Posted on 08/21/2005 8:30:37 AM PDT by shield
One of the most frequently asked questions we get at To The Point is: Wheres Osama? Why havent we found and killed him?
Weve gotten another flurry because of the recent claims that mercs or mercenaries, professional soldiers for paramilitary corporations that attend the annual Soldier of Fortune convention in Las Vegas know where he is a hidden valley called Dir in northwest Pakistan.
Ive known Col. Bob Brown, the publisher of Soldier of Fortune magazine for almost 30 years. We almost got ourselves blown up together in Afghanistan with the Mujahaddin back in the 1980s. I told Bob about this claim and he laughed his head off.
The last Soldier of Fortune convention we had was back in 2000, he told me. You should know, Wheeler, you were our keynote speaker! No one in the world is in touch with mercs more than me. They would have one simple word for these Elvis sightings of Osama: (expletive). The guy making this claim, Paul Williams, is an (expletive). Bob doesnt mince words.
The claim that OBL has been in Dir since he escaped from Tora Bora in December 2001 is laughable. Williams has, of course, never been remotely close to the place. Ive been all over the area, from Peshawar through Dir to Chitral in the Hindu Kush, and know it would be easy to get him if hes there. Hes not in Dir.
Osama is in Iran.
I verified this once again at a lunch with some Pentagon friends yesterday (8/11). There is a reason why OBLs whereabouts cant be publicly acknowledged. It would necessitate military action against Iran. If the Mullahs have got him and wont admit it and wont give him up, the pressure for a military strike to kill or capture him would be irresistible.
The White House refuses to follow this course. It will not attack Iran. The country is a tinderbox, ready to blow with an anti-Mullah revolution. The Iranian people are amazingly pro-American right now. If the Mullahs hate America, that means they love America. A military attack could change that and fast. At least thats the rationale.
This is also why GW wont order an attack on Irans nuke facilities.
Not that the CIA is helping to organize or precipitate such a revolution, has the capacity to do so, and is doing anything beyond crossing its fingers and hoping. Nonetheless, you wanted to know what the deal is with Osama and there it is. Hes safe and sound in eastern Iran, perhaps in the vicinity of the town of Mashad, but they move him around. And were not doing anything about it.
I still think Osama is burnt to a crisp at Tora Bora
With a 25 million dollar price tag on his head, if anyone really knew where he was he would have been gotten.
It's pretty hard to hold to that belief after he made the John Kerry campaign commercial. But whatever.
This is more than speculations. OBL is in Iran.
Naw, he's in Mexico. Bush can't afford to invade Mexico because the people love us so much.
You really think money means anything to fanatics that will blow themselves up to kill other people?
Quite possible, IMO.
I agree.
I think it's what Porter Gross was referring to.
I have my doubts that Osama bin Laden is in Iran, for one reason: Osama is a Sunni Muslim, and Iranians are Shi'ite Muslims. Given that the Sunnis and Shi'ites dont like each other for lots of historical reasons, I think Osama is probably dead, and an impersonator that knows Osama's views and lifestyle is doing those broadcasts and pronouncements in the past few years.
Anyone employed by a US contractor is not eligible for the $25 million reward. DOJ rule.
Apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein, "Poor Judd is Dead"
Even though he released a new and verified video right before the election last year?
OH come on...they both HATE Americans much more...and will move past those differences 'cause of their hatred for Americans!!!
I agree, it's Mexico. Shave Osama and you have Vicente!
I really meant these people here in the states. Those fanatics as you say have no concept of what that amount is.
Offer them 25 goats and you may get somewhere.
shield,
Just when I think I am going to get some work done, someone like you goes and posts a link to an awesome website and I get lost in it.
Great article and great web site. Appreciate you posting it.
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