Time Is Running Out for Osama, U.S. Military Says

[scoone]

Wed February 25, 2004 01:05 PM ET
By Mike Collett-White
KABUL (*******) - Time is running out for Osama bin Laden, the U.S. military said Wednesday, as American and Pakistani forces step up operations against al Qaeda and Taliban militants along the Afghan-Pakistan frontier.

In the latest statement of growing confidence that al Qaeda's mastermind and other senior militant figures will be captured or killed soon, the U.S. military in Afghanistan spoke of "renewed urgency" in hunting down key terror figures.

"If we knew where Osama bin Laden was we'd already have him," Lieutenant Colonel Matt Beevers told reporters in Kabul, referring to recent reports that the world's most wanted man had been located on Pakistan's side of the border.

But he added: "We feel that really the sands in this guy's hourglass ... are running out."

Beevers said the same applied to two other wanted figures; the ousted Taliban's supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and renegade warlord and former Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

"We remain committed and reaffirmed in our effort to track these guys down and get them."

U.S. WELCOMES PAKISTAN OPERATIONS

Beevers welcomed an operation by Pakistani forces in tribal areas that border Afghanistan Tuesday during which 25 people were detained.

There were conflicting views on reports in Pakistan that Khaled al-Zawahri, son of al Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahri, had been caught in the last two to three days and taken to the U.S. military headquarters in Afghanistan north of Kabul.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan called the reports "wild speculation," adding: "We have no information yet."

A Pakistani intelligence source said Wednesday all of those held were locals apart from three women who had Kazakh passports. He said five detainees had been released. According to Pakistani military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan, foreign passports, weapons, ammunition and audio tapes had been found during the raid.
"Clearly (U.S.-led) coalition forces support Pakistan army's efforts in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas," Beevers said. "They continue to do an outstanding job." He described cooperation between U.S. and Pakistan forces as "outstanding."

The U.S. military has complained in the past that Pakistan has not done enough to hunt militants in rugged frontier areas.

The raids in tribal areas follow revelations that the father of Pakistan's atom bomb leaked nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea, leaving Islamabad keen to convince doubters of its commitment to the U.S.-led "war on terror." Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is due in Kabul later this week.

HAMMER AND ANVIL

The two sides want to create a "hammer and anvil" effect by stopping militants fleeing across the border in either direction.

Security analysts say that even with better cooperation and more resources dedicated to catching top militants, the task remained a huge one.

Beevers said the deployment of civilian-military teams in volatile areas of Afghanistan had helped in intelligence gathering as well as in improving infrastructure.

He described the shift in U.S. tactics in recent months toward counter-insurgency operations and away from major engagements with Taliban fighters that flared up last year.

That, combined with efforts to rebuild the war-shattered country and elections in June, will marginalize rebels waging a guerrilla war that has claimed over 550 lives in seven months.

"It's a combination of all those (factors) that gives us a renewed sense of urgency and some confidence (of catching bin Laden)," said Beevers. But he added: "Nothing here is for certain.

"We're going to continue ... to present the leadership of al Qaeda, the Taliban...with impossible situations that they are not going to be able to get around, through, under or over."

U.S.-led forces toppled the hard-line Islamic Taliban after it refused to hand over bin Laden, blamed for masterminding the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

http://www.*******.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4437274&pageNumber=1

[usa320]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

cant wait for the day i log onto foxnews.com and see the red and yellow news banner at the top reading "OSAMA BIN LADEN CAPTURED"...


This bastard- i want this bastard to suffer like hell...

[scm77]

osama--> :fork:

2/3 of americans said that they would watch his execution if it was on tv.

I hope they do televise it if he is caught and sentenced to death.

[Trident-za]

The day it happens wil be good :) Not raising my hopes on the basis of this article, though....

[usa320]

no, we are actually getting close now.

TF121 wouldnt be relocated from Iraq (where they were really busy) to Afghanistan if there wasnt good reason.

They are going to apply the same strategy to find osama that they used to find hussein- question the family, the generals, the goons, the drivers, the body guards, the conscripts...ect...anyone who may know anything. then just work up the ladder.

[usa320]

2/3 of americans said that they would watch his execution if it was on tv.


Something tells me we will see video of his execution- not a firing squad, but gun camera footage from an Apache.

[Seoulstriker]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

cant wait for the day i log onto foxnews.com and see the red and yellow news banner at the top reading "OSAMA BIN LADEN CAPTURED"...


This bastard- i want this bastard to suffer like hell...

when i woke up to that saying saddam was captured, i was so extremely happy and wanted to shout, but there was 24 hr silence as it was finals week.

getting osama or killing him would be 10 times greater!

[Seoulstriker]

if you saw the SF footage here (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9349), do you remember the part where the SF guy was talking about how he wasn't sure how close they were to the pakistani border and gave a brief grimace?

