Bin Laden's Arrest Story Source Identified

Islam Online ^ | Februari 29 2004 | Asif Farooqi & Khaled Schmitt

[knighthawk]

ISLAMABAD/BERLIN, February 29 (IslamOnline.net) - The "source" of a report which made a buzz around the world about the arrest of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan, turned out to be a journalist based in the northern city of Peshawar, Pakistani authorities announced Sunday, February 29.

The external Pashto-language service of Iranian state radio reported Saturday, February 28, quoting an "informed source" that Bin Laden had been "captured in a tribal area of Pakistan."

The report, which was immediately denied by both Pakistani and U.S. authorities, said the arrest took place "some time ago" but gave no further details.

Pakistani officials told Islamonline.net that a brief investigation was launched to know the facts about the report and the sources it quoted.

They later found out that the sources quoted by the Iranian radio was a Peshawar-based Pakistani journalist who works for the English daily The Nation.

The radio interviewed the reporter a day earlier about the situation in the tribal areas following a military operation.

He apparently expressed his opinion that Bin Laden could have been arrested because he detected some VIP movement in his area.

The authorities have concluded that the radio actually misquoted the reporter and made a big story out of it.

The Iranian broadcast said U.S. officials were keeping news of the arrest under wraps and were likely to announce the arrest later in the year in order to boost incumbent President George's re-election chances in the November polls.

"The capture of the Al-Qaeda leader was made some time ago, but Bush is intending to announce it at the time of the American presidential election."

It also added that U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's visit to Afghanistan during the week was to follow up on Bin Laden's arrest.

However, the Pakistani journalist has denied saying anything to that effect.

Almost all international media organizations, including wire services and television channels, around the world picked up the Iranian report.

The impact of the story was so much that not only Pakistan had to immediately deny it but it also prompted the authorities to investigate the authenticity of the Pakistani source who was quoted by the Iranian radio.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri, who was addressing a press conference with his French counterpart on the bilateral issues, was tipped about the report and was asked to immediately deny it.

Even the Pakistan army had to issued a formal denial.

More Confirmations

Nevertheless, the story continued to hit headlines across the globe.

The German Welt Am Sonntag on Sunday quoted unnamed Indian intelligence sources as confirming the Iranian report.

It said that Karl Heinz Kamp, a security expert with the Konrad Adenauer Institute for Political and Social Studies and Research, received confirmations from Indian officials that the Americans had napped Bin Laden several weeks ago.

The German expert was attending a security conference in New Delhi last week.

Meanwhile, the German Fox television network changed its scheduled programs Saturday to broadcast a three-hour special reportage about Bin Laden.

On Sunday, February 22, the British Sunday Express reported that U.S. and British special forces have cornered Bin Laden in a mountainous area in northwest Pakistan, near the Afghanistan border.

It quoted a "U.S. intelligence source" as saying that Bin Laden "is boxed in " and they were "absolutely confident" he could not escape.

In his last tape, aired on January 5, Bin Laden warned that Washington would occupy Saudi Arabia and the entire oil-rich Gulf region after Iraq unless stopped.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Just mythoughts]

Yep, JFKerry been sending those emails again.

[angkor]

Chomsky was spewing this theory several weeks ago.

[Semper Paratus]

That's a stronger source than any of the networks have we they say "Sources say".

[Just mythoughts]

The left are "highly trained professionals" at rumormongering.

[R. Scott]

The authorities have concluded that the radio actually misquoted the reporter and made a big story out of it.

Not to unusual - even here.

[SamAdams76]

While the Democrats will certainly spin it differently, the truth of the matter is that if OBL was captured, keeping it under wraps for a while would be the smart thing to do. This way, the U.S. could "quiz" OBL without interference from do-gooders like the UN and Red Cross and use whatever methods are necessary to extract from him everything he knows. Then we can proceed to roll up the remnants of the Al Qaida organization without the attendant publicity. The remaining cells will never know what hit them. Then, if necessary, OBL can "turn up dead" someplace and nobody will be the wiser with respect to what methods we had to use to extract that information.

[cripplecreek]

The nice thing about conspiracy theories is that they can be adjusted according to need. In the case of the Bin Laden capture theories, it doesn't matter when he's captured because the theory is already circulating and will clearly be seen as evidence.

Personally i could care less if we caught him on 9/12/01 as long as we caught him. It certainly beats the liberal attitude of sending him a subpoena and hoping he shows up for court.

Also if Bin Laden were captured sometime in the past, keeping it secret sounds like a good tactical move anyway. And lets not forget, 9/11 could have been prevented if we had taken the guy when he was offered to the clinton administration.

[Semper Paratus]

Could it possibly be that Jason has a new job?

Or the NYC 'man-on-the-street' what's his name?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Then, if necessary, OBL can "turn up dead" someplace and nobody will be the wiser...

I agree with your assesment fellow Sam but I must say...that would be a very dangerous ploy politically. Very dangerous indeed. It would only take one 'source' to speak up and have the whole thing blow up in GWB's face.

Sort of like "tickling the dragon's tail".

[Cap Huff]

FWIW

[Semper Paratus]

.that would be a very dangerous ploy politically.

Didn't happen with Sadaam. Could have been done, but the capture news went around the world an hour after it happened.

[ysoitanly]

Rita Cosby and Moby have absolutely confirmed this!

[FreePaul]

I am always suspicious when everyone in government denies something. The story may not be true but why did everyone hurry to deny it?

[Valin]

They later found out that the sources quoted by the Iranian radio was a Peshawar-based Pakistani journalist who works for the English daily The Nation

Well this explains why the story was (sadly) wrong.
Once more the left gets it wrong.

It's nice to know that in this ever changing world we live in there are SOMETHINGS you can always count on, and the left being wrong rates right up there near the top.

[G.Mason]

I am always suspicious when everyone in government denies something. The story may not be true but why did everyone hurry to deny it? </sarcasm>

Just trying to save you from yourself

[JohnnyZ]

Could it possibly be that Jason has a new job?

JAYSON, and he's probably planning to work in the Kerry Administration (God forbid).

[redheadtoo]

the capture news went around the world an hour after it happened.

I was dosing lightly, with a late night radio show on, when I heard them announce that Saddam had been captured. I woke up immediately and listened intently to every scrap of news for the next few hours.