The U.S. military failed to kill Taliban leader Mullah Omar when he was in its sights during the first night of the war, the NEW YORKER is planning to report on Monday.
According to publishing sources, Seymour Hersh has filed a story quoting top intelligence-community members claiming to be 'crestfallen' about the incident.
MORE Reaction in Washington to the failure to strike immediately was fierce, Hersh reports.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was "kicking a lot of glass and breaking doors," one military official said.
An unmanned Predator reconnaissance aircraft operating in the Kabul area identified a convoy carrying Mullah Omar as he fled the capital.
The Predator is armed with two anti-tank missiles, but under the rules of engagement in effect Sunday night the C.I.A. could not order such a strike. Although the precise sequence of events could not be fully learned, Hersh reports, General Tommy R. Franks, the commander in charge at the United States Central Command in Florida reported that 'Judge Advocate General, a legal officer', doesn't like this, so we're not going to fire.'
It was decided to target a few cars in front of the building to perhaps scare Mullah Omar out of the building to take a look. Omar did leave the building, but not immediately. Soon after he left, Hersh reports, the building was targeted and destroyed by F-18s, too late to kill Omar.
Everyone was furious at the time. It was reported here on FR extensively.
Looks like the New Yorker missed the news that was widely reported about this right after it happened. The Predator had him in it's sights and was armed with a Hellfire missle, but by the time a decision to fire was passed down the chain of command he was gone. Shame on you New Yorker because this is not new news.