Posted on 10/22/2004 12:38:06 PM PDT by Smogger
CLAREMONT - The Pentagon knows exactly where Osama bin Laden is hiding in Pakistan, it just can't get to him, a member of the 9-11 Commission said Thursday. Commissioner John Lehman's remarks echoed those made Tuesday by Secretary of State Colin Powell, who asserted the al-Qaida terror kingpin was alive and operating in the western part of that country.
Bin Laden is living in South Waziristan in the Baluchistan Mountains of the Baluchistan Region, Lehman said, after delivering a keynote speech on terrorism at Pitzer College in Claremont to kick off the university's three-day writer's festival.
In the exclusive interview, Lehman said, "There is an American presence in the area, but we can't just send in troops. If we did, we could have another Vietnam, and the United States cannot afford that right now."
When pressed on why the United States couldn't send troops into the region to capture the world's No. 1 terrorist, Lehman said the Baluchistan Region of the country is filled with militant fundamentalists who do not recognize the legitimacy of President Pervez Musharraf, a close ally of the United States.
"That is a region filled with Taliban and al-Qaida members" he said, acknowledging that Pakistan's security services also are filled with many who agree with bin Laden's beliefs and would aid him if U.S. Special Forces entered the region.
"Look," he said, "Musharraf already has had three assassination attempts on his life. He is trying to comply, but he is surrounded by people who do not agree with him. This is not like Afghanistan, where there was no compliance, and we had to go in. We'll get (bin Laden) eventually, just not now."
Asked how bin Laden was surviving, Lehman said he was getting money from outside countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and high-ranking ministers inside Saudi Arabia.
"He is not a wealthy man," Lehman said. "We ran that information into the ground, and discovered he only receives about $1 million a year from his family's fortune. The rest of what he gets comes from radical sympathizers."
Department of Defense spokeswoman Capt. Ronnie Merritt confirmed that the U.S. military believes bin Laden is in Pakistan. However, she would not comment on Lehman's remarks, except to say that he normally didn't speak about these issues, and she was surprised he had.
Lehman is one of 10 members of the bipartisan commission that authored "The Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States," which is a New York Times bestseller. The ardent Republican also is the author of three books about military tactics.
Jim Mohr can be reached by e-mail at jim.mohr@sbsun.com or by phone at (909) 386-3891.
Weasel Clark on MSNBC now talking about OBL.
There is no October surprise.
So9
I also don't think Kerry would make such a big deal about the Administration's letting OBL "get away" if he were dead. Like Powell, Kerry probably has more info on the matter than the average freeper.
The "October Suprise" is that there is no suprise. I'd expect an "October Suprise before there was no suprise" from the Kerry campain, not Bush's, not that he ever claimed there'd be one.
I used to consider that possibility.
Not anymore. There is simply no way we would not have announced it by now if that were the case. We would have eventually determined it even if we did not have a body.
If we knew where Bin laden was, and we actually knew it. We would bomb the hell out of it.
Well October is almost over .. so they better hurry up
OBL is the spiritual leader of AQ.He must be heard by his flock and he has not been heard from.
He never was a planner or a logistic guy. His value was only spiritual leadership and justification.
He could have easily resumed this from a wheel chair or bed, but he has not.
I think the reason is obvious.
They are probably trying to scare him into moving. Everyone here takes everything at face value. Sometimes you say things to make the other guy do things.
I still think he's safe in Saudi Arabia protected by his family and Wahabbi clerics.
I think OBL is in Tragicastan.
Proof of life !! Proof of life!!
We need someone, not afraid to possibly get egg on their face, to claim he's dead. Then we could put all this to rest. Frankly, I don't give a darn who's on first.
Osama's been dead for 2-1/2 years.
Me thinks Lehman is saying this to cause trouble. He might be on one of Kerry's short lists.
here is my prediction, Bush wins election, december OBL is found, january cache of WMD found. Bush is redeemed, elections go smooth in Iraq. how more poetic could it be?
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