I’d say he’s in Iran and has been there for quite some time despite the shia/sunni rift
I’d say he’s in Iran and has been there for quite some time despite the shia/sunni rift
ABSOLUTELY AGREED!
RECAP - Re Saad Bin Laden and Iran...
http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1360.htm
January 16, 2009
hp-1360
“Treasury Targets Al Qaida Operatives in Iran”
Washington, D.C. -
SNIPPET: “Sa’ad bin Laden, one of Usama bin Laden’s sons, has been involved in al Qaida activities. For example, in late 2001, Sa’ad facilitated the travel of Usama bin Laden’s family members from Afghanistan to Iran. Sa’ad made key decisions for al Qaida and was part of a small group of al Qaeda members that was involved in managing the terrorist organization from Iran. He was arrested by Iranian authorities in early 2003.
As of September 2008, it was possible that Sa’ad bin Laden was no longer in Iranian custody.”
#
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2009/01/us_treasury_designates_obls_so.php
“U.S. Treasury Designates Sa’ad Bin Laden (OBL’s Son) and Mustafa Hamid (aka Abu al-Walid al-Masri), Top Al Qaeda Theorist (updated)”
By Andrew Cochran
SNIPPET: “The U.S. Treasury Department has announced the designations of Sa’ad bin Laden, the third oldest son of Osama bin Laden, and other individuals (updated link). Last September, Sa’ad bin Laden was reported to have returned to Pakistan from Iran, according to messages posted on an al Qaeda jihad Web forum, after living (or being held prisoner) in Iran since the end of 2001, according to Iranians who discussed the issue with NBC News. Sa’ad allegedly worked with Khalid Shaik Mohamed and participated in planning a 2002 bombing in Tunisia which killed 17 people.
(UPDATE) The Treasury also designated Mustafa Hamid, also known as Abu al-Walid al-Masri, a top Al Qaeda theorist. Hamid wrote two books, “Chatter on the World’s Rooftop,” and “The Story of the Arab Afghans, From Their Entry Into Afghanistan Until They Left With Taliban.” Excerpts of the latter book were published in October 2006 on Al-Sharq al-Awsat (tip to Laura Mansfield). He is considered one of the most senior AQ theorists and is close to Mullah Omar, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and OBL. He is also credited with helping to develop the Islamist militant movement in Australia through a short marriage to Rabiyah Hutchison, an Australian convert to Islam who was married earlier to Abdul Rahim Ayub, one of the founders of Jemaah Islamiah’s branch in Australia.
(UPDATE, 12:20 pm ET) The Treasury Department has released much more information about these two and two additional AQ associates also designated. Interestingly, the purpose of the designations is to infer that the Iranian government is giving safe haven to senior Al Qaeda operatives, which justifies sanctions against Iran at a time when some are calling for “dialogue.” I don’t recall if Treasury has done that before. “It is important that Iran give a public accounting of how it is meeting its international obligations to constrain al Qaida,” says Stuart Levey. Here are more facts on the four persons designated today:”