Posted on 11/29/2001 5:35:19 PM PST by Fusion
Osama bin Laden has escaped the encroaching American dragnet in Eastern Afghanistan and is headed west, possibly helped by Iraq -- with an ultimate destination believed to be Africa or the Balkans according to US diplomatic officials. Bin Laden and a group of some twenty lieutenants and bodyguards departed his Afghan lair early this week, crossing into Pakistan via caravan along ancient mountain tracks at high altitudes. "We missed him," says Mike Scanlan of the US Embassy in Banja Luka.
While the western media trumpets the impending elimination of Osama bin Laden and the apparent collapse of Taliban forces, Washington officials concede their quarry has escaped the noose. Privately they suggest Iraq may have been involved at some level with logistical support in assisting the al Qaeda leader's run. "Think about it," says US Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ), "Baghdad knows we are coming after them next, once business is finished in Afghanistan. By keeping bin Laden from our grasp, they hope to delay our next strategic move."
Could the US begin the attack on Iraq before bin Laden is captured or killed? "No way," replies Hayworth. "The president has set out clear objectives that must be accomplished for each phase to transition to the next. We want a clear cut victory in Afghanistan before moving against Saddam. If bin Laden has indeed escaped Afghanistan then some adjustments will be taking place soon."
With bin Laden on the move west, it is suspected he may transit the Caucuses region -- an area that could provide safe haven during the winter, before reaching Bosnia or Albania in the spring. Chechen fighters battling the Russian Federation enjoy strong support in Azerbaijan, where a shaky Baku government has made it difficult for the US to operate effectively. In addition, the murder of a midlevel American intelligence operative there last year sent a clear signal that Azerbaijan remains beyond western geopolitical hegemonism sufficient to manipulate events on the ground.
Should Osama bin Laden reach Albania then he is gone. Despite American intelligence successes there during the last half decade, US assets on the ground continue to operate in an informational black hole. "Tirana has close to a million people supported by very little municipal organization or cohesion," one veteran Albania watcher advises, "nobody knows what is happening here now. Should the government be overthrown next year then the seeds of the coup will be planted in the coming months -- fertile ground for bin Laden, with both sides more than willing to offer him sanctuary in exchange for cash."
Whether Osama bin Laden reaches the Balkans or Africa by the spring to reconstitute his shattered organization remains to be seen. What is clear is that he has managed to escape Afghanistan before the heavy winter snows made such a journey impractical. What then will be the Washington response to this event? Will the Pentagon and White House planners attempt to claim bin Laden's death after massive bombardment of his Afghan mountain hideout?
"Unlikely," says Scanlan. "We've got world opinion and credibility on our side now. To claim victory and then have him pop up somewhere else would be a disaster. However if he tries to come through the Balkans we'll take him down."
huh?
There's no American embassy in Vladivostok in the first place. A consulate? Possible. Which doesn't change the fact that (Con)Fusion is a fiction from the beginning to the end...
What's unusual, is that he didn't finished this post by his favourite slogan: "Forces of freedom on marsh. Europe trembles!" - plus some shit about ancient Illirians.
Ring my friend, I said you'd call...
Yeah, he's a robot.
Foreign Affairs Editorial
Source: Albania Briefings
Published: 03/08/01 Author: G. Dority
Posted on 03/09/2001 23:52:39 PST by Fusion
George W. Bush
President, United States of America
Washington, DC
Sir:
We have never met, and you may only know me from the files; however I had the pleasure of knowing your father a few times in the old days. He is a fine gentleman and I hope he is well. I regret to inform you that you have a hell of a situation on your hands in the Balkans.
We are very close to having a regional conflict ignite. Should this happen you will find yourself in over your head and unlikely to be elected for a second term.
As it turns out from the reading of the last Londoner " Observer " are in the course of the modification-changes of gravitational points, in Been the Department, relative to the previous tactics of abuse of the etnia Albanian in the Kosovo, and Macedonian, for worsening of the positions of the some Balkan regimes. In more, later on I cite an article from the " Foreign Affairs Magazine ", where an obvious professional of the American foreign political, addresses to the new President, revealing some previous maneuvers, using Dr. Sali Berisha. the interests of Bulgaria, etc. In all, the methodology used in the reasoning, in the objectives, is " interesting ". It follows the text:
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