Posted on 08/21/2005 8:30:37 AM PDT by shield
One of the most frequently asked questions we get at To The Point is: Where’s Osama? Why haven’t we found and killed him?
We’ve gotten another flurry because of the recent claims that “mercs” or mercenaries, “professional soldiers for paramilitary corporations that attend the annual Soldier of Fortune convention in Las Vegas” know where he is – a hidden valley called Dir in northwest Pakistan.
I’ve known Col. Bob Brown, the publisher of Soldier of Fortune magazine for almost 30 years. We almost got ourselves blown up together in Afghanistan with the Mujahaddin back in the 1980s. I told Bob about this claim and he laughed his head off.
“The last Soldier of Fortune convention we had was back in 2000,” he told me. “You should know, Wheeler, you were our keynote speaker! No one in the world is in touch with “mercs” more than me. They would have one simple word for these Elvis sightings of Osama: (expletive). The guy making this claim, Paul Williams, is an (expletive).” Bob doesn’t mince words.
The claim that OBL has been in Dir “since he escaped from Tora Bora in December 2001” is laughable. Williams has, of course, never been remotely close to the place. I’ve been all over the area, from Peshawar through Dir to Chitral in the Hindu Kush, and know it would be easy to get him if he’s there. He’s not in Dir.
Osama is in Iran.
I verified this once again at a lunch with some Pentagon friends yesterday (8/11). There is a reason why OBL’s whereabouts can’t be publicly acknowledged. It would necessitate military action against Iran. If the Mullahs have got him and won’t admit it and won’t give him up, the pressure for a military strike to kill or capture him would be irresistible.
The White House refuses to follow this course. It will not attack Iran. The country is a tinderbox, ready to blow with an anti-Mullah revolution. The Iranian people are amazingly pro-American right now. If the Mullahs hate America, that means they love America. A military attack could change that and fast. At least that’s the rationale.
This is also why GW won’t order an attack on Iran’s nuke facilities.
Not that the CIA is helping to organize or precipitate such a revolution, has the capacity to do so, and is doing anything beyond crossing its fingers and hoping. Nonetheless, you wanted to know what the deal is with Osama – and there it is. He’s safe and sound in eastern Iran, perhaps in the vicinity of the town of Mashad, but they move him around. And we’re not doing anything about it.
I still think Osama is burnt to a crisp at Tora Bora
With a 25 million dollar price tag on his head, if anyone really knew where he was he would have been gotten.
It's pretty hard to hold to that belief after he made the John Kerry campaign commercial. But whatever.
This is more than speculations. OBL is in Iran.
Naw, he's in Mexico. Bush can't afford to invade Mexico because the people love us so much.
You really think money means anything to fanatics that will blow themselves up to kill other people?
Quite possible, IMO.
I agree.
I think it's what Porter Gross was referring to.
I have my doubts that Osama bin Laden is in Iran, for one reason: Osama is a Sunni Muslim, and Iranians are Shi'ite Muslims. Given that the Sunnis and Shi'ites dont like each other for lots of historical reasons, I think Osama is probably dead, and an impersonator that knows Osama's views and lifestyle is doing those broadcasts and pronouncements in the past few years.
Anyone employed by a US contractor is not eligible for the $25 million reward. DOJ rule.
Apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein, "Poor Judd is Dead"
Even though he released a new and verified video right before the election last year?
OH come on...they both HATE Americans much more...and will move past those differences 'cause of their hatred for Americans!!!
I agree, it's Mexico. Shave Osama and you have Vicente!
I really meant these people here in the states. Those fanatics as you say have no concept of what that amount is.
Offer them 25 goats and you may get somewhere.
shield,
Just when I think I am going to get some work done, someone like you goes and posts a link to an awesome website and I get lost in it.
Great article and great web site. Appreciate you posting it.
"This is also why GW won’t order an attack on Iran’s nuke facilities."
Then the Mullahs will have nuclear weapons (think of Hitler with nukes) and nuclear war is inevitable.
There will be no revolution in Iran because the Mullah's lunatic Revoluationary Guards and other demon-possessed fanatics have a million men under arms. The pro-democracy forces have no weapons. They have no chance.
Bush needs to attack Iran or nuke war is inevitable and many millions will die.
Bingo.
Dr. Jack Wheeler was the author of the Reagan Doctrine. ;o) His grandfather protected Teddy Roosevelt. If you'll thoroughly ck out his website you'll find a picture of his grandfather and Teddy.
BTW, glad to see Wheeler and others looking past the MSM misdirection -- ya know, "too much respect for Pakistan's sovereignty to kill bin Laden on its territory...yada, yada...yada".
Iran is a perfect spot for him. Though his cultic beliefs differ so much from the ruling Shi'ite in Iran, let us not forget that he most probably subscribes to the Qubee deviant sect derived out of one faction of the Waha'abist gang out of Saudi Arabia, which in effect say Shi'ite are nothing more then dogs,e.g. they are not considered Muslims, their common interest go far beyond Islam. Why wouldn't they provide him with safe haven. After all their common enemy is the US, obviously for quite different reasons.
