Posted on 06/19/2005 10:20:43 AM PDT by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA Director Porter Goss said he has an "excellent" idea where Osama bin Laden is hiding, but the al Qaeda leader will not be brought to justice until weak links in counterterrorism efforts are strengthened, Time magazine reported on Sunday. In his first interview since becoming head of the CIA last year, Goss also told the magazine the insurgency in Iraq was not quite in its last throes, but close to it.
Goss did not say where he believed bin Laden was hiding, but intelligence experts have said the al Qaeda leader who has evaded an extensive U.S.-led manhunt is probably in the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
"I have an excellent idea of where he is. What's the next question?" Goss said in the interview.
"In the chain that you need to successfully wrap up the war on terror, we have some weak links. And I find that until we strengthen all the links, we're probably not going to be able to bring Mr. bin Laden to justice," Goss said. "We are making very good progress on it."
He cited some of the difficulties as "dealing with sanctuaries in sovereign states, you're dealing with a problem of our sense of international obligation, fair play."
Goss added, "We have to find a way to work in a conventional world in unconventional ways that are acceptable to the international community."
Al Qaeda could strike the United States again, he said. "Certainly the intent is very high. And we are trying to stay ahead of their capability. And so far, I think we have done pretty well carrying the war to them, as it were," Goss said.
Bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, sporadically release taped messages that have been broadcast on Arab television or on the Internet since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Intelligence experts say the messages are partly to reassure followers that the leaders are still alive.
In the most recent message, a videotape broadcast by Arabic television Al Jazeera on Friday, Zawahri said reform in Muslim countries and "expelling the invaders" could not be accomplished except by fighting.
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a key figure behind the insurgency in Iraq, is aligned with al Qaeda.
Vice President Dick Cheney has said the insurgency was in the "last throes." President Bush says it would be wrong to set a timetable for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq and that they will stay until local security forces are trained to take over
Goss said, "I think they're not quite in the last throes, but I think they are very close to it. And I think that every day that goes by in Iraq where they have their own government and it's moving forward reinforces just how radical (the insurgents) are and how unwanted they are."
Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, said on Sunday that he did not believe that the insurgency was in the last throes.
"I don't think Americans believe that we should cut and run out of Iraq by any stretch of the imagination. But I think they also would like to be told, in reality, what's going on," McCain said on NBC's "Meet The Press."
"I think part of that is it's going to be at least a couple more years," he said.
Goss expressed relief the new director of national intelligence, John Negroponte, was taking over what previously had been some of the key functions of the CIA director. "I would almost equate it to getting rid of a 60-pound back sack, climbing up a big, steep trail," Goss said.
He said he planned to stay as CIA chief for a while.
"We've got a lot to do. We're in the process of rebuilding here. I think this is our moment. I'm going to be here as long as the moment lasts. And I think it is going to last a while because we have the opportunity to build," he said.
Snatch and grab Ops for Intel are currently on going - (some have provided Intel some haven't) -
As for an Op against a known location of UBL - There is no downside to it whatsoever - Regardless of what the MSM & DEM's would say -
Though I'd bet the farm UBL wouldn't get away so there'd only be a huge upside to the Op (just as with the capture of Saddam).
Complete different situation and circumstances than what went on / happened during the rescue attempt during the Carter Administration ( and in fact that was the one thing Carter ever did right as CIC, which was at least giving the go ahead on that Op...probably should have been done sooner)
Why catch him when he can lead us to other high prize operatives.
Also the military get money to find him. It is sort of like a cat playing with food. This is how funds are approved in congress - hunting bin Laden.
It is partially that - However, there is nothing more complex than avoiding the obvious - and the fact is UBL doesn't have many better options then what he currently has - therefore we are giving him nothing by our CIA director saying what he said above -
He is in the Pakistan border region - He is going to live there until we find him and kill him there - That is the bottom line and he knows it -
Your right it is a perfect place. I don't think Bush would even entertain the idea of going there. If he did the liberals in our country would go nuts. Foreign countries would go nuts. Muslim nations would go nuts. Lets say if Bush knew he was there. I am not even sure if he would even say that is where he was. I think the same people who would go nuts if we attacked that place would go nuts if Bush even said Bin Laden was there.
Without going into a long discussion the above comments in a general way somewhat sum it up - The fact is the mutually benefited from each other while at the same time having the same ideology to promote - Each had assets the other needed and could use -
That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. His basement. Sheesh.
They built a room addition in the back yard for him. Boy, you don't know nothin'.
UBL is not in Mecca - There are thousands and thousands that would turn him over in a heartbeat for the money there - (you have never been there obviously) - Yes it is the most sacred sanctuary of the Muslim faith but it is also a place full of those with greed - (plus, again, UBL would never put himself at the mercy of hoping others don't turn him in, especially those within a centralized Gov't)
I for one hope you are right!
[Re. trying to equate a failed UBL Ops with Carter's hostage rescue]: Complete different situation and circumstances than what went on / happened during the rescue attempt during the Carter Administration ( and in fact that was the one thing Carter ever did right as CIC, which was at least giving the go ahead on that Op...probably should have been done sooner)
Agreed, but who ever said that the Democratic opposition uses logic? I mean, look at Nancy Pelosi; has she ever uttered a coherent, logical phrase? :-)
Why not C-H-I-N-A ?
Cute.
One of the two. I think Afghanistan and Pakistan are too vulnerable to our forces.
You don't understand the Pakistan border region then - They are the safest place for UBL to ekk out a survival for a variety of reasons - (and that region d*mn well isn't too vulnerable to our forces in the least)
Let US know when all you guys who are so impatient to get him today can tell us how to get him and where he is.
You missed my point. We've been hearing reports for four years now about being "hours behind" Bin Laden, or about how they know where he is and are moving in on him. At this point, I'd prefer they don't keep throwing out "teasers" unless there's some substance to them.
Telling us "well, we thought we had him but we just missed him" or "we know where he is" only damages the credibility of the speakers.
I have a better idea. Stop telling everybody that they know right where he is, because if they are even close, he knows it's time to move. Stop telling the media when they think they are hot on his trail. Stop giving him ANY info he can exploit to avoid further capture.
And stop with the "teasers", like I said. Let us know when we got a body, not just another rumor. Because every time they publicize another rumor of imminent capture that doesn't work out, they just add to Osama's "you can't touch this" legend.
"Git your bullet, Barney! Let's go." --- Andy
He's dead Jim.
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