Pakistan has some explaining to do. Why was Bin Laden living in a city with a huge military base?

American Thinker ^ | 05/02/2011 | Rick Moran

[AliVeritas]

Exactly.

[maine-iac7]

Just a few yards 'down the road' from a major Paki military base - a new compound (built 2005) with 15'walls - in a rural area of the NWFP - 2 hrs drive off into the hinterlands from the city of Abbotabad _ see green area, bottom right.

His compound was 800 yards! from a major military compound? Seems like they not only had to know - but that the compound was built there for protection...

[glorgau]

My guess is that everybody knew where he was all along and he was being kept around as a “bogeyman”. Obama probably decided on his own that he needed a “wag the dog” to boost his poll numbers - in effect, he threw everyone else under the bus.

[OldDeckHand]

Not only does he live in a well-populated city with a military presence, the guy actually lives less than a mile from a GOLF COURSE. If you go to google earth and search bin laden’s compound, it takes you right to it. Considering it’s Pakistan, the city looks pretty nice, and his neighborhood is - dare I say - upscale.

Cliff May, from National Review said almost a year ago that he believed bin Laden was living in a “quite comfortable villa”. I guess he gets the prize.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/266138/i-think-hes-quite-comfortable-villa-clifford-d-may

[NELSON111]

How could you say Obama did nothing when it was under his administration that bin Ladin was killed?

I can say it because I know Obama. In context of what I was saying...Obama did NOTHING as far as making it his TOP PRIORITY. I believe (and you will NEVER convince me otherwise) the intel fell into his lap. I believe he did NOTHING pro-active. From what I know (from press reports and what he said)...he could have moved on OBL last Feb at the latest.

You honestly believe that Obama said: GUYS...we WILL make OBL our TOP!!!! priority.

You REALLY believe that? During which golf outing did he make that proclamation? And has I said...I really blame Bush for not getting him sooner.

[cookcounty]

Obviously, you do not need an actual brain to be a Pakistani Army officer.

[cookcounty]

"+1 - makes much more sense why locals decided to “rob” a embassy employee/CIA agent who was taking photos in Pakistan. "

Yes, that is interesting.

[Salvavida]

I lived in many third world countries, and I can assure you that a military garrison in such proximity will absolutely know the purpose of that compound. Local military commanders are VERY aware of their communities, much more so than U.S. counterparts.

In the words of President Bush: “If you are not with us, then you are against us.”

I hope we follow through with that policy. Pakistan has a LOT of ‘splaining to do.

[JBGUSA]

What cooperation? Pretend cooperation? Procrastination?

I can’t lay this at the feet of the Democrats, though. Nixon authored our original “tilt” toward Pakistan.

[08bil98z24]

Yes - everyone else thought he was hiding in the tribal areas ...

Given that the ISI has safe houses throughout Pakistan, billions in money, and a known habit of helping Islamic Terrorists (not to mention, the ISI aided in the escape of AQ from Tora Bora) it does make sense ... 100 feet and/or yards from a military base makes it appear it is one of the retired generals ...

[CodeToad]

Well, I believe Bush never let the military kill him for some reason. Every time the CIA or military got close they were told to back off. This is going down as a Democrat win and a Republican loss.

[Buckeye McFrog]

boy am I getting a bunch of very loud “told ya so!” from my Indian friends today

[lodi90]

“Obama did NOTHING as far as making it his TOP PRIORITY.”

I agree. This was classic Obama leading from behind. This is was a situation requiring fast action yet barry called 5 NSC meetings over 3 months to plan this. Barry got lucky only because the pakis did not consider osama a priority anymore.

[B212]

exactly, what I have been thinking....the release of the birth “paper” has been forgotten, buried under the OBL demise....how convenient....I would bet O, has sat on the info until it was required...Obama’s "Reichstag"

[livius]

I think this was a Godfather-style rubout...that is, OBL had outlived his usefulness to Pakistan, so they were ready to get rid of him, while perhaps the CIA (which is about to get a new head) determined that they had gotten all the information they could get from tracking him and Obama thought this would be a good time for him to get a popularity boost by getting rid of a no-longer useful jihadi.

This is not to put down the skills or courage of the Seals who took him out, nor is it to minimize the work done by the CIA. But in terms of why now, that is, why Pakistan dumped him after years of protecting him and why we decided to go ahead with it, I think these are some possible answers.

[Pan_Yan]

Do you have evidence that Bush knew where he was and did nothing, or is that conjecture on your part? If I had to guess I'd say Osama bin Laden came out of the caves and got comfortable within the last 12-18 months because he perceived that the Obama administration took their foot off the gas.

[B212]

IMHO, there was an unofficial agreement, to leave OBL, live in “retirement”....with the understanding, that he avoid future aggression....in other words, a sick old man, was allowed to stay home, in relative peace....that is until Obama needed a fall guy...to cover the Birth problem...

[lwd]

WHAT IF osama's compound were built with US aid $? That would be rich now wouldn't it? Weren't osama's bank assets frozen after 9/11?

/tinfoil

[RainMan]

Said the same thing to Mrs Rainman last night.

Something to get the press off the BC issue.

Something to get the country feeling good about itself and forget the economy.

Something to lower gas prices.

Something to kick off the re-election campaign.

OBL outlived his usefulness ... it was now time for him to give his all to the Muzzie in the WH.

[ctdonath2]