The president just said that no options have been removed from the table.
I think Wheeler was referring to the administrations for-the-moment plan, which is internal revolution.
.
NEVER FORGET
The CLINTONS' refusing 3 Free Offers from the Sudan during the 1990's to give us our No. 1 Terrorist Enemy OSAMA bin LADEN on a Silver Platter before he could hit us real hard here at home =
9/11 Lifesaving Hero RICK RESCORLA, ..R.I.P.
http://www.RickRescorla.com
http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361
NEVER FORGET
.
>We can't find a blond teenager on a small island and it took us over five years to locate an abortion clinic bomber. So what makes anybody think we can find one person that could be anywhere in the world?<
And Ted Kaczynski...how many years did he ply his trade right under our noses before he was caught?
He's working the swing shift at the local Qwik-E Mart.
:-)
That's what many in the military would like. Bush at Bragg...many attending that speech were hoping he'd announce action against Iran.
"It's pretty hard to hold to that belief after he made the John Kerry campaign commercial. But whatever."
Agree. We must keep things in perspective. Of course who knows if the CIA where told to make it appear he is alive.
There will be no revolution in Iran before the Mullahs have nukes.
The only reason that the Islamic Revolution occurred in Iran is that the Shah's troops refused to fire on the people.
The Revolutionary Guards will shoot to kill any freedom seeking revoluationaries in today's Iran.
"Then the Mullahs will have nuclear weapons (think of Hitler with nukes) and nuclear war is inevitable."
I'm not in favor of Iran having nukes or Canada for that matter. I certainly don't like the anti-American mullahs that run the country, but I have a bit of a struggle making the Hitler with nukes connection.
When was the last time that Iran/Persia actually invaded anyone?
I don't understand why some people still say he died at Tora Bora or "he's dead Jim." In that video he appeared to have aged a bit, he mentioned current details about Iraq, the CIA verified it was him and he even made a vague reference to the upcoming election in the US. We're still hearing "he's dead Jim." At any rate, I don't know how or why you fake the video and audio to reflect those details.
Where Osama is I could not agree or disagre - but - the rest of the article concerning Iran, their revolutionaries, and the reasoning behind our country's near silence on Iran is true.
I give this author great credebility
I have my doubts that Osama bin Laden is in Iran, for one reason: Osama is a Sunni Muslim, and Iranians are Shi'ite Muslims. Given that the Sunnis and Shi'ites dont like each other for lots of historical reasons...
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The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Yes, there is that to consider
Iran's Mullahs have gone on record repeated times as stating that when Iran has nukes, it will use them on Israel. Hence, the analogy to Hitler is apt.
Iran considers the U.S. the Great Satan and Israel the Little Satan.
Pol Pot hid in the jungles for nearly 20 years before he was caught...
Never left the country..
He didn't quite do it "under our noses". He lived in a shack with no mail, phone, electricity, etc. out in the middle of nowhere. And he took particular care to wear a hood, sunglasses, and change his hairstyle and facial hair from its normal appearance when he DID go somewhere in public. Compare the FBI "wanted" drawings of him to his appearance when he was caught.
The only reason he was caught is that his brother recognized his rantings when the Unabomber Manifesto was published in the New York Times.
Full Disclosure: The Unabomber was fairly close to Al Gore in his environmentalist leanings, and most certainly was not religious or conservative. In fact, his Manifesto came right out and said it: "Conservatives are fools."
Cheers!
There, or dead, are the two choices.
Iran's government is extremely hostile to us, and is supporting the insurgency in Iraq as a way of pinning the U.S. down. While Iran would hand him over if it were in their interest, the fact is, it is in their interest to keep him safe for now.
We are in an in-between period: Too soon to goto war with Iran, too late for a revolution there - the Tenet-led CIA failed. Worst mistake Bush made was not replacing Tenet day one.
I agree...it's smart to pay close attention to Dr. Wheeler...he's got the connections...and usually a straight shooter. Some say he's a disinformation type of guy...I totally disagree with that.
"At any rate, I don't know how or why you fake the video and audio to reflect those details."
Good points. I added the end statements simply to acknowledge an alternate approach. I personally think he is alive.
There will be no revolution in Iran because the Mullah's lunatic Revoluationary Guards and other demon-possessed fanatics have a million men under arms. The pro-democracy forces have no weapons. They have no chance.
Bush needs to attack Iran or nuke war is inevitable and many millions will die.
You are 100% correct.
This is why AFTER the Iraq air war the U.S. military ordered 40,000 gps-guided bombs. That is enough to do Iran, N.K., and one or two others if they step out of line. 40,000 bombs at a 90% success rate is more direct-hits than in the history of aerial bombing. In some ways, we are VERY ready for more wars.
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