Posted on 10/30/2004 5:01:31 PM PDT by Saberwielder
Pakistan ‘gives Al-Qaeda refuge’
Nicholas Rufford
OSAMA BIN LADEN is being given safe haven with the help of Pakistani officials, British security sources believe.
Recent intelligence reports coming from remote tribal areas of Pakistan have indicated the Al-Qaeda leader is being given refuge by senior figures in the regional government.
America has given Pakistan tens of millions of dollars since the start of the war on terrorism and the hunt for Bin Laden. There is growing impatience in Washington at the failure of the military to capture him.
He is believed to be hiding along the mountainous 1,500mile frontier between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where many people are hostile to America.
A senior British source said the growing view in the British and American intelligence communities was that Bin Laden was in the area and receiving support. “It’s the kind of help that suggests he is being protected or he has bought influence,” said the source.
A videotape broadcast last Friday by Al-Jazeera confirmed that Bin Laden was in good health, despite reports that he was dying of kidney failure. His gestures also contradicted rumours that he had lost the use of an arm. He was dressed in a golden cloak and white turban at a lectern, in a pose similar to those adopted by the candidates in the US presidential debates.
Bin Laden claimed President George W Bush had misled electors by saying America was safer now than it was three years ago. He taunted the president for giving the hijackers more time than they expected to carry out the September 11 attacks, claiming Bush continued to read the book My Pet Goat to schoolchildren in Florida when told that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.
“A little girl’s talk about her goat and its butting was more important than the planes and their butting of the skyscrapers,” Bin Laden said.
“The best way to avoid another Manhattan” was for the US to change its Middle East policy. “Your security is not in the hands of Kerry, Bush or Al-Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands,” Bin Laden said.
Magnus Ranstorp, a St Andrews University terrorism expert, said the tape could signal another attack: “There has often been a correlation between Bin Laden appearing and attacks being launched.”
The tape’s main purpose would be to undermine America’s sense of security and damage Bush. “What he’s saying is less important than the fact he appears at all,” Ranstorp said.
I concede that he must be alive. But my guess is that his "safe haven" is actually Iran.
We need to pull the plug on Paki's allowance! And turkey for that matter!
They're taking serious casualties for us. I don't believe this article, at least not at the moment...
This too will take a turn on Nov. 3. I'm just not sure which way.
"They're taking serious casualties for us. I don't believe this article, at least not at the moment..."
There are parts of Pak that are ungovernable, and the general consensus for some time has been that Bin Lauden is in those areas.
He is "on ice" and we read his mail and listen to his calls.
Regardless of what Kerry thinks, its better to have a stable Pakistan than a dead Bin Lauden.
Pakistan is kicking butt with the terrorists. This article is an insult to Pakistan, bigtime.
I agree, NO MORE turkey to Pakistan, not even for Thanksgiving.
I agree, NO MORE turkey to Pakistan, not even for Thanksgiving.
YOU funny!
we KNOW where he is.
were we to announce it before the election, our hat, would be 'tipped' too far to insure reelection of W.
we will make what is known public in a time of our own choosing, and in the order in which OUR priorities logistically and strategically, are both uncompromised.
that means that ole binny may be the last muzzie extremist to die... but the loudest 'hey look at me' red herring in the pan.
osama, is desperate for attention.
it will come when WE are ready to predator him... and not before.
--robert
I don't believe this article. Pakistan is taking serious casualties for us and they're catching hell from the Arab world for "selling out to America". There's nothing in it for them to hold back bin Laden at this point. I'd bet the house and lot that bin Laden is in Iran or Syria, probably Iran.
Looks to me like this article was put out to generate hate and discontent among the allied coalition toward Pakistan.
Agree. We wouldn't have gotten this far without the Pakistani help. Chalk up another plus for Sec. Powell, too.
UBL may be in Pakistan but he's pinned down. The fact that he couldn't impact the Afghan elections is very telling, considering what his influence used to be. We'll get him in time, of that I'm certain.
If the "outlaw" regions of Pakistan are so violent and ungovernable -- perhaps we should reduce the entire province to radioactive rubble...
It was good enough for Hiroshima and Nagasaki..
I don't believe ANYONE could make the case that these Islamist lunatics are MORE deserving of mercy or life......or any less dangerous.
Semper Fi
You just tickled my brain with a thought I'd been trying to have for the past 24 hours! This tape of Osama's is like a little kid throwing a tantrum in the middle of a group of adults...with Iraq getting all the attention, he's put out because he feels ignored!
"Al-Qaeda leader is being given refuge by senior figures in the regional government."
Senior figures in the regional government not nation government.
Oh wait - I forget the article was written in the UK. They speak English there.
Thanks for the ass-chewing, Mr. Tactful. While you're at it, do you want to come over to my house and kick my dog?
An ungovernable nation, a nuclear power, a haven for the most wanted murder in the world, and a Muslim directed government.
What are you trying to do? Scare the public?
Welcome to the ranks of the "Destro" chastised EMB!
Thumb "nails" are his friend and being full of "Tack", can be a considered shortfall for Destro.
As time goes on, more understand this, however he is more than welcome to bring articles to FR and create an atmosphere favoring his demise.
Your perception is a welcome one!
Healthy? About as healthy as the rest of the traitors, Castro, Clinton, Arafat, etc.
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