Posted on 06/13/2005 9:49:02 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
Top News Story
Some analysts suspect bin Laden slipped into Iran
Rowan Scarborough, The Washington Times:Some within the U.S. intelligence community think Osama bin Laden is in eastern Iran, instead of the rugged tribal areas of Pakistan's northwestern frontier, where most American officials think he is still on the run.
U.S. officials said in interviews that the Iran theory, which is held by a minority, is based on bits of intelligence information and the fact that months of CIA intelligence operations, along with search-and-destroy sweeps by thousands of Pakistani troops, have failed to find the al Qaeda leader or his No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri.
Asked whether the U.S. intelligence community thinks bin Laden may be in Iran, a senior administration official told The Washington Times, "Some people think he is."
That source saidthere is great frustration, especially within the inner circle around Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, that bin Laden has not been caught
or even unequivocally spotted in Pakistan's border region. The frustration is fueling speculation that bin Laden may not be there after all.
Rep. Curt Weldon, Pennsylvania Republican and House Armed Services Committee member, writes in his new book, "Countdown to Terror," that a reliable Iranian source he identifies only as "Ali" told him that bin Laden has been in Iran for some time.
"The course of world events have established incontrovertibly that Ali is a high credible source of reliable intelligence on Iranian and other terrorist activities," Mr. Weldon writes.
But the Bush administration's official position is that bin Laden is most likely in the border region straddling Pakistan and Afghanistan and that he is hidden by tribal allies.
"The consensus is that bin Laden remains in the border region," said a U.S. intelligence official.
Asked about reports that bin Laden is in Iran, which borders both Pakistan and Afghanistan, the official said, "That would be a big risk for the Iranians. ... There are all kinds of rumors that these guys go in and out of Iran, but that always struck me as odd."
Bin Laden lived near Kandahar, Afghanistan, the Taliban cultural headquarters, until the 2001 U.S. invasion. He moved north to the Tora Bora mountain range, then slipped across the border into Pakistan.
Gone are the heady predictions of early 2004, when the U.S. command in Afghanistan predicted bin Laden would be killed or captured by year's end. No commander is making such predictions now, and privately, some officers say the trail has gone cold.
Bush administration officials have accused Iran, a U.S.-designated sponsor of terrorism, of harboring al Qaeda lieutenants who escaped from Afghanistan in 2001.
The administration has stopped short of providing the names of the al Qaeda fugitives or suggesting that bin Laden is among them.
The U.S. also has intelligence that Abu Musab Zarqawi, who heads al Qaeda in Iraq, has slipped in and out of Iran since 2003 to evade capture. Officials say that is why Mr. Rumsfeld and the new Iraqi government have publicly warned Iraq's neighbors not to take in Zarqawi, whom Islamic Web sites say was wounded and needed medical care.
Washington thinks one of bin Laden's sons as well as a top operations chief are in Iran.
Iran denies harboring al Qaeda, but has said it has arrested and detained some members.DoctorZin:
Protest tomorrow in front of the infamous Evin Prison
Farideh Nicknazar, Iran Scan:
The Association of Writers in Iran has called for a protest and sit-in in front of the Evin Prison in Tehran tomorrow to show their solidarity with political prisoners. This happens on June 14, from 4–6 pm. The families of political prisoners and student associations are also joining in.Freepers should stand with these brave people. Together, we can make sure the mainstram media takes notice. These are the 21st century version of the soviet dissidents. They are pleading for the world to take notice. Let not let them down again.
Last time (earlier in June) a group of family members protested in front of Evin prisoners they were arrested and jailed. Among those arrested was Mr. Zarafsahn‘s wife, Homa Zarafshan. READ MORE
- Tehran Times reports that Iran warned U.S. officials to speak with caution on the upcoming presidential election in Iran.
- NY Times discovered that similar bombings to those exploded in Tehrean occured in Qom last week, but were the work of hardline vigilantes. Hmmmm.
- NY Sun reported that the bombings in Iran could prove to be the work of the regime.
- 7Days reported that Iran is denying an explosion took place in the city of Karaj.
- Reuters reported that Rafsanjani newest campaign ad angles for Iran youth vote.
- An Extimate Journal is providing a downloadable Iranian mp3 calling people to boycott the election.
- The Wall Street Journal reports that as Iran's vote nears, even Clerics are hip, or are trying to be.
- USA Today reports on how the Internet boom in Iran is altering the political process.
- Reuters reported that actor Sean Penn quizzed Rafsanjani.
- Students inside of Iran told me that Rafsanjani is paying students $200 to place posters of him on their cars and drive through the city.
- Editorial & Publisher reported that actor Sean Penn had his video camera confiscated for a time.
- Ken Timmerman's new blockbuster book on Iran, Countdown to Crisis is set to be released tomorrow. The book will include more than forty pages of previously unpublished documents and photographs.
- Reuters reported that ElBaradei was reappointed head of UN nuclear agency.
- The Associated Press reported that the IAEA is preparing to hear their Iran report. The report will be out this week.
- SMCCDI reported on the successful gender apartheid demonstration at Tehran University.
- The Financial Times reported that the bombs in Iran threaten to sway Iranian agenda.
- Payvand reported that the "Union of Advocates of Democracy" gathered in front of Evin prison calling for an end to detention of lawyer Nasser Zarafshan.
And finally, more photos and stuff:
- The Financial Times reported that Iran is expected to sell India a significantly smaller-than-expected amount of liquefied natural gas than India wants.
- Boston.com reminds us of the French philosopher Michel Foucault and the Ayatollah Khomeini.
"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail DoctorZin
Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
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This, along with Sean Penn's presence in one's country, are fairly good indicia that one's country is about to be bombed to hell and back.
If Sewan Penn is in Iran, whose picture is that in the background?
That was Penn visiting Iraq.
Right before it got blowed up.
I don't think bin Laden is hiding out in any cave. I think he is being pampered in a Saudi palace.
Some analysts suspect bin Laden slipped into Iran
Blogs 4 Bush
10/26/04
http://www.blogsforbush.com/mt/archives/002585.html
(snip)
B4B: Lots of people have offered up theories about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, and why we haven't seen him on videotape in so long. Many people think he's already dead. What do you know of bin Laden's whereabouts and why we haven't seen him for so long?
RM: In Chapter 1 of Shadow War, I relay the accounts of two Iranian intelligence agents who say they saw bin Laden in Iran on October 23, 2003. They say that al Qaeda has formed an alliance with Iran. Iran has admitted to sheltering some 500 al Qaeda fighters within its borders and has refused all requests to question these terrorists. The Iranian intel agents say that bin Laden has changed his appearance to look like a Shia cleric and that is possibly why he has not been seen on video. Another possibility: he has realized that the last al Qaeda to appear on television (Khalid Shaikh Mohammed) was captured shortly afterwards. Being evil doesn't necessarily make you stupid.
I think he is being pampered in a Saudi palace.
Sources?
no flame
Never, not Saudi, do not believe that.
BUMP!
I think he's been in Iran for a long time.
PERFECT hiding place.
Lol.
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Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!
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