US-Italian commandos intensify hunt for Osama

HindustanTimes ^ | March 13 | Press Trust of India

[decimon]

US-Italian commandos intensify hunt for Osama Press Trust of India Islamabad, March 13

Intensifying their search operation, US and Italian Crack Commandos have launched an all-out hunt for Osama bin Laden and Taliban supremo Mulla Muhammad Omar along the Pak-Afghan borders.

"The commandos have been specially selected for their features that match the Pashtuns of the area and have familiarised themselves to the terrain and native milieu," media reports here quoted officials as saying.

"They (commandos) have launched a systematic hunt to capture bin Laden, Omar and (Afgan rebel leader Gulbuddin) Hekmatyar dead or alive," they said.

The officials claimed that American FBI and military officials have been combing the area for the wanted men, though ISI has denied any intensive operation in the Pak-Afghan borders.

The Italian Alpine commandos have been operating in south-east Afghanistan near Baluchistan border for about a week in volatile area.

The officails said the Americans are convinced that bin Laden and others are changing places almost daily moving along the borders and there is a strong chance that one of them may be captured dead or alive in the next few days.

They said the Alpine commandos, who were in action along the border with Pakistan since December 2002, appear Pashtuns, wear salwar kameez and sometimes even turbans and shawls.

The commandos study roads and mountain passes, inspect caves and tunnels and mix up with villagers. They carry computers to transmit reports to the US Air Force base in Bagram. "We may hear some news soon," the officials said.

Pakistan's intelligence co-ordinator in the war on terror Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema also said that "Poya is wrong. It is not correct. This is just not true."

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed rejected the report saying "Osama is not in Pakistan. We have no information about Osama and if someone has this information he should tell us."

[decimon]

This Afghan operation will make for a helluva book some day. Guess that "Crack Commandos" thing wasn't meant for a US audience, though. :-)

[Dog]

ping!

[Dog Gone]

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed rejected the report saying "Osama is not in Pakistan. We have no information about Osama and if someone has this information he should tell us."

What a silly statement. He has no idea where he is, but he can rule out the part of Pakistan that isn't controlled by the central government. Zero credibility.

This is the first time I've heard of Italians being involved. I hope it's true.

[blam]

Italians? Hmmmm

[EggsAckley]

Fascinating!!

[weikel]

Italian commandos? Italy has a lousy military record, just have the Mafia look for him that is if the CIA can operate free of the stupid Church restrictions now.

Just sic these guys on him and fuhgetaboutit.

[swarthyguy]

There was a news report today that said US considers alqaeda decapitated for the time being.

I keep thinking there's something to all these reports and that Osama and sons are enjoying American hospitality.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Dan Rather himself tonight declared Al Qaeda defeated.

[John H K]

The Italian military record isn't quite as bad as it's portrayed.

Had really horrible leadership in World War II, but fought well when part of the Afrika Corps under Rommel.

And their "special forces" have been quite good; the Alpini are well-respected mountain commandos, and in WWI and WWII they were amazingly effective at using divers and mini-submarines to penetrate enemy harbors and sink battleships with attachable mines.

[weikel]

Had really horrible leadership in World War II, but fought well when part of the Afrika Corps under Rommel

Point taken most Italians I know are good gutsy guys, they ain't the French.

[Little Bill]

Actually the Italians have some good soldiers, Mountian and Special Operations, types. During WW2 the Germans recognized that the troops were good but the Officer class sucked, poor leaders.

The Italians were on the wrong side of the war, half of Italy has relitives in the U.S., England, or Canada.

[decimon]

This is the first time I've heard of Italians being involved. I hope it's true.

According to the story, since December. Wouldn't be surprised to learn of the involvement of other countries we haven't heard of as everyone, for now, is being discreet.

[jocon307]

VIVA ITALIA! Berlusconi has said more sensible things during these new times than any other European leader, except my beloved Tony Blair. I see the true new world order shaping up quite well. They are under assault from Muslims in their own nation. Please check out Oriana Fallacci on today's www.opinionjournal.com she rocks!

[IronJack]

US and Italian Crack Commandos have launched an all-out hunt for Osama bin Laden

It's not like up till now they've been hunting for him in between cricket matches.

[adx]

Just sic these guys on him and fuhgetaboutit.

They said the Italian Special Forces, not the New Jersey Special Forces. :-)

[decimon]

"Berlusconi has said more sensible things during these new times than any other European leader..."

Well... here's a Portugese leader:

"He said: "Let us suppose Portugal, proper or its archipelagos, faced a threat, who would come to our rescue? The European Commission, France, Germany?"

<>

"If we were attacked, is that what they would offer to defend us? How curious is this: in Bosnia, when we were called to send soldiers urgently to that region, the U.S. had C-17 and C-130 planes, and France leased ferry boats, which during the summer are employed in tourist services to Corsica."


http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030310-081013-9767r

And Spanish:

""We don't have any material interests in Iraq...France has material interests in Iraq. Russia has material interests in Iraq. China has material interests in Iraq. We don't have any," Aznar told Telecinco television in drawing a distinction between governments on opposing sides within the U.N. Security Council."

<>

" "What is the alternative to security today that the United States offers to the world? ... Can you really think about fighting against terrorism without the participation of the United States?" Aznar asked."

The link for that is more than two days old and requires a "subscription" to access.

Here it is:

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=1047337268nL10378933&Section=Main&page=Home&channel=IRAQ%20CRISIS%20%2D%20latest%20developments&objectid=47BD2119-2F0C-4BF9-A9489D5109DBE97E

[decimon]

It's not like up till now they've been hunting for him in between cricket matches.

It may be that they are now more sure of having located his whereabouts.

[ffusco]

Italy has 13% of its navy involved in OEF including the carrier battle group Garibaldi. Nice to know who are friend are.

[ffusco]

Mille Grazie!

[ffusco]

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/garibaldi/garibaldi3.html