Posted on 06/23/2011 8:40:45 PM PDT by lbryce
The cellphone of Osama bin Laden’s trusted courier, which was recovered in the raid that killed both men in Pakistan last month, contained contacts to a militant group that is a longtime asset of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, senior American officials who have been briefed on the findings say.
The discovery indicates that Bin Laden used the group, Harakat-ul-Mujahedeen, as part of his support network inside the country, the officials and others said. But it also raised tantalizing questions about whether the group and others like it helped shelter and support Bin Laden on behalf of Pakistan’s spy agency, given that it had mentored Harakat and allowed it to operate in Pakistan for at least 20 years, the officials and analysts said.
In tracing the calls on the cellphone, American analysts have determined that Harakat commanders had called Pakistani intelligence officials, the senior American officials said. One said they had met. The officials added that the contacts were not necessarily about Bin Laden and his protection and that there was no “smoking gun” showing that Pakistan’s spy agency had protected Bin Laden.
But the cellphone numbers provide one of the most intriguing leads yet in the hunt for the answer to an urgent and vexing question for Washington: How was it that Bin Laden was able to live comfortably for years in Abbottabad, a town dominated by the Pakistani military and only a three-hour drive from Islamabad, the capital?
“It’s a serious lead,” said one American official, who has been briefed in broad terms on the cellphone analysis. “It’s an avenue we’re investigating.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
If the Pakistan's Intelligence Services are somehow implicated in protecting, harboring Bin Ladin, the political fallout would be devastating.
Hey I know! Let’s have the New York Times aid and abet terrorists some more by supplying highly sensitive information.
Oh and give em a Pulitzer or something for being so dedicated, or whatever.
You are assuming the NYT is telling the truth. Big assumption, that.
Why do the idiots in Washington continue to reveal intelligence information?
“Why do the idiots in Washington continue to reveal intelligence information?”
Why did the Allies use disinformation in WWII?
this is hardly breaking news — Pakistani sponsored terrorist groups that plant bombs in India have always been jihadis and for over a decade have used the AlQaida network aided by the Pakistani military
The counterinsurgency effort in Afghanistan is a story of a failure to deny sanctuary in both Pakistan and Iran. Sanctuary denial is a key component in winning the war against violent extremist organizations (VEOs)including al Qaida. With Iran occupying about 600 miles with Afghanistan, it’s ability to provide safe haven for VEOs makes sanctuary denial a major effort. Now Pakistan with its border of 1640 miles has emerged as an unreliable partner in sanctuary denial.
We have sent Pakistan $20.7 billion worth of US assistance over the past decade to help the government of Pakistan overcome the political, economic, and security challenges that threatened its long-term stability. We hoped that Pakistan would have reciprocated with their cooperation. Instead they have far from cooperated and have used that aid to threaten India.
The Obama Regime, with its State Department under the leadership of Hillary Clinton has been ineffective to accomplish the one key requirement of counterinsurgency; that of sanctuary denial.
Excellant post.You have most likely read a lot about counter insurrgency...what’s an “easy” start as a book explaining the theory? ideas?
contained contacts to a militant group that is a longtime asset of Pakistan's intelligence agencyGosh, this comes as a total surprise.
I’m just wondering if there are phone numbers to people in the US... maybe in Gov’t... liberals in Gov’t...
I’d love for them to find Obummers phone # in OBL’s personal contacts!
Thanks..will do.
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