said that. In fact, the NYTs didn't even say it. In every report I read back then, the NYTs was the only paper of note who stuck to what it knew and listed sources. I found that interesting.

What happens afterwards? Public assumes a military conspiracy.

This ChiTrib article- hmmm. It could be true. Seems like an intentional leak (ie propaganda) to me. But given two days, it will be repeated by so many news 'sources' that it will carry the force of truth. Therefore, I suppose, it will produce the desired effect in other parts of the world.

It's just fascinating to watch.

[Prodigal Son]

"No foreign forces will operate from Pakistan's territory." Major General Shaukat Sultan told Reuters when asked about the Tribune's report.

BTW, I found the sentence just before the one you cite (in the Reuter's report) to be just as interesting:

"No foreign forces will operate from Pakistan's territory." Major General Shaukat Sultan told Reuters when asked about the Tribune's report.

I speculated in an earlier post that this report could actually be aimed at Mushy's top military guys. I found that quote intriguing.

[Cap Huff]

The reports over the last week or so suggest to me that our guys have a pretty good idea where OBL, but it may take a while to flush him out of his "hidey hole" so to speak.

Musharraf was also clear enough about al-Zawahiri's involvement in the assassination attempts. I still wonder whether Z is in Iran as has been reported (speculated?) or whether he too is in the Paki tribal area. We all want OBL and Zawahiri nabbed, but Zawahiri is probably a more important target than OBL in terms of real operational considerations.

[gathersnomoss]

When it comes to terrorists, the democrats believe that we should do what Clinton did and get a strong grip on the situation. Is there a sink nearby?

[gathersnomoss]

When it comes to terrorists, the democrats believe that we should do what Clinton did and get a strong grip on the situation. Is there a sink nearby?

[Cap Huff]

Right. You get him now, or we're coming in ourselves whether you like it or not. This general's comment might just as well be "message received - Lima Charlie."

[Kyle04]

I saw this on lunch break. It's on the Front Page, Top Headline, Big Letters. Chi Tribune's in it's own world much of the time.

[Prodigal Son]

The thing is, it's obvious that someone on Mushy's staff or inner circle has been giving info to al Qaeda. Their assassination attempts have been very well coordinated. They could only coordinate like that with 'prime info'. A lot of Mushy's top military guys are not loyal to him and are sympathetic to al Qaeda and the Taliban. It has to be remembered that the Taliban were sponsored by Pakistan's intelligence community.

There's a lot going on here.

[Coop]

BTW, I found the sentence just before the one you cite (in the Reuter's report) to be just as interesting:

Yeah. In hindsight I should have included it. I took it to mean (assuming this report is true, which is questionable) that Musharraf wants our troops in there, but his government cannot publicly state as much. Makes sense with all the hardliners there.