BIN LADEN IS LOCATED SAYS 9/11 PANALIST - PAKISTANI ALLIES KEEPING HIM SAFE

Arizona Daily Star ^ | 10/22/04

[areafiftyone]

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Pentagon knows exactly where Osama bin Laden is hiding in Pakistan, it just can't get to him, John Lehman, a member of the 9/11 Commission, said Thursday.

 

Lehman's remarks echoed those made Tuesday by Secretary of State Colin Powell, who said the al-Qaida leader was alive and operating in the western part of Pakistan.

 

Bin Laden is living in South Waziristan in the Baluchistan Mountains of the Baluchistan region, Lehman told the San Bernardino Sun after delivering a keynote speech on terrorism at Pitzer College in Claremont.

 

In the interview, Lehman noted, "There is an American presence in the area, but we can't just send in troops. If we did, we could have another Vietnam, and the United States cannot afford that right now."

 

When pressed on why the United States couldn't send troops into the region to capture the world's No. 1 terrorist, Lehman said the Baluchistan region of the country is filled with militant fundamentalists who do not recognize the legitimacy of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, a close ally of the United States.

 

"That is a region filled with Taliban and al-Qaida members," he said, acknowledging that Pakistan's security services also are filled with many who agree with bin Laden's beliefs and would aid him if U.S. Special Forces entered the region.

 

"Look," he said, "Musharraf already has had three assassination attempts on his life. He is trying to comply, but he is surrounded by people who do not agree with him. This is not like Afghanistan, where there was no compliance, and we had to go in.

 

"We'll get (bin Laden) eventually, just not now."

 

Asked how bin Laden was surviving, Lehman said he was getting money from outside countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, and high-ranking ministers inside Saudi Arabia.

 

"He is not a wealthy man," Lehman said. "We ran that information into the ground, and discovered he only receives about $1 million a year from his family's fortune. The rest of what he gets comes from radical sympathizers."

 

Department of Defense spokeswoman Capt. Ronnie Merritt confirmed the U.S. military believes bin Laden is in Pakistan. However, she would not comment on Lehman's remarks, except to say that he normally didn't speak about these issues, and she was surprised he had.

 

Lehman, secretary of the Navy under President Ronald Reagan, was one of the 10 members of the bipartisan commission that examined the terrorists attacks on the United States.

 

He also is the author of three books about military tactics.

 

[justshutupandtakeit]

Taking charge of Saudi Arabia is the goal of al Queda. It will not be allowed to happen.

[elli1]

The Pentagon knows exactly where Osama bin Laden is hiding in Pakistan....

Bin Laden is living in South Waziristan in the Baluchistan Mountains of the Baluchistan region...

At best, the Pentagon knows approximately where obl is. The wording makes South Waziristan sound like its a little mountain village. In fact, it is a tribal area, over 2700 square miles in area.

[DSBull]

UBL is either a rotting corpse under tons of rock, or we have had him for a while, since the camera loving turdburgler has not shown his mug in a while.. another option is the freak died of kidney failure, which of course would not have happened if Kerry was president, Bush has no plan to help terrorist with medical care, the Cad.

[Dr Snide]

Actually, I think "snatch and grab" IS Clinton's plan.

no, no, no,

you're thinking of "grabbing snatch"

[mikegi]

We know "exactly" where UBL is??? Then it says south Waziristan. That's like saying the police here knew "exactly" where Eric Rudolph - somewhere in the southeast USA.

I don't know much but I do one thing: if we *ever* know exactly where UBL is, no one, and certainly no tribemen, will stop our military from getting him.

[siunevada]

over 2700 square miles in area.

I knew if I waited long enough somebody would come up with a number.

Not exactly 'cornered' is he?

[ArGee]

Wait, I just read on another thread that he is in the basement of the White House. How can this be?

Do you know how deep the basement of the white house goes?

I've heard the President could escape to Moscow through those tunnels if he had to.

A word to the wise ... <nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no MORE, say no MORE>

Shalom.

[ArGee]

Actually, I think "snatch and grab" IS Clinton's plan.

Janet will get 'em.

Shalom.

[sissyjane]

When I hear it out of the mouth of President Bush or Vice President cheney I'll believe it and not until.

[gidget7]

Thank you very much!!!! The media doesn't get that logic. They not only let that leek out, they let HIM know, and Zarkowi, where our troops are the most vulnerable, where they are at all times, AND where to hit us here in the US in order to do the most damage! (JUST IN CASE these terrorists don't know that yet!) No such thing as National Security with the media liberals!

[MichelleWSC]

Here's a pledge: I will vote for Kerry if he himself personally goes to Pakistan with his goose hunting shotgun and apprehend OBL without any military help....I mean he was in Vietnam right?

[BobS]

"Wait, I just read on another thread that he is in the basement of the White House. How can this be?"

Because Bush wants to throw him and his wheelchair out on October 31st. He made a pass at Laura and isn't paying rent and lives like a slob.

[wagglebee]

John Lehman was also the "signer" of the first sKerry forgery:
The Silver Star citation that was somehow signed by Lehman at least 12 years AFTER sKerry left Vietnam.

[konaice]

Quote:
"Wouldn't it make sense NOT to let the world and Bin Laden know we have this information?"

One would think so.

OTOH, it might be a way to get him to move.

[plain talk]

"That is a region filled with Taliban and al-Qaida members

Cruise missile strike? I suppose they don't know exactly where he is.

[inpajamas]

If the want bin laden they need to take a scraper blade plastic baggy and a magnifying glass to the place.

[No Blue States]

This may be an attempt from the left to remind people that he hasn't been captured. Could be an attempt to get peoples hopes up and then let them down before the election.

Same thing I thought. Here we are less than 2 weeks before the election, this story should have been predicted to appear months ago at this time.

The "oh but you havent caught OBL card" is in play again.

Let the dead bury the dead.

[Semper Paratus]

I question the timing of any news about OBL.

[highlandbreeze]

I agree. I believe that UBL is too full of himself to have kept his ugly mug off a video for so long. What it's been 3 years since we've seen him? That's an awful long time.

[gidget7]

LOL I can hear him now, I was there in Pakistan, I was there when the paratroopers went in and got him, I was there to sign the order to turn him over........

He has been everywhere, where anything has ever happened, except he wasn't. Surprised he wasn't there to tear down the Berlin Wall.