U.S. Officials Deny Bin Laden captured

[seventhson]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAGFWNS7RD.html

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Pentagon and Pakistani officials on Saturday denied an Iranian state radio report that Osama bin Laden was captured in Pakistan's border region with Afghanistan "a long time ago."
....


The director of Iran radio's Pashtun service, Asheq Hossein, said he had two sources for the report. The radio quoted its reporter as saying bin Laden had been in custody for a period of time, but a U.S. announcement of the capture was being withheld by President Bush until closer to the November election.

"Osama bin Laden has been arrested a long time ago, but Bush is intending to use it for propaganda maneuvering in the presidential election," he said.

There have been reports that military forces believed they had identified bin Laden's general location and had him encircled, but Pakistani officials have denied any specific knowledge of bin Laden's whereabouts. The state radio report, quoting an unnamed source, said U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's visit to the region this week was in connection with the arrest.





I don't believe the US sources either

[kalian]

1. They're doing alot of denying, eh?

:eyes:

Can't afford to spoil the October surprise... Besides, we have to
keep this "war on terror" going. If not, how do you justify the
continued military expansion...? :shrug:

[Virginian]

2. He can't be captured now,

He has to be captured in the fall for the October Surprise. No, no, the timing is all wrong. If he is captured now, the voters won't remember it and might not vote for Dubya. It has to be timed closer to the election.

[Nlighten1]

3. How deep will his spider hole be?

[FlashHarry]

4. Hahahahahahaha! I hope their little plot is foiled!

Personally, I'd be happy to see Bin Laden's head on a stick. But if they're pulling a classic GOP 'October Surprise,' they deserve to have it leaked now. Remember how much Hussein's capture helped BushCo? A couple of weeks of improved poll numbers, then nada.

[tom_paine]

5. I certainly don't believe Iranian State Radio either

Knowing the Busheviks' absolute penchant for good political theatre, it certainly is a possibility, even a probability.

See, that's what happens as we pass into Totalitarianism (even though we are still 98% free at the point, it is a CRUCIAL 2% that we've lost, that which holds up the rest) and not having a Free and Independant Press is that our media have fallen so low that it is now a substantial possibility that Iranian State Radio (ugh!) is right.

That makes me ashamed of my country and the small part I played in sitting back and allowing things like this to happen.

Goddamn you Busheviks and media CEOs and all who didn't just sit back, but helped make this come to pass you !

[DuctapeFatwa]

6. Time For a Recap

Osama is cornered in a hole in Pashtunistan (NW Pakistan). The "Saddam hunters" are just "waiting for the word" to go in and slap the cuffs on 'em.

Indian Press reminds us that Pashtunistan has a lot of people who look a lot like Osama.

George Tenet makes an unannounced trip to Pakistan

Al Zawhiri releases a new tape

Osama and Zawrhiri leave Pakistan and return to Afghanistan

Rumsfeld reminds us that Osama is not all that important in the larger war on terror

IRNA Pashtun reports that Osama was "captured" a while back and is being held pending bush campaign photoshoot

Pentagon denies that Osama was "captured" a while back and is being held pending bush campaign photoshoot

IRNA guy says he never reported that Osama was "captured" a while back and is being held pending bush campaign photoshoot

And just think, it all started with an innocent little leaked memo on the Enemy of the State blog :party:

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. The Iranian Press

were also the first to announce Saddam's capture last Dec. The US press didn't have a clue until hours later after the Iranian news had flown around the internet.

[still_one]

8. Whatever the case

This will be the Bush and Co. strategy, either keep spreading rumors how they are close to catching bin Laden, and give the impression that only his administration can do it, or mess around with the alert level, and rule the people by fear.

"Those that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"

[hippiechick]

9. Of course he's not 'captured' ... he's on 'paid leave'

... probably swinging in a hammock at Club Med, tossin back a few Cuervo's and sending the bill to the Carlyle Group ... due to reappear on the scene sometime later this year.

I've been saying that since September 12, 2001.



:hippie:

[DuctapeFatwa]

11. The Agency prefers the term "Sabbatical."

Dear Mr Tenet,

I have served the agency faithfully now for well over a quarter of a century, and if I may be allowed to say so, served it well. During that time, many agency colleagues have enjoyed record product sales and resulting profits, up to and including Operation Unity in the fall of 2001.

