Here we go: An election forecast - "We’ll get bin Laden"

[Fleshdancer]

http://www.hillnews.com/under_dome/020404.aspx

He doesn’t bother to attend secret CIA briefings of his fellow senators because he seldom learns anything he hasn’t read in the newspapers, but Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is convinced the U.S. will track down the elusive mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks before November.

“Obviously, he’ll be caught between now and the election,” Grassley said Monday when asked if he’s disappointed that Osama bin Laden hasn’t been killed or captured.

“I think they’re on his trail now in a way they haven’t been all year,” Grassley said. “It will happen because we will be able to divert more resources .”

Grassley, who’s an overwhelming favorite to win a fifth term in November, declined to say why he’s so confident that bin Laden will be brought to justice. But it certainly didn’t come from one of those secret CIA briefings

[JuniorPlankton]

1. Here is why I doubt they have bin Laden

A guy like bin Laden (and unlike Hussein) wouldn't surrender to the US.
I can't imagine us capturing him alive.
If it's just the body you can't really keep it "on ice" for long.

[lovedems]

2. Here is what frightens me about the capture of OBL

and yes, he does need to be caught but this administration is so short-sighted, all they care about is parading his carcas around the media for re-election purposes. If they cared about getting him, the last 2 years would show that.

Anyway, unlike Saddam, OBL is beloved among "his people". Unlike Saddam, OBL will become a martyr not a villian.

I am not saying that OBL should stay on the run because of these reasons but if they intend to parade him this year, they better have their shit together because the terrorist are going to want revenge. Look at how angry people got showing the de-lousing of Saddam and they hated him!

I don't think this administration has their shit together for another attack, and I think that will happen when OBL is shown dead world wide with the chimp grinning from ear to ear.

This election year ploy stands to cause alot of damage unless they handle it correctly and history shows, they don't know how to do that.

[Anwen]

3. I thought they already captured him?

There was a story in LBN the other day about this. Someone said that a German newspaper reported that Bin Laden was caught Jan. 22 and is being held in a jail in Afghanistan. Want to bet they are going to parade him out in October/November?

Hang on, I'll go look for the link...

[Fleshdancer]

4. Here's another interesting "they already got him" story....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1084356


I had lunch today with a physician friend of mine. She told me that two days ago her office nurse had her boyfriend come by the office to meet her. He was a Special Forces Marine that had just returned from a tour in Afghanistan. Over lunch he began talking about his experiences in Afghanistan. He told how he had lost his faith in the military and the Bush administration. But the bombshell was that the Special Forces group he was assigned to had captured Osama Bin Laden early on in the Afghanistan war. After they captured him they were directed to take him to an undisclosed location and turn him over to another group of military intelligence. He said "Honest to God I saw Bin Laden with my own two eyes". She said she was certain this young man was telling her the truth

_________________________

Interesting.

[Perky]

5. If they "capture" him after the conventions

I predict that Bush will lose the election.

First because it will looke awfully coincidental
Seconf because it will rally the Dem base.
Third because it will justify changing horses in mid-stream to disenchanted Moderates
Fourth, Al-Qaudea will keep on attacking.

It will howver, defelct the criticism on Iraq.

[isbister]

6. ...divert more resources, Huh?

It will happen because we will be able to divert more resources

Grassley had better check with his boss because I believe their position all along has been that Iraq didn't divert any resources away from the hunt for bin Laden... that the appropriate level of troops were on the job.

Oh, wait... could the bush administration be misleading the American people, the Congress and the world again... those rascals!