Pakistan launches al-Qaeda offensive

Reuters ^ | Tue 24 February, 2004

[yonif]

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani troops have launched a fresh offensive against al Qaeda and Taliban militants hiding in remote tribal areas near the Afghan border, officials say.

A day earlier, U.S. military officials said the whereabouts of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden remained a mystery and the focus of hunts in border regions where many Islamic militants and Taliban remnants are believed to be hiding.

"We have launched an operation against foreign terrorists," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told Reuters on Tuesday.

Asked whether operation was intended to hunt bin Laden, he said only: "It is against foreign terrorists."

[kayak]

Oh, please, please, please let them be successful in hunting down "foreign terrorists."

[Howlin]

I sure hope they have their hearts in the right place.

[over3Owithabrain]

I'm starting to get that "Osama feeling" again!

Maybe this time it will be for real...what will Kerry say?

[blackbart.223]

"I sure hope they have their hearts in the right place."

A bullit between Osama's running lights would be the right place.

[EGPWS]

Maybe this time it will be for real...what will Kerry say?

For starters, the usual, however much more pronounced. Erm, Ah, well, you know, ahhhh, you know, erm, I'm a war hero! Ermmm, ah, I'm better than George Bush. Ermm, ah, Just another failed attempt, erm, you know, to get votes, erm, Help,... Hillary, Help!

[tubavil]

LOL!

Pakistan launches al-Qaeda [fundraising] offensive

[Cap Huff]

From another Reuters item, GWB says we’re doing “better than pretty good.” I would love to know what he knows right now!

24 Feb 2004 05:40:31 GMT
Pakistan launches fresh anti-al Qaeda offensive
(Adds details, background, byline; changes dateline)

By Hafiz Wazir

>>snip<<

“Tuesday's operation came hours after U.S. President George W. Bush vowed to track down al Qaeda militants.”

“’We are on the hunt for al Qaeda,’ he told a meeting of U.S. governors at the White House.

‘It requires all assets, intelligence assets and military assets, to chase them down and bring them to justice, and we're going pretty good -- better than pretty good.’”

>>snip<<

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL227535.htm

The link has more details that have been added to the story.

[Bobby777]

this should be nearly as effective as when Saudi Arabia hunts down "terrorists" ... or when Yasser Arafat arrests "terrorists" ... there may be a pattern here ... hmmmm ...

[TexKat]

this should be nearly as effective as when Saudi Arabia hunts down "terrorists" ... or when Yasser Arafat arrests "terrorists" ... there may be a pattern here ... hmmmm ...

You've got it Bobby777.

[Dog]

Hmmmmmmm.

On another thread there are reports DAWN pulled a couple of articles....something might be up..

[Aeronaut]

...what will Kerry say?

I, who served in Vietnam, and pledging to roll back the tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, can say we are no safer than we were before, due to Bush's mismanagement.

[Reader of news]

The capture/dead of OBL will be soon. Today President has no public events. Several days ago, George Tenet met Pakistani authorities to talk about OBL.

[macrahanish #1]

And don't forget,"the threat of terrorism has been greatly exaggerated."

[Cap Huff]

The following short story on Jang was updated, I think about 20 minutes ago. It says the operation is over, but I think the item refers only to the ops going on in the Wana area.

“Several foreign suspects arrested in Wana operation”
(Updated at 1605 PST)

“ISLAMABAD: Pakistani troops Tuesday arrested several foreign suspects in an operation launched to track down al-Qaeda fighters hiding in the rugged tribal terrain bordering Afghanistan, a military spokesman said.”

”'There are up to 20 people arrested, and there are some foreigners among them,' Major General Shaukat Sultan said. 'The operation is over and I would say there were no causalties,' he said “

http://jang.com.pk/thenews/

[Reader of news]

According CNNenEspanol, 34 people has been arrested.

[Dog]

I justed posted a new AP story that had updated info.....but the Moderator pulled it claiming it was a duplicate.

[Reader of news]

Do you have any map of the region?

[ASA Vet]

[Cap Huff]

Here's a link to one from Boot Hill:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1082309/posts?page=20#20