UNO geologist: Video tells bin Laden's hiding place

Omaha World-Herald ^ | Published Tuesday | BY MICHAEL O'CONNOR

[Oldsailor]

The image of Osama bin Laden that flickered on Jack Shroder's TV was grainy and brief, but it was all he needed. Jack Shroder, a University of Nebraska at Omaha geologist who has done research in Afghanistan, says a videotape of Osama bin Laden gives important clues to where he might be hiding. "I turned to my wife," Shroder said, "and told her I know where he is." Shroder, a geologist at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who has done research in Afghanistan, said the videotape provides important clues on where bin Laden was when the tape was made. He said he has received a number of calls about the video and any help it can provide in finding bin Laden, the chief suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Shroder said he could not say whether any of those calls have been from the federal government, saying he has been told not to discuss the inquiries in detail. He did say he is certain that the type of sedimentary rock visible in the videotape is found only in Paktia and Paktika, two provinces in southeastern Afghanistan about 125 miles from Kabul. Shroder also has examined photographs taken from the tape.

[Oldsailor]

This looks like the we have known Bin Laden's probable location for a few days now

[BlueHorseShoe]

Wow, that's interesting. I hope they get him soon.

[DouglasKC]

Unfortunately the videotape was made in advance. Nobody is sure about how far in advance it was made so he still could be anywhere.

[Dirk McQuickly]

Unfortunately, even if he is in this region, he'll move again. Does anyone know if these tunnels link under the mountains, or do they run into dead ends? I gotta think we're going to have him dead-to-rights within a couple weeks.

[Oldsailor]

I am aware that there are questions as to the exact value of this location , however, it is important enough to get the attention of our Federal Government.

[SamAdams76]

I have difficulty understanding this. What it this geologist talking about and why does he think he found Bin Laden based on what the rocks looked like in the video?

[OldFriend]

Just a passing comment. My daughter graduated from a good university two years ago. She has a BS in Physics and a minor in Math Statistics. She took two years of biology, two years of geology and worked as a TA for the Astronomy Professor for all four years. She applied to the CIA......never even got a reply! Applied to the FBI and was told that there was a backlog of applications and a response would not be forthcoming unless they had an interest in hiring her. Of course, slick willie was president at the time.

[SP67]

Wouldn't this be the type of intelligence we would not want to publicize? Why would this geologist say anything to the media without consulting with our government, and stay mum about it, so we can catch this person?

[TomGuy]

I'm sure the Feds analyze every millimeter of those videos with equipment and personnel from literally hundreds of areas of expertise.

[Bikers4Bush]

You could apply the same principle here in the US. Rock formations in Northern Texas are far different from those in Southern Texas.

It's kind of like a geologic signature.

[Oldsailor]

The article is fairly well written so I just assumed that anyone with an IQ above body temp. would have some understanding of this.

[Walkin Man]

Ossama, can you come out to play?

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

Hmmm...if there are vast underground tunnels, perhaps a few canisters of cyanide would create the desired effect...we need to find an entrance

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

Hmmm...if there are vast underground tunnels, perhaps a few canisters of cyanide would create the desired effect...we need to find an entrance

[NittanyLion]

I have difficulty understanding this. What it this geologist talking about and why does he think he found Bin Laden based on what the rocks looked like in the video?

If the rock behind Bin Laden was sedimentary, it would suggest that the area was underwater at some recent point in its history. I suspect only southern Afghanistan is at a low enough elevation to have been under a sea in the recent past.

Any experts out there who can back that up or discredit my theory?

[Francohio]

This is important information which does not belong in the open.
Pull, please.

[kempo]

Why is this being made public?

[Oldsailor]

Wow......now that is big time paranoia fer sher. This story is published in a newspaper and I'm sure with the blessing of the US Gov.

[Dog Gone]

At best, this will be able to pinpoint only a region where those particular sedimentary rocks are exposed. Fortunately, Afghanistan is very rugged and mountainous, and to a knowledgeable geologist, a single glimpse of the exposed rock will indicate the particular range where that rock is outcropped.

Unfortunately, that may only narrow it down to a 50 mile area, or so. Still, that helps immensely.

[NittanyLion]

I didn't post it, Francohio. Even so, it's already been published in the Omaha World-Herald.

[Oldsailor]

Let me help you out here.........The value of this information to this forum is to inform some readers of how much valuable information is available to our side and although this ID of the rock formation in the video tape would probably have little or no value to find "The Evil One" today, will have some value for where he may have been at the time this was filmed.

I feel a little like a Kindergarten teacher here ;-)

[Ben Hecks]

To: piasa

Wouldn't it be ironic if our folks could examine the backdrop behind Osama and determine his location based on the color and other features of the soil and rocks?

15 posted on 10/7/01 11:51 AM Pacific by Ben Hecks

[XA-3Whaler]

Say did anyone notice that BONG looking thing setting above them on the rocks? It's gotta be a clue to their frame of mind. LOL

[stylin19a]

"Shroder said he could not say whether any of those calls have been from the federal government, saying he has been told not to discuss the inquiries in detail."

who else would tell him not to discuss the inquiries ? and he complies ?? sheesh !