Shortly after the (very) successful completion of Operation Unity, I was granted sabbatical leave that is now entering its third year.

During that time, I have conscientiously followed all sabbatical protocols, including identity transition and naturally all confidientiality and non-disclosure provisions, both standard and enhanced.

Let me take this opportunity to state that I have no intention of violating any agreements of this nature, as I consider them legally binding as well as a matter of ethics and national security.

However, within those parameters, I am requesting your authorization to accept a non-agency related employment opportunity that I believe would be of a personal benefit to me. I give you my assurance that it would not compromise the agency in any way.

As you are probably already aware, I am referring to a very generous offer made to my sabbatical identity by the Los Anglees Lakers organization. Although I am considerably past the age of most rookies, they feel that I have some unique qualities that could be an asset to the team.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely

(name was blacked out)


P.S. Could you PLEASE tell Maria in Accounting that size 14 sandals have to be specially made over there and $35 is not an unreasonable line item in this case? We have been going back and forth over this since July of 2000 and I would really like to get reimbursed and get it off my books, and I am sure she would too. TIA.

[hippiechick]

13. ROTFLMAO !!!

:yourock: :toast:

That is perfect !!


:hippie:

[loftycity]

26. That was great!!

:yourock:

[Dover]

12. yeah, he's probably been joined by Kennyboy, and swapping stories

about who's method of "disappearing" was most effective.

[MrPrax]

18. Nawh...

I always had a mental image of Osama in natty Armani suit, lounging by a pool at a Macao baccarat club, tapping away on his Powerbook...

[loftycity]

25. I'm glad someone has said this....

A what about the CIA paying him a visit while he was being treated in US Hospital Dubai over the summer of 2001?
Bush and his CIA pals and the Bin Laden family buddy, buddy is so sickening...

Just got done with the Kevin Phillips book. I feel like someone really flipped the shades up on my house!! Yikes!

[Dover]

10. Awwwwwwwwww.......spoiled the surprise. A real party pooper.

....

[Dover]

14. Was it ever PROVED that al-Qaeda was responsible for 9/11?

I ask because they have managed to kill most of the alleged leaders, and it seems no one will make it to trial. Even their capture and deaths seem suspiciously without evidence. Remember the picture of the car full of "al-Qaeda leaders" that were supposed to have been killed by a missile from a drone plane in the desert? They showed us a completely demolished vehicle and the rest we have to take their word on.....NOT.

Same with Saddam....his timely capture and the fact that he'll never make it to trial. Or if he does, it will be so controlled that the truth will never see the light of day.

And then there's all those poor people rotting at Gitmo without voice or trial.....

I think the whole thing is a SHAM.

[peekaloo]

19. curious about Hastert's backtracking yesterday

allowing the 9/11 commission the extra time, which would put their "findings" release date to coincide with the Dem's convention start date. Seems that would be a most convenient date for Osama's "capture".

But I'll second your posted question, where's the proof of al-Qaeda's involvement in 9/11.....Boosh's say-so????

[joeunderdog]

31. They had no advance warning, but knew who did it by 3pm?

How so?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

21. Has it ever been proved there IS an Al-Quaeda,

that is, outside the fantasy world of Carlyle Group.

[sam7]

Well, gee,

there was that videotape of him admitting it. Other than that I guess you're right.

[sam7]

29. Well, gee,

there was that videotape of him admitting it. Other than that I guess you're right.

[Cooley Hurd]

15. Was it the same Iranian news sources ...

...that broke the "Saddam captured by the Kurds" story? Has that been officially debunked?

[slack]

33. Yes it was

and another source:
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=23003&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

[lancdem]

16. The more they have to deny stories like this

the more likely it is any October surprise will backfire. If the Iranian press was right about Saddam, well ...

[pocoloco]

17. Is this a good idea??

I just sent the link to :
"SEND NEWS TIPS TO DRUDGE"
Maybe if enough people think it is important maybe he will run it.

