Posted on 09/11/2004 3:11:58 AM PDT by Jim Robinson
Edited on 09/11/2004 3:19:37 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Karachi, Sept. 11 (NNN): Three years on from his outfit’s most deadly attacks as the world still hunts for the Saudi rebel, Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid has indicated that Al-Qaeda terror network kingpin Osama bin Laden may be dead.
Addressing Meet the Press at Karachi Press Club on the eve of third anniversary of September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States, the minister, however, pointed out that around 200-300 foreign militants were hiding in Wana who are ‘master planners’ as they had got enough training in Afghanistan.
“We are not averse to dialogue but we would give bullet to bullet reply in Wana and Balochistan also,” Sheikh Rashid declared. “If we had not started operation in Wana, the US would have done this and think what would have happened then,” the minister asked.
He said that militants may go to other areas or cities but the forces would move there also as the government was determined to eliminate terrorism.
The minister hinted that the government was about to take ‘very important decisions’ regarding water, ties with India and terrorism.
“For bold decisions, bold man was imperative,” the minister said in an apparent reference to Gen. Pervez Musharraf, claiming that the 17th Amendment allows Gen. Pervez Musharraf to occupy the both offices of President and Chief of Army Staff simultaneously.
Widening Threat: Meanwhile, most analysts believe there is a danger in laying too much emphasis on al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden alone when the reality of growing terrorism is more complex - and perhaps more dangerous.
Undoubtedly that the core of al-Qaeda has been disrupted. It has lost its secure sanctuary and training camps in Afghanistan and is finding it harder to organise and communicate under pressure.
The core of hardened veterans has been hit hard in the past three years.
In his New York convention speech on September 2, 2004, President George Walker Bush declared that American strategy was succeeding and that "more than three-quarters of al-Qaeda's key members and associates have been detained or killed".
(Excerpt) Read more at indolink.com...
Jim,
UBL MAY BE DEAD, captured, or in a hidey hole, but his evil spirit lives on via jihad.
He is, he may be, he isn't dead... Until conclusive proof that he's DEAD is shown to the world then I'll believe he's alive.
We can only hope...but what nice news that would be on this day of all days.
They are showing this high quality video of OBLs 2nd in command, but nothing of OBL in a really long time. He's been room temperature for quite a while.
(steely)
His ego is too great for him not to have made a video to both rally his supporters and stick in our eye.
I believe he's been dead for some time.
He's been dead since before Dec 13, 2001 and will remain so.
You beat me to it!
First thought "He's dead, Jlm?"
You've got that backwards. How about a little conclusive proof that he's actually alive - a picture holding a current newspaper or something?
He's been taking a dirt nap since Tora Bora.
I tend to think he is dead, too.
BUT,
BUT, I am suspicious of a muslim gov't telling me this. Such news is generally followed by a "Well with OBL dead, there's no reason for American's to hang around, so go on home..its all safe now."
Yeah right. I want proof, like DNA scraped off a cavern wall.
The consensus of opinion is that Osama bin Ladin is "probably" dead, else why in some two and half years has not one videotape that could be authenicated showing him still alive been produced? We saw literally HOURS of bin Ladin in conference with his lieutenants shortly after 9-11-01, but after about December or so, these tapes ceased to be produced. Everything made available since then seemed to be replays of old stock footage.
But by maintaining the myth that he was still alive and giving orders, the public's minds were focused on a face, an individual, to direct their concern at. This worked both for al-Qaeda, to demonstrate his seeming invincibility, and the coalition forces, to muster conscientious prosecution of the campaign to eliminate his organization.
True.
Yep. And his virgins are Madeline Albright and Helen Thomas look alikes....
Ping
Jim Robinson. Inventor of FreeRepublic.
(steely)
Was thinking on the same lines....LOL
There will not be a public announcement of any such "proof."
Sightings will continue for several more years.
The definitive test for me is that I will know Osama Bin Laden is dead when Dan Rather tells me so.
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