[defunct]

hope they get him on nov 12th and not a day before! he's not hurting anyone holed up with a dialysis machine.

4 more years of gwb and noones gonna have a job expect corporate CEOS, lawyers, and oilmen.

[usa320]

4 more years of gwb and noones gonna have a job expect corporate CEOS, lawyers, and oilmen.

yes, because every president plans his economic issues assuming that there will be a serious terrorist attack durtring his presidency that slams the economy to a grinding halt.

as for oil- thats the biggest bull**** trash ever.

If the war in iraq was about oil, id be paying less than the 1.70 a gallon im paying now.

[Seoulstriker]

hope they get him on nov 12th and not a day before! he's not hurting anyone holed up with a dialysis machine.

4 more years of gwb and noones gonna have a job expect corporate CEOS, lawyers, and oilmen.

where are you getting your data? all of my research indicates that GWB's three tax cuts have dramatically reduced the effects of the massive recession post-clinton. i suggest you start reading up on your facts.

lawyers support the democratic party unequivocally. you need to read up on that.

[The Walrus]

As far as I'm concerned Bin Laden is nothing more than a figurehead who doesn't really have much control over operations due to the risk of discovery when issuing commands. Al-Quaeda is not a heirachical group and each cell needs to be removed independently through use of intelligence to combat terrorism, hunting down the boogieman isn't going to make much difference, much like capturing Saddam didn't.

[mustamato]

Capturing Usama won´t change anything because he doesn´t run ****, AQ
is all about independent cells in countries around the globe that only sees
him on TV or hear his tapes on the news. When he is captured there will be
some new guy releasing those tapes threatening US. Killing Usama will only
make him a martyr to these guys in the AQ-cells.

Hm, The Walrus beat me to it

[flickme]

Even if he doesnt "run" anything, when we capture him i want the bastard to pay.

[Kieran]

I dont mean to start up sh*t, but in my book, people are innnocent until proven guilty in a court of law (even Saddam and Osama). By giving the lowest of the low a fair trial, we ensure that everyone gets one.

I really do feel empathy with all Americans, their pain after Sept. 11th, but throwing away all you have fought for throughout your history in favour of televised death penalties of your enemies... whatever happened to the benevolent nation who showed such heart and unlimited generosity to my nation during WWII?

Please dont let your pain blind your search for justice :|

[Tengu]

The courts are just a formality.
Capturing en executing bin laden will have a great effect on the ppl's moral.

[Kieran]

The courts are just a formality.
Capturing en executing bin laden will have a great effect on the ppl's moral.

I weep with the thought that one day, mob rule and blood lust may become the bedrocks of law in our societies.

[OldRecon]

The courts are just a formality.
Capturing en executing bin laden will have a great effect on the ppl's moral.

Exactly what do you mean with great effect?
You think the rest of the fellagah will fold in just because "Old Viry Beard" is gone?

The ideology Osama represents in many ways is Islam's version of nazism/fascism. An ideology with roots back to the 1920's in Egypt (there is at least one instance during that period of a high ranking representative to the British administration in Egypt being attacked by islamic militants).
And the way he stirrs up trouble and support for his cause also has much in common with the way neo-nazis drummon their followers into action (though fiery essays and speeches, rather than direct orders). As he isn't the only ideologist in the Qaida, he may perhaps be just as much an inspiration to his followers in death as in life at present.

[Midtown]

Im going to be good and just stay silent for now

[MetalBoy]

I hope we learned a lesson from Tora Bora, ie don't rely on Pakistani trops to heavily. Remember how well the hammer and anvil strategy worked with the Afghan militia as the anvil? I remember when I heard about our plan for Tora Bora, and I was like this is not gonna work, I dont even know anything about military strategy :cantbeli: .

[usa320]

dont mean to start up sh*t, but in my book, people are innnocent until proven guilty in a court of law

F U C K Y O U.

The guy is guilty as ****. A trial would just waste money.

**** god damn, a 5 year old could tell that the man is guilty.

OSAMA BIN LADEN HAS CONFESSED, MULTIPLE TIMES, TO BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 9-11 TERROR ATTACKS, THE KHOBAR TOWERS, THE USS COLE, THE EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA. ATROCITIES IN CHECHNYA. SUPPORT OF MILITANTS IN SOMALIA AND IRAQ THAT HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF AMERICAN AND COALITION LIVES. THERE ARE MUTHERFECKING PLANELOADS OF GOD DAMN EVIDENCE TO CONVICT THE MUTHER FECKING BASTARD. ANYONE WHO THINKS THERE IS A SHREAD OF POSSIBILITY HES INNOCENT, AND WE SHOULD WASTE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON A TRIAL, SHOULD SHUT THE **** UP..

