File the Bin Laden Phone Leak Under 'Urban Myths'

Washington Post ^ | December 22, 2005 | Glenn Kessler

[ironman]

President Bush asserted this week that the news media published a U.S. government leak in 1998 about Osama bin Laden's use of a satellite phone, alerting the al Qaeda leader to government monitoring and prompting him to abandon the device. The story of the vicious leak that destroyed a valuable intelligence operation was first reported by a best-selling book, validated by the Sept. 11 commission and then repeated by the president. A leak alerted Osama bin Laden to telephone surveillance, according to President Bush and others. A leak alerted Osama bin Laden to telephone surveillance, according to President Bush and others. (AP) Who's Blogging? Read what bloggers are saying about this article. * wandering hillbilly * Donlan???s Diversions * True Blue Liberal Full List of Blogs (10 links) » Most Blogged About Articles On washingtonpost.com | On the web But it appears to be an urban myth. The al Qaeda leader's communication to aides via satellite phone had already been reported in 1996 -- and the source of the information was another government, the Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan at the time.

[wideminded]

Did you happen to see Fox & Friends this morning? They were despicable.

[Perdogg]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/627355.asp?cp1=1#4

Better link.

[Williams]

Read the article, don't see how it disproves the story. As the article states:

It was not until Sept. 7, 1998 — "after bin Laden apparently stopped using his phone — that a newspaper reported that the United States had intercepted his phone calls and obtained his voiceprint."

So the media DID report it and it's ok because "apparently" Bin Laden had stopped using the cell phone. Uh and how do they know that, and even IF he hadn't placed a recent call how do they know he wouldn't??

And everything else revealed about Bin Laden's phone use was revealed by the press as well, as stated in the story. So the story disproves its own premise.

BTW the fact that Bin laden previously mentioned that he used a satellite phone indicates he didn't think it could be tracked. Duh.

[4rcane]

not urban myth, correct term should be media myth

[Williams]

Yes, and by publicizing that we could trace Bin Laden's satellite phone - duh - the media was also alerting other terrorists not to use them. This story is pathetic, it could have been titled "How The Media DID Leak US Ability To Track Bin Laden"

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

The prohibition of aiding the enemy is not conditioned on whether the enemy actually benefits from the aid on a given traitor's schedule.

Shhh...

Don't tell anyone, but I heard that the US is getting ready to invade Iwo Jima on their way to kicking Tojo's butt.

</sarcasm>

[TankerKC]

The story of the vicious leak that destroyed a valuable intelligence operation was first reported by a best-selling book, validated by the Sept. 11 commission and then repeated by the president.

Why is is an urban myth only after President Bush repeats it?

[TankerKC]

Then why did the Washington Post's twin sister report on this leak?

Silly..it's only an urban myth when a republican says it.

[ironman]

I agree, the author's case that this is an urban legend is quite weak. In fact:

We know bin Laden used satellite phones. We know it was leaked to the press that we were tracking him. He stopped using his satellite phones right about the same time all this discussion was going on in the media. It is certainly reasonable that he was alerted we were onto him.

[FairOpinion]

This is NOT an "urban legend".
The MSM would like to make it that, to justify their continuing leaks, which result in aiding the enemy.

Several members of the Bush administration mentioned it and I believe them.

[lowbridge]

bump