The many problems with Seymour Hersh's Osama bin Laden conspiracy theory

[geek tragedy]

http://www.vox.com/2015/5/11/8584473/seymour-hersh-osama-bin-laden

The evidence for all this is Hersh's conversations with two people: Asad Durrani, who ran Pakistan's military intelligence service from 1990 to 1992, and "a retired senior intelligence official who was knowledgeable about the initial intelligence about bin Laden’s presence in Abbottabad." Read that line again: knowledgeable about the initial intelligence. Not exactly a key player in this drama, and anonymous at that.

Hersh produces no supporting documents or proof, nor is the authority of either source established. We are given no reason to believe that either Durrani or the "knowledgeable official" would have even second- or thirdhand knowledge of what occurred, yet their word is treated as gospel. His other two sources are anonymous "consultants" who are vaguely described as insiders.

...

Perhaps the most concerning problem with Hersh's story is not the sourcing but rather the internal contradictions in the narrative he constructs.

Most blatant, Hersh's entire narrative turns on a secret deal, in which the US promised Pakistan increased military aid and a "freer hand in Afghanistan." In fact, the exact opposite of this occurred, with US military aid dropping and US-Pakistan cooperation in Afghanistan plummeting as both sides feuded bitterly for years after the raid.

Hersh explains this seemingly fatal contradiction by suggesting the deal fell apart due to miscommunication between the Americans and Pakistanis. But it's strange to argue that the dozens of officials on both sides would be competent enough to secretly plan and execute a massive international ruse, and then to uphold their conspiracy for years after the fact, but would not be competent enough to get on the same page about aid delivery.

There's a lot more--there's so much wrong with Hersh's latest attempt to make himself relevant that it can't be covered via excerpt. Read the whole thing.

[OilemFirchen]

1. Thanks for the article...

and for respecting the intellectual property rights of its author and publisher.

[blm]

2. Then Durrani is saying it for old pal Poppy Bush.

And Bushes STILL know how to plant stories by directing it to left journalists.

Poppy Bush had a longstanding alliance with Pakistani military - extra so with intel.

Poppy Bush did arrange for Pakistan to get nukes - made sure AQ Khan was well-paid.

I feel bad for Hersh that he feel for this.