The Real Prize of the Bin Laden Raid

[babylonsister]

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/05/real-prize-osama-bin-laden-raid

The Real Prize of the Bin Laden Raid

— By David Corn
| Fri May. 6, 2011 12:30 PM PDT

snip//

The material gathered at bin Laden's last house might provide intelligence that goes beyond information useful for neutralizing Al Qaeda leaders and operations.

Wayne White, a former State Department intelligence analyst points out that the treasure trove could contain material that helps the United States and NATO sort out the tangle of Taliban and assorted extremist groups that they are fighting in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He notes, "Should the trove of information reveal (in part, by way of the nature of contacts with Al Qaeda), which portions of the Taliban & friends are the most doggedly hostile to us, those could be targeted more selectively."

That is, if a Taliban-related group was in Bin Laden's address book, Kabul might think twice about engaging in reconciliation talks with it: "Should we move closer to negotiations with elements of the Taliban, the improved granularity that might emerge from the documents could cast light on the political stance of various elements of the Taliban and could well identify those portions of the anti-Kabul resistance who would be more amenable to meaningful talks and those most likely to reject such overtures or enter into negotiations primarily to deceive."

White adds: "I place the emphasis on the hope that this trove of information will provide highly useful information that can assist at a more strategic (or higher) tactical level than just chasing al-Qaeda bad guys."

Chasing the bad guys is fine work, and this material—if interpreted and decoded sufficiently—will presumably fuel plenty of chasing. But it might also provide policymakers with additional insights useful for ending or diminishing the war in Afghanistan and countering extremist-driven instability in Pakistan.

[Duer 157099]

1. and even if they found absolutely nothing in that house

just saying they did is enough to send AQ into some sort of frenzy. Probably a whole lot of moving around right now. Like cockroaches scattering when the light is turned on.

[FrenchieCat]

2. I kept thinking about the potential treasure trove

since day one.....

I figured that this is what will help us get out of Afghanistan,
much more than anything else.

Oil should also drop in price, possibly due to some of the names
found at that house.

:)

[glowing]

3. I would think bank accounts and financial ties, if in the "treasure", would prove very

invaluable.. The guy was wealthy... Multi-millionaire.. Knowing where his monied assets sat would be prime... I'm sure there is more than one major bank involved in housing his assets.

[leveymg]

4. Not nearly what bin Laden in chains could have told you. Not a tiny fraction.

But, that would have VERY inconvenient to some very close to home.

[localroger]

5. I doubt it

A captive OBL could be counted on to lie about everything, just as KSM lied about the name of his courier when he was being tortured. And the better than torture technique of establishing rapport would be unlikely to work with OBL himself. But his own notes, set down for his own use when and where he thought he was safe, are likely to be candid and uncensored.

As for the whole killing him thing, if a SWAT team got the idea that someone even a thousandth as dangerous as OBL was living in my house and the SWAT team stormed in and there was a shot fired by anybody, I'd be dead and it would be perfectly legal. And then they'd probably search my house and take my computer for analysis on general principles. I don't see how this is much different.

[boppers]

9. That wasn't the mission.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/for-obama-killing-not-capturing-nobr-bin-laden-nobr-was-goal-20110503

Trying to capture him alive would have been a much more drawn out and complex process.

[leveymg]

10. Thanks. That confirms what I've been saying

There's no serious effort being made to preserve the evidentiary record or to go after the higher-level terrorist sponsors and enablers in various intelligence agencies, ministries and elites. Just the opposite.

As for the brick-a-brack that got scooped up at UBLs compound, that all goes into the memory hole. What little the public may see eventually won't resemble it.

[Honeycombe8]

6. This was a coup for our country. I'm so thankful to Obama and the Seals...and proud. nt

[LiberalFighter]

7. How about if there is anything to link bin Laden to Pakistan higher ups?

[boppers]

8. A whole lot of hedging there....

The material gathered at bin Laden's last house might...
...the treasure trove could ...."Should the trove of information reveal....those could be ...if a... ... might think twice...."Should we... might emerge... could...could well ...would be...most likely

hope that... will provide... can assist

if ... might also ....


So, basically, the author has no idea what's in there, and is just speculating wildly in order to have a story in by deadline.