Bin Laden 'surrounded'

The Sunday Telegraph ^ | February 22, 2004

[Patriot1998]

A BRITISH Sunday newspaper is claiming Osama bin Laden has been found and is surrounded by US special forces in an area of land bordering north-west Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Sunday Express, known for its sometimes colourful scoops, claims the al-Qaeda leader has been "sighted" for the first time since 2001 and is being monitored by satellite.

The paper claims he is in a mountainous area to the north of the Pakistani city of Quetta. The region is said to be peopled with bin Laden supporters and the terrorist leader is estimated to also have 50 of his fanatical bodyguards with him.

The claim is attributed to "a well-placed intelligence source" in Washington, who is quoted as saying: "He (bin Laden) is boxed in."

The paper says the hostile terrain makes an all-out conventional military assault impossible. The plan to capture him would depend on a "grab-him-and-go" style operation.

"US helicopters already sited on the Afghanistan border will swoop in to extricate him," the newspaper says. It claims bin Laden and his men "sleep in caves or out in the open. The area is swept by fierce snow storms howling down from the 10,000ft-high mountain peaks. Donkeys are the only transport."

The special forces are "absolutely confident" there is no escape for bin Laden, and are awaiting the order to go in and get him.

"The timing of that order will ultimately depend on President Bush," the paper says. "Capturing bin Laden will certainly be a huge help for him as he gets ready for the election."

The article says bin Laden's movements are monitored by a National Security Agency satellite.

On Thursday last week, General Richard Myers, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, said America had been engaged in "intense" efforts to capture bin Laden, who was believed to be hiding in the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

[BykrBayb]

6-foot-4-inches of ugly and evil doesn't make for a very convincing chick.

: )

Are you sure? I wonder what his mother looks like.

[LeftiesBinWhinin]

I'm with you on this one...

And BTW, great Wizard of Oz reference in your tag line!

[G.Mason]

"I can hear the Democrats now, the day after Osama's capture:......."

They are so slothenly predictable.

I do wish for some ingenious surprises from the Repubs.

Nothing earth shattering mind you. Say, twenty of them in five megaton doses would do it.

[Jhensy]

Pity Dick Morris knows nothing about the bond between a President and his citizens. Especially one woven with trust and respect.

Outstanding.

[zook]

Who cares about Bin Laden? My wife's nephew's uncle's cousin's friend may lose his job next month!

[PureSolace]

The only thingk they're "waiting" for is for the snow and ice to start melting away... Once that happens, we can swoop in get his dead body and put it on display for the whole world to see.

[hershey]

Oh, to be a fly on the wall at Kerry's campaign headquarters. The angst, the fury, frustration. What to say when bin Laden is captured...Plan A: We're not safer off with bin Laden in chains. Plan B: He's innocent until proven guilty, and it's Bush's fault anyway. We need an independent investigation of what Bush knew and when he knew it! If bin Laden's captured around the time of the debates: The look on Kerry's botoxficated face. New lines, sagging flesh, he needs another treatment. Maybe he'll even be dumb enough to climb into a tank for a 'military moment'. I can hardly wait.

[normy]

I want to see a SEAL walk out of a smokey cave with the head of Bin Laden in his hands. He throws the head at the feet of Geraldo as the camera pans to it. Camera pans back to the SEAL who casually says "Send more terrorists," and walks off.

[ovrtaxt]

Give him a sex change, force a bacon strip down his throat and let the good people of NYC 'befriend' him on the streets.

All on pay-per-view, of course.

[doug from upland]

Time for a major drop of leaflets upping the reward to $50 million for him or his body.

[Persephone Kore]

"Any opinions?"

probably disinfo, half-truth only.

the intelligence rooted out of isi has the usa on usama's track. to calm al-q's worries, we put out a diversion - "we have him surrounded" - but state the wrong location.

[finnman69]

Question....what is the best way to conduct a snatch and grab at 10,000 feet in wind driven snow?

Parachute in? Seems too dangerous.
Helicopter. A CH-53 would be at the limits of abilities at that altitude...

Performance :
Never -exceed speed (Vne)
Maximum level speed at S/L 170 knots
Rate of climb at S/L, OEI (25,000lb load) 762m/min

Service ceiling @ max continuous power 5,640m
Hovering ceiling @ max power:
IGE 3,520m
OGE 2,895m
Range at S/L with standard fuel, no reserves 1,120nm

same problem for a MH-60 insertion

Service Ceiling (ISA day) 19,1510 ft
Hover Ceiling MRP-OGE
95°F 7,650 ft
70°F 9,375 ft
Standard Day 11,125 ft


so basically they have to hike in or do you do make a scary HALO jump.

Then, one you bag Bin Laden, how do you get out? Hike to an extraction site at a lower altitude?

[LibWhacker]

The paper claims he is in a mountainous area to the north of the Pakistani city of Quetta.

If the details of this story are true, he's already on the move. He's not going to wait for the President's order and he's not going to buy the claim that he's "boxed in." He will try to get out. I just pray we've finally learned our lesson and are not going to trust any of our "allies" in this part of the world to help nab him, because they'll double-cross us every time.

[Quix]

I DON'T THINK even the demons in hell would want a bite, though.

Mabye Shrillery would.

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Like the WMD thing, I'll believe it when I see it.

bin Laden spent years and many bucks building caves in Tora Bora. After he saw the Americans do a "Tora Tora Tora on Tora Bora", I am sure he is aware his hide is priority #1. Self-protection and escape routes are more important to him than pulling off the next terrorist attack. I find it highly unlikely that he would put himself in a position to be surrounded. He has studied Houdini; he must have an escape route. Like you, I will believe it when I see it.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Sounds good to me friend.

[Quix]

Not the most charitable thoughts but

still . . . most seem rather . . . very . . .

fitting.

And, there are plenty of O Testament examples of something similar!

[gitmo]

I agree.

I remember immediately after Bush's declarations that we would conduct war on terror there were news commentators asking how would we know when we had accomplished our objectives? I thought then that the definition of success would be when some young man in another part of the world went to his mother saying, "Mama, I am joining a group that is going to attack the evil Americans."

Mama would say, "Son, you are a man now. Let me give you something." She would go to the kitchen drawer and take out a pistol and shoot the boy. She wouldn't want the wrath of the US to come down on her family and her nation.

That is victory over terrorism.

[gcruse]

Yeah, Bin Laden is surrounded, alright. Like gold bullion is by Fort Knox. Nuking Pakistan would be but the first step.

[Right_in_Virginia]

If People trusted their President as implictly as you think, then why would his poll numbers EVER go down?

Why, my FRiend would you give credence to the media's poll?

Don't mistake the liberal media's self-serving agenda with America's opionion.