Granted drudge is a sleaze ball, the point is that all the mainstream press read drudge and don't like being upstaged by him and maybe they might pick up the story.

Just an idea to get the story out to lesson it's impact if is is true?

[seventhson]

24. IT'S ON THE FRONT PAGE AT DRUDGE REPORT!!!

Good work theodoty!!!

[Endangered Specie]

20. SO maybe now they just caught him... someone saw them doing it...

No have to deny it so they can save him for the October special

[salin]

22. Here is the significance of this story...

the buzz/belief that they are going to "stage" something has gotten so widespread... that they have to publically deal with the story.

No more denial due to silence.

This, imo, is why there has not been a planting of WMDs - the admin KNOWS that the press (at least the international press) and the public is growing skeptical - and if there were to be ANY evidence of a plant that it WOULD be discovered - and that would be infintely WORSE than not finding WMDs at all.

So now, similar story-line... think about it - why would OBL be captured and not have it be publicized unless it is for political advantage (duh!)... for the buzz to be so prolonged and loud for the administration to even admit there is this suspicion and therefor it has to be "addressed" (through public denial)... is VERY significant.

When I read Rumsfeld comments within the last couple of days - I though the same thing... he is trying to distance himself (and thus the administration) from the idea that a capture is imminent... either because a) it really isn't and is just hyped stories to try to divert ongoing negative press for bush... OR b) the skepticism that all of the stories really are a staged "capture"... would negate any positive effect for the admin if/when obl is (revealed to be) captured. Too myself I thought... "he knows - that they have lost credibility.. and the days of complete management of storylines are quickly diminishing... because at each revealing of said staged events... the international - and now domestic - audience grows more and more cynical of ANY announcement made by this administration.

[x-g.o.p.er]

23. Wow, very well thought out post...

Makes a lot of sense to me.

[Malva Zebrina]

27. sounds good to me

in my fantasy I imagine some disgruntled CIA whistleblower leaking the information that he has been keeping Bin Laden in a hole in the ground since Afganistan was invaded. Wouldn't that be so great?

I don't believe a think any of them say about it. Not a thing. There is no one in the entire administration that has any credibility. That is really a shame. It is the secretive, urban legend, lying and propagandists photo ops administration. Cannot believe a thing they say.

[Voltaire99]

28. Bush leading Bin Laden by a leash - a Faux News exclusive...

...coming this October to a TV screen near you.

[HiramAbiff]

30. October Surprise - No question

[LoneStarLiberal]

32. Trumped, Persian-Style

Trumped by those tricky Persians!

First an embassy, now bin Laden!

[seventhson]

34. Uh-Oh!

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20040228063009990001

WASHINGTON (Feb. 28) - The United States is rounding up and questioning the relatives of fugitive al-Qaida leaders to generate information on the possible whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and his top deputies. This tactic helped lead to Saddam Hussein's capture.

On Saturday, Pentagon and Pakistani officials denied an Iranian state radio report that bin Laden had been captured "a long time ago'' in Pakistan's border region with Afghanistan.



AP
Osama bin Laden on
Al-Jazeera television Sept. 10, 2003

But some U.S. officials do say they have been able to extract useful information from Afghan and Pakistani relatives and friends of al-Qaida fugitives, providing hints on the possible whereabouts of the organization's leaders.

So far, the information the U.S. has received is unconfirmed and does not mean the terrorist leader's location has been pinned down or his capture is imminent. U.S. officials caution that rumors of significant progress are overstated.

With the weather improving in Afghanistan, the U.S. military has sent troops and technology to the country to aid the search and to give forces on the ground more opportunity to track down bin Laden. He is the United States' most wanted terrorist for his leadership in planning the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Rounding up relatives for questioning helped bring about the Dec. 13 capture of Saddam, the former Iraqi leader. U.S. officials hope the tactic could lead to information on the whereabouts of bin Laden and his top deputies, especially when combined with information from spy satellites, communication intercepts and prisoner interrogations.

U.S. military officials have said they are planning a spring offensive in Afghanistan in the hopes of capturing bin Laden, former Taliban leader Mullah Omar and their associates.


Boy! Does this sound like a lot of Bullshit to make it seem like Osama is not yet captured?