Bin Laden Near Capture

[imported_I, fuzzbot.]

http://www.sundaytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,9353,8752173-28778,00.html

http://www.express.co.uk/pixfeed/express.gif

February 22, 2004

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.

But he insisted that the focus of the search had not narrowed for months

[El Blanco]

On another mesage board I am on, this is called an Iraqi Bigfoot.

A flashy, unsubsantiated headline that only one outlet is reporting, even though it would easily be one of the biggest stories of the last 3 years.

[GAsux]

I suppose you could say I work in the "indusrty" and I'll be the first to admit that it's completely unsubstantiated gossip but I've heard a lot of grumblings lately along somewhat similiar lines. Perhaps not as dramatic as the "boxed in" story, but definitely along the lines of the fact that especially since Saddam's capture, the special ops folks in the region have made Osama priority #1. Makes sense in an election year and al.

Regardless, while the "capture" story may be a bit far off, Im convinced that there is probably at least some small element of truth to what's transpiring there right now.

[da blob]

I hope it's not true.
We'd have to find someone else to kill you fucktards if he gets caught.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Thanks for being a useless human being. There aren't enough of you.

[The One and Only...]

So, Kevin, what's it like living in the only state which maintains a libertarian congressman?

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Does somebody pay you to derail thread topics, or do you merely do it in a "I'm a flippant 15-year old kid" sort of way....?

Ron Paul is a "Republican," just like Dennis Kucinich is a "Democrat." Big tent politics. Nothing new here, move along....

[punkgrrrlie10]

I think Osama is in San Fran right now marrying Elvis.

[MEATMAN]

What's with the tabloid?

[Ronnie Raygun]

Whether or not this story is credible, I think he'll be caught before the election or by the end of the year.

[mburbank]

Why. exactly? I mean, I hope he is, I hope he's caught tomorrow, but what makes you think he'll get caught before the election?

[Ronnie Raygun]

It actually has nothing to do with the election in my point of view........the election itself is just kind of a landmark.....you know what I mean?

I mean, you have to believe that he will eventually either be killed or captured.....I just think it will be sooner than later.

[teh_mastar!]

I don't know about "captured or killed." He's pretty unhealthy, right? Either way, his days are numbered.

[The_Rorschach]

Osama bin who?

[Emu]

you know that guy that tried to kill us

[The_Rorschach]

He's so, like, fifteen minutes ago. Oh my gawd!

[Buggerman]

you know that guy that tried to kill us

you mean the guy who gets blamed when bush kills his own people on purpose for profit.

[Perndog]

They may very well have caught him already. If so, they won't give the media the story until A) they get all the information they need out of Bin Laden, B) they've milked the search to its fullest, and C) they have a good political reason to tell everyone they got him. We'll see whether the election qualifies for such a reason.

[GAsux]

No way they've caught him. To assume that he could be caught without one single person involved mentioning it is silly.

[Perndog]

I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but if what you just said were true then governments wouldn't be able to keep *any* secrets from us.

[GAsux]

"Any" secrets won't require a joint military venture likely with Pakistani military types as well as a substantial U.S. military force in order to capture him.

Unlike Saddam, it's very inlikely that bin Laden will not only be hiding alone in a hole, but also give himself up. Do you not think that there are representatives from virtually every news agency in the world watching every move of both U.S. and Pakistani forces in the region?

The military is not that good. It's not hard to figure out when something significant is going on.

[Perndog]

Saddam had plenty of folks (international too) looking for him, too, and he, just like bin Laden, didn't seem like the type to give himself up willingly or to be hiding out in the boonies by himself. I'm a little in the dark, so please tell me what makes the two searches so different.

[mesobe]

they dont want to catch him though. everytime the US wants to raise their retarded terrorist danger flag to pink or whatever, they blow up one of their embassies or a ship and lo! we have to save ourselves from the evil terrorists! save us, Bush! your our only hope!!

funny how a group of people who live in rat holes and caves can outsmart the most powerful nation in the world over and over again.

[Perndog]

See, now that's a real cuckoo. At least I'm reasonable with my theories.

[mesobe]

of course it sounds cuckoo... it must be if they dont want people to believe it.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled on men was convincing men that he didnt exsist

:)

[Perndog]

1) If the devil existed, he would have far too much dignity to allow himself to be associated with vermin like the kind of people the US is searching for.

2) It would be stupid for the US government to destroy it's own property for political reasons when they have dozens of other tactics they can use for the same ends.

[kellychaos]

I hope so because I'm tired of the news coverage interrupting my "must see TV"!

[GAsux]

I'll grant you that. You are far less nutty than that guy.

The difference between the two first and foremost is geography. It's much easier for bin Laden to isolate himself and use the terrain to his advanage that it was for Saddam in an urban setting.

I don't think Saddam posssess the same cult of personality as bin Laden either. While certainly Saddam had his supporters, he had equally as many enemies. Ultimately someone was going to crack and pick money over loyalty. bin Laden on the other hand is much more reverred. His following of supporters in my opinion are much more loyal than Saddams. While Saddams loyalist where loyal to the man, bin Laden's circle is loyal to the idea and that idea with religious backing is much more powerful.

But regardless, that's getting away from my point. What I'm saying is that I am 99.9% positive that there is no way that the U.S. military or any other foreign force for that matter could capture bin Laden and keep it quite more than a week. If it were U.S. led, it would require a major movement much like the Saddam operation was and would be picked up by every journalist trailing the team in the region. If he were picked up by another country, say Pakistan for example, they'd be quick to claim their fame by rounding up the worlds most wanted man.

There will be no "hiding" his capture until the opportune moment.

[kellychaos]

Plus Dubya would get a major hero-on from all the press coverage.

[mesobe]

2) It would be stupid for the US government to destroy it's own property for political reasons when they have dozens of other tactics they can use for the same ends.

Hitler and the Romans did it to create reason to go to war and to promote "change". Im sure if you went to public school they taught you these things (thats hoping anyways).

Bush is taking lessons (http://idid.essortment.com/nazireichstag_rghx.htm)

[Perndog]

They taught me a lot of bullshit in public school, like why Columbus was a hero, how all human lives are equally valuable, and why sports are more important than academics.

[mesobe]

but you also learned how to read and write and do math too right?

[Ant10708]

Mesobe you might like David Icke since you are both retards.

http://www.davidicke.com/

[mesobe]

Mesobe you might like David Icke since you are both retards.

http://www.davidicke.com/

behind that hard and distant shell of yours, I see a caring and understanding soul.

[Perndog]

You guys won't be laughing at David Icke when the Reptilians show themselves and start the full-scale invasion. >:

[Brandon]

NOT SO, BECAUSE I'VE GOT THE DRAGONS ON MY SIDE.

[kellychaos]

And I've got a ring that makes me invisible to dragons! >:

[mburbank]

And I've got a ring that means I have ringworm!