Bin Laden sons 'shot, captured' (Believed US is incensed official may have spoken too soon)

The Daily Telegraph ^ | March 8, 2003

[Indy Pendance]

THE United States has refused to deny reports that two of Osama bin Laden's sons – including his heir apparent to the al-Qaida terror network – have been captured in a gun battle with US troops.

The reports, confirmed on television by a Pakistani Government official, have intensified speculation that the US is closing in on the fugitive terrorist warlord, the world's most wanted man since the attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001.

The official said bin Laden's sons were shot in a fierce gunfight between al-Qaida fighters and US troops in Ribat, an area of Afghanistan near the borders with Iran and Pakistan.

It is believed Washington is incensed that the official may have spoken too early, with US special forces tracking bin Laden in tribal lands between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Responding to the claim, White House spokesman Ari Fleisher said: "We have no information to substantiate that report." However, he would not deny it.

The US and Pakistan have been dropping leaflets offering lucrative rewards for bin Laden and his supporters, as part of increased military action in the region since the capture last weekend of al-Qaida operations chief Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who had been in recent contact with his boss

The sons – anointed successor Saad, 23, the oldest of bin Laden's 20 children, and youngest son Hamza, a teenager – are said to have been shot during the battle in which nine al-Qaida fighters died.

The report came from Sanaullah Zehri, Home Minister of Pakistan's Baluchistan province and the region's top security official.

"We have information that two sons of Osama bin Laden were injured. The people killed belonged to al-Qaida," Mr Zehri said.

Saad has emerged as one of the US's top targets. His arrest would come as a major blow to bin Laden.

Sources say that of all his children, bin Laden is closest to Hamza.

[The Wizard]

that's it.....I'm in, this is the forth source I know of.....

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Talk about semantics and rumor mongering (the newspaper, not you).

All Fleischer said was, in effect, we don't have enough info to confirm OR deny.

And suddenly that's even a TACIT admission?

[ClancyJ]

Well maybe Bin Laden is getting a little payback for all the horror he unleased on innocent people.

[MEG33]

I'll wait for pictures but my triple posting exitement of yesterday has abated.

[martin_fierro]

Bin Wounded and Bin Captured.

[appeal2]

Bin Effed

[GOPJ]

Information is instantaneous. What's to wait for?

All Fleischer said was, in effect, we don't have enough info to confirm OR deny.

[MattAMiller]

I just think it's interesting that this rumor won't die.

[Vigilanteman]

I'm waiting with baited breath for Bin Strung Up.

[EggsAckley]

Okay. I've been developing a theory ever since the press conference on Thursday. The day before, Drudge had the banner "Bush makes the call." It was a very nothing story, but I had the feeling that there really WAS something behind it.

Then the talk of bin Laden's kids started. It ran like wild fire all over the world. Except that the US categorically denied it.

Then came the press conference. A very subdued Bush told us a lot that we already knew. I had the feeling that he actually wanted to "announce" something important, but held back.

Perhaps he wanted to announce the capture of bin Laden or his sons, but the news that had leaked out had perhaps compromised the capture. Or something like that.

He just seemed to have something on his mind that he WASN'T telling us.

JMHO

[Cicero]

Bin Offed.

[boknows]

Bin Laid Down

[ARCADIA]

Bin Wacked

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Information is instantaneous. What's to wait for?

For example, confirmation that the terrorist is, in fact, bin Laden's son and not a look alike or a case of mistaken identity.

[Humbug]

Bin Looking for 72 Virgins

[The Wizard]

may I offer a new alternative to: bin F***ed, like we use clymer:

bin Villepined

[jraven]

For father's day they gave daddy a portable bottle of smallpox. When they said, "Daddy is the bomb" they weren't kidding. Bin Laden appeared at a comedy club one day. He began his show: "Take my anthrax...please."

[schaketo]

"I'm waiting with baited breath for Bin Strung Up."

or how about "I'd like you to meet your cell mate Bin Bubba". BB or "Daddy" as he likes to be called would like you to slip into this burka and back into your cell. Daddy's lonely tonight.

Don't string him up! Let's build a personal Hell on Earth for him. Disney Land? Pay to go see him caned daily, etc.

[norton]

I agree, GWB didn't call a conference to make the comments he wound up making.

My guess is that when they got there - Osama was in the other caravan, having used his dear kiddies as decoy.

My other guess is that he is flat out panicked at the thought that his lieutenants are being made to talk almost as soon as they get rolled up. That might just be stage management on our part (because I also think we've known for awhile where he was) but something has the boy moving.

Unless, of course, he's dead and the kids were running the show in his name.