Bin Laden 'surrounded'

The Sunday Telegraph ^ | February 22, 2004

[Patriot1998]

A BRITISH Sunday newspaper is claiming Osama bin Laden has been found and is surrounded by US special forces in an area of land bordering north-west Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Sunday Express, known for its sometimes colourful scoops, claims the al-Qaeda leader has been "sighted" for the first time since 2001 and is being monitored by satellite.

The paper claims he is in a mountainous area to the north of the Pakistani city of Quetta. The region is said to be peopled with bin Laden supporters and the terrorist leader is estimated to also have 50 of his fanatical bodyguards with him.

The claim is attributed to "a well-placed intelligence source" in Washington, who is quoted as saying: "He (bin Laden) is boxed in."

The paper says the hostile terrain makes an all-out conventional military assault impossible. The plan to capture him would depend on a "grab-him-and-go" style operation.

"US helicopters already sited on the Afghanistan border will swoop in to extricate him," the newspaper says. It claims bin Laden and his men "sleep in caves or out in the open. The area is swept by fierce snow storms howling down from the 10,000ft-high mountain peaks. Donkeys are the only transport."

The special forces are "absolutely confident" there is no escape for bin Laden, and are awaiting the order to go in and get him.

"The timing of that order will ultimately depend on President Bush," the paper says. "Capturing bin Laden will certainly be a huge help for him as he gets ready for the election."

The article says bin Laden's movements are monitored by a National Security Agency satellite.

On Thursday last week, General Richard Myers, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, said America had been engaged in "intense" efforts to capture bin Laden, who was believed to be hiding in the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

If OBL is captured Kerry might as well withdraw from the race.

Not really!

I agree with Dick Morris who has been saying for over a year that Bush's successes might work against him.

It's like Clinton's election was only possible because the Cold War was over and Americans felt safe enough to elect a Democrat again.

[Quix]

I agree. Idiots.

Unless . . . perhaps they want to make him more nervous and erratic, more error prone . . . while watching him so intently from the sky.

[Eva]

The Seattle PI reported this morning that Pakistan is currently sending troops into the netherlands between Afghanistan and Pakistan and allowing US special forces into the area, as well. My thought as I read it is that they are going to give Pakistan the credit for the capture when it takes place, rather than to give Bush the praise.

[Salvation]

Send in Geraldo for the final capture -- LOL! </sarcasm off

[martin_fierro]

The Sunday Express, known for its sometimes colourful scoops

So is the NYT, for that matter.

[MineralMan]

"What ever happened to "Lose lips sink ships" etc?
"

I haven't lost any lips yet, so I guess all the ships are OK, right?

[Right_in_Virginia]

You know what the dims will do once we get him - they'll say the War on Terror is now over and will hammer Bush on jobs

Not even the Dimms lies about the economy (which will soar with UBL's capture) can tear the even deeper bond of trust and respect the American people will have with President Bush.

[ServesURight]

Isn't Bin Laden like 6-8 or something? He should be playing the terrorist version of basketball.

[LS]

You have it right. EVEN if we knew where this guy was, and could grab him, if we are 100% certain that he isn't in charge of anything anymore (as everyone says), it would be stupid to grab him now, for exactly the reasons you give.

MARK MY WORDS: once OBL is captured, Americans are going to say, "The war on terror is over, and we can go back to pre-9/11," even though AQ is more than one guy and is as dangerous as ever.

[Quix]

Bush's style all along has been to give key decisions very low on the chain of command.

He's certainly insured that operational requirements have all the freedom they need to effect capture/kills. Especially after that early screwup with the Predator asking command first and therefore missing the shot.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I agree with Dick Morris who has been saying for over a year that Bush's successes might work against him.

Pity Dick Morris knows nothing about the bond between a President and his citizens. Especially one woven with trust and respect.

[Salvation]

I see Kerry's numbers falling to the basement if bin Laden is captured!

Anyone else?

[Dog]

You all are going to think I'm crazy and sound like Maddie Albright here. I could see us doing a snatch and grab on Bin Laden.......and pumping for info for a few days .......then ......and only break the news only after we got all the info we could from him.

The Saddam capture didn't break for 13 hours or so......that gave us time to go thru his briefcase .....and use the info we found inside to round up his cohorts.

[Quix]

And usher in Shrillery?

God help us!

[alloysteel]

Osama bin Laden has been 'surrounded' before, and yet, he has slipped away. Not necessarily because he had some psychic power to cloud men's minds, but because there simply was not enough manpower or surveillance in place to plug all the holes. Plus there is more than a little assistance at ground level from sympathetic supporters.

The supporters cannot form the almost seamless network they once had, especially now that Pakistan has actively joined the hunt. Units of the Pakistan army have always been involved, but now, they may be a little more accountable to the higher command than they used to be.

[SauronOfMordor]

A 6'4" woman?

In one of those tent-dresses, if he frog-walks crouched down, who can tell from a satellite pic?

[Endeavor]

"...(OBL's) head on spike at Ground Zero"

I'll join that movement. It should be on view as part of a museum exhibit at Ground Zero. Saddam's head should be right next to it.

[demnomo]

Supposedly, binnie was "boxed in" in December, 2001 and I stiil get the feeling he was wasted then since we've seen no new pictures or videos from him since.

Unless something truly spectacular happens and the Special Forces capture, kill (this must be done, otherwise the whigged-out Islamofascists will try to hold anyone or everyone hostage in exchange for their leader) and parade Binnie's lifeless head and body about, I agree with your post.

Until then, I believe what's left of OBL is a smear here and there on some rocks in Tora Bora.

[LS]

I have thought so for some time, but if all these reports from the U.S. military, etc, are to be believed, they certainly don't.

[mwl1]

Exactly. If he's boxed in, level the playing field. Hard to escape from a daisy cutter or tactical nuclear weapon.