Posted on 01/28/2006 5:00:16 PM PST by Dog
Prevarication by the Pakistani government cost America the chance to kill Osama bin Laden in an airstrike near the Afghan border two years ago, the Sunday Telegraph has been told.
A CIA lead that the al-Qaeda leader was hiding in a remote province was squandered because the Pakistani government delayed giving permission for the attack on its soil, according to a senior Western diplomat.
By the time US officials got the go-ahead, bin Laden had left the suspected hideout in Zhob, in the Baluchistan province of south-west Pakistan.
The near-miss was cited by the diplomat as the reason why America chose not to consult Islamabad before the US missile strike in Pakistan's Bajaur region two weeks ago. The January 13 attack, prompted by a tip that bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was hiding in a local village, killed 13 civilians.
Speaking of the Zhob attack, the diplomat, who asked not to be named, said: "For unknown reasons, Pakistani officials delayed in giving permission...which ultimately gave these militants time to move to an unknown location."
According to his account, which was backed by sources within Pakistani intelligence, the CIA picked up electronic traffic suggesting that bin Laden and his bodyguards had sought temporary shelter in Zhob, which is dominated by Pathan and Baloch tribesmen sympathetic to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Fearing that a commando raid would cause massive casualties to both sides, with no guarantee of success, the US decided to launch a strike by laser-guided missiles, fired from Predator drones.
The reason for the delay is not clear. While Pakistan's President, Pervez Musharraf, has vowed to eliminate terrorists operating within his country, elements within Pakistan's ISI intelligence service may have sought to protect bin Laden.
If he was in Zhob at the time it would have been the first known occasion that he had been firmly in America's sights since his escape from Tora Bora in Afghanistan, where he slipped through a cordon of US troops in 2001.
Gen Musharraf last week described the strike against al-Zawahiri as a "violation of sovereignty", although he said other al-Qaeda figures had died in the raid.
Al-Zawahiri is thought to have cancelled his visit, possibly after spotting CIA drones in the area.
He was last heard reiciting bad poetry on tape... or calling for a filibuster from the Swiss Alps. I can't remember which.
Agree with post 19. In the language of the hills, when he showed up, he got blowed up.
I'm starting to think you're right about that.
I know I'm right...:-)
This story doesn't disclose a single named source. I don't have enough faith in any media outlet to believe any story that can't be verified.
There's no way for anyone to begin checking it. A western diplomat could be any of a thousand people from any country west of Poland.
I can't think of anything to do with this story except say it might be true.
"Laser-guided missiles". Does that mean we had eyes on the target house?
To paraphrase him on OBL:
"We know more than we are telling....."
Did we ask for some of our bribe money back?
Article written by Massoud Ansari...
Startin' to believe what you read, eh? Get a grip time!
I'm not sure that I buy this tidbit. Seems to be more CYA for Musharraf. Not that I have a problem with it.
HUH?
Should that mean something to me?
I have ALWAYS believed OBL is alive.
Yeah, I'm 98% convinced too that he's alive (although that had nothing at all to do with my comment)...my point is that these "sensational" articles are a waste of everybody's time....yours and mine.
I think I do trust the Pakistani's a little more than most other Moslems but I still don't "really" trust them.
The reason is the Pakistani Intellegence is in bed with Al-Qaeda and wanted to tip him off. Why, for money and influence among a population sympathetic to him. Musharraf wants to stay alive and in power and has to go along. The American alliance with Pakistan is a sham in many ways. Pakistan wants to keep the hunt alive and continue to rake in the US money. They do this better with Bin Laden alive.
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