From 2006: Bush Disbanded CIA Unit Hunting Bin Laden

[KingOfLostSouls]

C.I.A. Closes Unit Focused on Capture of bin Laden
By MARK MAZZETTI
Published: July 4, 2006

WASHINGTON, July 3 — The Central Intelligence Agency has closed a unit that for a decade had the mission of hunting Osama bin Laden and his top lieutenants, intelligence officials confirmed Monday.


The unit, known as Alec Station, was disbanded late last year and its analysts reassigned within the C.I.A. Counterterrorist Center, the officials said.

The decision is a milestone for the agency, which formed the unit before Osama bin Laden became a household name and bolstered its ranks after the Sept. 11 attacks, when President Bush pledged to bring Mr. bin Laden to justice "dead or alive."


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Mr. Scheuer said that view was mistaken.

"This will clearly denigrate our operations against Al Qaeda," he said. "These days at the agency, bin Laden and Al Qaeda appear to be treated merely as first among equals."

In recent years, the war in Iraq has stretched the resources of the intelligence agencies and the Pentagon, generating new priorities for American officials. For instance, much of the military's counterterrorism units, like the Army's Delta Force, had been redirected from the hunt for Mr. bin Laden to the search for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed last month in Iraq.

more
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/04/washington/04intel.html




why is ANYONE praising george w. bush?

[emulatorloo]

1. THANK YOU n/t

[sakabatou]

2. Off to the greatest with you.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

3. BUSH WAS AN ALL ROUND S.O.B.

[KittyWampus]

4. Republicans don't care about National Security except as it benefits them personally-

their wallets and power.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, KingOfLostSouls.

[Kingofalldems]

6. Kick this one for the clown

[Distant Observer]

7. Pakistan probably BRIEFED BUSH on Situation. Bin Laden search unit was a WASTE OF MONEY since he

was being effectively held in one of the ISI "Safe" houses.

[Gregorian]

8. George Bush milked the benefits of Bin Laden for every penny possible.

It cost lives, but what the hell.

[OKNancy]

9. Kicked, Rec'd and linked on my Facebook

my friends are probably going to get sick of all the politics I've been posting... don't care!

[malaise]

10. K & R

for truth

[Fuzz]

11. So Clinton started it and Bush ended it? All hail bush!

[scarletwoman]

12. K&R - this ought to be in lights in Times Square! Thank you!

[laconicsax]

13. K&R

What an ass!

[Dark]

14. Kicked/recd nt

[scarletwoman]

15. Another kick - I want to see this on DU's front page, dammit! (nt)

[Gabi Hayes]

16. Richard Blee....the Zelig of covert ops? check this guy out:

http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=rich_b._1


lots of articles at link. this guy had his fingers in many, many pies. I'd never heard of him til very recently

Uzbekistan
Niger
Alec Station
Iraq
John O'Neil
Northern Alliance
Massoud warning of AlQ attack
warns Tenet that 'Bin Laden Will Launch Spectacular Attack'

very interesting stuff here, all in one spot

[donheld]

17. "why is ANYONE praising george w. bush?"

Because war = peace

[glinda]

18. Alec huh?

[Vanje]

19. for Kix nt

[Blue Owl]

20. WTF GWB GOP POS

Shove that bullhorn where the Dimson don't shine.

[hwmnbn]

21. K&R