Frankly, i say **** even bringing him in alive. Shoot him on sight. It will prevent alot of controversy and provide the same end result.

One way or another, with or without trial, hes getting killed. Frankly, i dont think he deserves the lethal injection death penalty that would be "awarded" to him by courts. He deserves to be shot. Many times.

Chances are, if he is found alive, his "trial" will be in gitmo, it will last like 10 minutes, hell get walked outside, and shot dead.

Yes, hes just a figurehead, but what he symbolizes is important to these fighters. once he is done for, groups will question wether or not its worth fighting over.

And contrary to past analysis, its now suspected that bin laden does take a more active role in planning and prosecution of attacks than originally thought.

[mustamato]

OSAMA BIN LADEN HAS CONFESSED, MULTIPLE TIMES, TO BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 9-11 TERROR ATTACKS etc etc

To my knowledge he hasn´t confessed it even once. He has said that they
were heroes etc etc. But he his not exactly the only one thinking that in the arab
world. Yeah much points against him, but he has not "confessed". And if he
did, when did he do that?


One way or another, with or without trial, hes getting killed. Frankly, i dont think he deserves the lethal injection death penalty that would be "awarded" to him by courts. He deserves to be shot. Many times.

That´s how you make terrorists martyrs. Example:

http://www.landungsbruecken.de/cuba/che.jpg

[hank]

I dont mean to start up sh*t, but in my book, people are innnocent until proven guilty in a court of law (even Saddam and Osama). By giving the lowest of the low a fair trial, we ensure that everyone gets one.

Actually that is not true in the American justice system. Osama is not a US citizen and therefore gets no constitutional rights or protections. The ONLY reason we will probably try him is to appease world opinion - i.e. get on our high horse.

Non-US Citizens don't necessarily get the presumption of innocence in American courts - just like the Gitmo detainees don't necessarily have the right to a lawyer. I agree that we should try him if we catch him - but make no mistake Osama has NO rights under the US constitution if we capture him in Astan and try him in Astan. His rights would have to come from some other source b/c the constitution would not apply.

hank

[usa320]

To my knowledge he hasn´t confessed it even once


Oh yes he has faggot. Ive seen the videos.

[hank]

F--K YOU and faggot in successive posts? usa320 - you need to relax.

hank

[WARPIG]

Apparently usa320 wasn't aware that mixing prozac and viagra do not curb or cure the symptoms of tourrette's syndrome. rofl

Besides, any trial of Saddam or Osama will likely have to involve several nations and a big parade made of it. It is pretty likely also that Osama may not survive an encounter with US or Pakistani forces but I hope he does. His face in the news media in US custody will deal a good blow to the terrorists who idolize him. I must say that martyring him is not something we need.

[Kieran]

I dont mean to start up sh*t, but in my book, people are innnocent until proven guilty in a court of law (even Saddam and Osama). By giving the lowest of the low a fair trial, we ensure that everyone gets one.

Actually that is not true in the American justice system. Osama is not a US citizen and therefore gets no constitutional rights or protections. The ONLY reason we will probably try him is to appease world opinion - i.e. get on our high horse.

Non-US Citizens don't necessarily get the presumption of innocence in American courts - just like the Gitmo detainees don't necessarily have the right to a lawyer. I agree that we should try him if we catch him - but make no mistake Osama has NO rights under the US constitution if we capture him in Astan and try him in Astan. His rights would have to come from some other source b/c the constitution would not apply.

hank

Thanks for the input hank, I am not too savvy on the old constitiution :) As for usa320, I didn'mean to offend you. The search for truth and justice is never a waste of money in my humble opinion. If he truly has confessed and is so blatantly guilty, then you have no reason to fear a trial

[EvanL]

To my knowledge he hasn´t confessed it even once


Oh yes he has faggot. Ive seen the videos.
When are you going to mention special ops? Or the CIA?

[duck]

Wonder how competent his bodyguards are? Are they battle-hardened Chechens and Afghans or just religious fanatics chosen for their "spirit"? Wouldn't surprise me if the ISI has an agent/contact person in his vicinity, just to keep Osama in check. Is Al Qaeda a Pakistani intelligence subsidiary?

[usa320]

Personally, i think he will go down in history as a coward (he is already, it doesnt take nads to hijack a plane full of unarmed women and children) just like Saddam. He puts his own survival as his top priority. If he didnt he woulda fought it out like he tells others to do.

[Argyll]

Personally, i think he will go down in history as a coward (he is already, it doesnt take nads to hijack a plane full of unarmed women and children) just like Saddam. He puts his own survival as his top priority. If he didnt he woulda fought it out like he tells others to do.

You mean as a leader who actually fought in wars as opposed to a leader who didn't? ;)

[Midtown]

either way, if they play it smart, they will just KIA the ****. Trials take time and money. Bullets are cheap, and fast.