Former head of Saudi intelligence says bin Laden still alive

AFP via Babelfish translation ^ | December 22, 2002

[HAL9000]

Ben Laden is alive, according to the former head of the information saoudien

Sunday December 22, 2002 - 22h31 GMT

WASHINGTON, 22 déc (AFP) - Oussama Ben Laden is always alive and continuous to direct terrorist network Al-Qaïda, affirmed the former head of the secret service saoudiens, prince Turki Al-Faiçal Al-Saoud, in a maintenance diffused Sunday by the chain of American television CNN.

"I think that it is in life, that it is in Afghanistan, close to the border with Pakistan", declared the prince, by adding that he probably continued to be in contact with his network thanks to "satellite telephones" and "emissary".

The United States had as estimated in November as the person in charge for the attacks of September 11, 2001 was still in life in spite of the intense tracking whose it is the object, in particular in Afghanistan, after having analyzed a recorded vocal message supposed to come from him.

The prince adds that the former head of the militia of the Afghan talibans, allied to Ben Laden, mollah Mohammad Omar, was probably him also always in life in Afghanistan, but added "not to know if it is always active".

The former head of the secret service of Ryad admits having met Ben Laden "four or five times" in the years 1980, at the time where Saudi Arabia and the United States supported it in its combat against the Soviet presence in Afghanistan.

"It had not badly started, because it wanted to help the Afghan moudjahidines", according to the prince, by ensuring that Ben Laden was at the time "a rather pleasant type" which wanted "to make good things". Its conversion with radicalism islamist was done thereafter, under the influence of militants Egyptian extremists, according to him.

The prince also ensures that it personally did not re-examine Ben Laden any more since 1989, and is indignant at the American charges according to which its country would trail the feet in the fight antiterrorist.

"I am really disabled by these charges, because the kingdom cooperates with the CIA (information), the FBI (federal police force), the department of the Treasury" American and that "we are completely engaged in the fight antiterrorist", affirm it, adding that the co-operation in this field had made it possible to thwart "many plots, not only to the United States, but even in the kingdom".

Personality discussed in the United States, the former head of the secret service saoudiens was assigned in damages in front of American civil justice by families of victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001 for its role supposed in the financing of terrorist network Al-Qaïda.

Regarded as a true éminence grise of the mode saoudien, before its dismissal on August 31, 2001 by king Fahd of Saudi Arabia, it comes to be indicated ambassador in London, which gives him the diplomatic immunity.

[185JHP]

Alive, dead - macht nichts. He's not flaunting that ugly mug - wonder why not?

[RightWhale]

a true éminence grise of the mode saoudien

The power behind the throne. If the prince actually knows something, he might consider forwarding the info to the proper authorities who are in Afghanistan at this moment.

OBL left the building over 1 year ago.

[MeekOneGOP]

He's worm food. Or shakin so bad he can't raise his head !

[per loin]

He committed suicide when he thought our troops had him. That's why his followers refuse to admit his death. Otherwise, he would be praised as a martyr.

[Maelstrom]

I believe what I was told.

He died in agony, alone, in the dark, lying in his own fecal matter and urine.

THAT is why he is not a martyr.

My source indicates that he's also buried under several tons of rock...whether or not his body was burned by US weaponry before being buried is still a question.

[LetsRok]

President Bush should immediately order the shutdown of any satellite that provides telephone service to that region.