[dead]

saying he has been told not to discuss the inquiries in detail. He did say he is certain that the type of sedimentary rock visible in the videotape is found only in Paktia and Paktika, two provinces in southeastern Afghanistan about 125 miles from Kabul

“I’m not allowed to say anything. This is where he is.”

This guy’s lips are looser than Monica’s.

[onedoug]

Let's see a Bin Laden video demonstrably made since our counterattacks.

[Oldsailor]

I think your analogy of This guy’s lips are looser than Monica’s. if not exactly correct.
I think Monica depended on tight lips

[FreePaul]

So we have really pinpointed him now. We think that he may be (or has been) in some provinces in southern Afghanistan. I guess the war is over.

[dead]

I think Monica depended on tight lips

Then why did the sink see so much action?

[Oldsailor]

Bite me

[Oldsailor]

You just may need to review the BJ protocol that at some time may require a fairly firm lip.:-)

[Lion's Cub]

Why is this being made public?

I think this is a "Gotcha" message to old bL...They wouldn't let him know they had this kind of expertise if they thought he was going to be around to send us another tape.

[Oldsailor]

This article was just commented about by Ruta Cosby on Fox news tonight. Seems to have some news value and credence to boot.

[RightWhale]

why does he think he found Bin Laden based on what the rocks

Not all rocks are alike. The rocks seen in the video are found only in certain regions. Like the White Cliffs of Dover. Nothing else like it.

[Havisham]

Wouldn't this be the type of intelligence we would not want to publicize?

You're right, we wouldn't. But this article was in a major Oklahoma newspaper before it was at Free Republic.

[Havisham]

This is important information which does not belong in the open. Pull, please.

Then it's only a secret to this forum because it has already appeared in the American press.

[Urbane_Guerilla]

This article is American propaganda ... thank goodness. It does not tell us where OBL is, because it is not a picture of where he is this day, let alone this instant. But it does tell us that Americans are pretty damn smart, and that we WILL figure out where he is.

[FreePaul]

I don't know how big a province is in Afghanistan but the article says that he is/was/has been/could have been in one of two provinces. I remember an extensive search for a guy named Eric Rudolf who was supposed to be in one of our "provinces".

[Thumper1960]

From what has been said about Slick Willy's "package", no matter the lip tension, loose would be the verdict.

[Robert A. Cook, PE]

Sedimentary rock are those created under water fromm deposits ... movement later on (such as what created the Himalaya's and their 14,000 foot "foothills" in Afgan. from the sea floor) will lift them very, very far up.

If he claims he recognizes a particular kind of rock .. more power to him. He probably can.

But limiting an area to even 100 square MILES (a small 10 mile x 10 mile area geologically!) is way too big a search area for dropping bombs. Limiting it to a single mesa or outcropping could helpful though. Limiting the search region (for ground observers working over an area for weeks) would be helpful.

NO BOMB - even a modest size nuke - is going to be effective more than 1 mile away against underground targets in the mountains. Figure a kill distance of a few hundred feet (even less) for conventional explosives.

Nagasaki, for example, with very small hills and valleys, had "protected" areas only a short distance from the ground zero of an air blast.

Real big nuke? Sure - Bigger damage area. But still not real large compared to a "mountainside" in a far country valley.

[Havisham]

I think any motivated patriot with a survey of geology under her belt was hoping U.S. central command was on those pictures. The geologist is a blabber mouth,though.

[Oldsailor]

I don't think you have it right yet though.....I'm a retired Dentist and I can tell you that good lips can put some real pressure on even a pinky finger let alone an undersized member

[BunnySlippers]

They say he moves everyday between various locations.

[RightWhale]

how big a province is in Afghanistan

Big enough in geological terms. Like measuring the age of civilization in geological time.

[Oldsailor]

Pretty strong language for an item of this kind. Better check how tight your belt and tie are. May need to loosen them some there. :-)

[Publius6961]

we need to find an entrance

We need to find several thousand entrances.
And seal them...

One at a time

[Urbane_Guerilla]

Pretty strong language for an item of this kind. Better check how tight your belt and tie are. May need to loosen them some there. :-)

Lol ... too true. I do get transformed at times, and maybe I should throw out my underwear and get a bigger waist band ... it has been a while.

[Publius6961]

If the rock behind Bin Laden was sedimentary, it would suggest that the area was underwater at some recent point in its history. I suspect only southern Afghanistan is at a low enough elevation to have been under a sea in the recent past.

Hmmmmm.

OK I'll throw in my few units of Geology.
Present elevation is not necessarily an indicator of past elevation.
I would say more "distant" past rather than "recent" past.

[StopThePress]

Personally, I remember those rock formations in two specific scenes from "Return of Planet of the Apes". I hope somebody is looking for Bin Laden here in the United States! JEEEEZZZ!!!