Guest 979guy Posted February 21, 2004 Share Posted February 21, 2004 Sarge, I know how you always say he's "somewhere under a mountain". Think maybe now we can finally blow this mountain up?... Bin Laden 'boxed in' by US soldiers news.com.au February 22, 2004 OSAMA bin Laden is reportedly surrounded by United States special forces in a mountain range that straddles north-west Pakistan and Afghanistan. Internationally respected investigative journalist and author Gordon Thomas says the al-Qaida terror group leader has been sighted for the first time since 2001 and is being monitored by satellite. In a report to be published in a British newspaper, Thomas says bin Laden is in a mountainous area to the north of the Pakistani city of Quetta. The region is said to be a stronghold for bin Laden supporters and the terror kingpin is estimated to have 50 of his fanatical bodyguards by his side. Thomas attributes his report to "a well-placed intelligence source" in Washington who is quoted as saying: "He (bin Laden) is boxed in." The area makes an all-out conventional military assault impossible, according to the report. The plan to capture him would depend on a "grab-him-and-go" operation. "US helicopters already sited on the Afghanistan border will swoop in to extricate him," the report says. It continues by saying 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 3000m-high mountain peaks. Donkeys are the only transport." The US special forces are "absolutely confident" there is no escape for bin Laden and are waiting for the order to snatch the shadowy terrorist leader. The timing of that order will ultimately depend on President George Bush, the report says. "Capturing bin Laden will certainly be a huge help for him as he gets ready for the election. "It will be an even bigger bonus than getting Saddam." The article goes on to say bin Laden's movements are continually monitored by a US National Security Agency satellite positioned over the land in which the wealthy Saudi is trapped. Joint chiefs of staff chairman General Richard Myers said last week the US had been engaged in "intense" efforts to capture bin Laden. But General Myers insisted that the focus of the search had not narrowed for months. "There are areas where we think it is most likely he is, and they remain the same," he said. "They haven't changed in months." Asked where bin Laden was hiding, General Myers said: "We think in that border region somewhere. We don't know precisely." Bin Laden's whereabouts were discovered, according to the report, when US Central Intelligence Agency analysts – geographers and soil experts – studying the background in the al-Qaida boss's latest video suggested it matched rocks in the Toba Kakar ranges. CIA agents, working with Pakistani guides, went from Afghanistan to the region to take photographs and bring out rock and soil samples. These were flown to Washington where the CIA analysts electronically matched them to the video background. A two-man special forces surveillance unit infiltrated the area. "Within a week, they had picked up the first clues that bin Laden was around," according to a source quoted in the report. "Other teams then slipped into the area. "No helicopters were used, to avoid any alert." Once the area was sealed, the special forces troops watched and waited for the order to go in and end the largest manhunt in history. Bin Laden, head of the fanatical Muslim al-Qaida group, is alleged to have masterminded the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on New York and Washington. The Sunday Mail (Qld) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJWatson3 Posted February 21, 2004 Share Posted February 21, 2004 it's about time! now let's wait until september to actually get him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Mike Posted February 21, 2004 Share Posted February 21, 2004 Now go get that somb!tch! :applause: (Reality check: It may still take some time to actually get him, but it sounds like it will come sooner rather than later) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SkinsHokie Fan Posted February 21, 2004 Share Posted February 21, 2004 I am surprised the rest of the media isn't reporting on this at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yomar Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 its kind of hard to surround a mountain range... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 I'll believe it when it actually happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboDaMan Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 Originally posted by IAMBG I'll believe it when it actually happens. Yeah, it'll be great if true. But I can't find this anywhere, not any of the standard outlets, not Debka, not Sky News, nowhere but the original piece. Its a heluva scoop if true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCS Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 Yeah. Looks like right now the only thing out there is essentially the same story being reported by a few outlets. Reporting the story about the story kind of thing. blomberg, ABC Austrailia among a few that are doing so. Imagine the standard outlets have heard about this or soon will and connections and "sources" being quizzed before trying to go with this. that, and who knows, maybe some common sense. No doubt the fellows who may at this time be surrounded have a little access to outside info. Wouldn't do to have them warned in advance by news stories. Not that they don't already know, but why chance it? yeah right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 The WP has this huge article about the secret hunt for Bin Laden in the late 90's and how the government screwed it up. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59775-2004Feb21.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OURYEAR#56 Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 Just in time. And you guys said I was a conspiracy nut. I knew this would happen just in time for the elections. Maybe Bush could land on the Intrepid this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvan Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 I don't beleive it to be an election ploy. Bin-Laden has been a trophy hunt since 9/11. It will be a great day when we get him. For all you that do- Keep praying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinInsite Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 Maybe after WP finishes their big story, suddenly Bin Laden is captured and delivered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 Still think he's dead. But if somehow he or any of his followers are still alive, a small, low yeild thermonuclear weapon would do the trick, and the mountain ranges would contain most of the nasty stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 CNN is saying they have to wait because of the weather, except a huge assault come spring there. They know where he is but it isn't that easy to get to right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy-the-Greek Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 If we get him by summer and if we start pulling out our troops from Iraq after turning over there government to the Iraqi people. Bush will win the election. I think these two issues are tied together. He could win the election with either of the two alone, but if he gets both done before the election he wins another 4 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mania Posted February 22, 2004 Share Posted February 22, 2004 Originally posted by Sarge Still think he's dead. But if somehow he or any of his followers are still alive, a small, low yeild thermonuclear weapon would do the trick, and the mountain ranges would contain most of the nasty stuff I'm not so sure he's alive either. If you remember, he has a bad kidney and is on dialysis. He can't be strong. I have a friend who was on dialysis for 2 years and his bones were so weak they would break with a small fall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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