National Security

He's Back…

By Mark Thompson | @MarkThompson_DC | March 29, 2011 | +
-- Wikimedia

Asia Times has reported that spy agencies are “stunned” by Osama bin Laden’s recent forays back and forth between Afghanistan and Pakistan:

Asia Times Online has learned that decision-makers have put a lot of weight on the information on Bin Laden’s movements as it has come from multiple intelligence agencies, in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. For at least two years, little credible news has emerged of Bin Laden’s movements and motives. Now, intelligence officials believe they have top-grade accounts as they come from the inner circles of militant camps.

There has been speculation his alleged travels telegraph an impending strike against a Western target. But intelligence analysts suggest it means bin Laden is busy recrafting al Qaeda’s strategy to deal with the turmoil sweeping north Africa and the Middle East. The CIA is said to be stepping up the hunt.

Related Topics: osama bin laden, National Security

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  • michaelfury
  • nflfoghorn

    How close are we to dropping a drone on him?

  • afguy

    Got a question…
    .
    Beyond symbolically, exactly how much influence does OBL NOW exert over al Qaeda from a practical point of view?
    .
    Or is his value to US as the face of the movement – if we take him out, we’ve somehow cut off its head and dealt it a mortal blow (at least from a marketing perspective)?

  • michaelfury

    So he hasn’t been touring with the Jonas Brothers after all?

    http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/killin/

  • nflfoghorn

    Effectiveness-wise, taking him out would be justified and symbolic.
    .
    AQ will still hang around in some form, but I think its time (probably even as we speak) will be spent trying to convince fellow Arabs that terrorism > self-determination.

  • afguy

    But… if we take him out, who gets to serve as the “face” of al Qaeda (or terrorism)?
    .
    I think OBL is more useful to us alive than he is dead. I’m trying to remember the last election cycle in which a recording purportedly made by him didn’t “surface” and serve to get the blood stirring for more involvement somewhere or defense spending.
    .
    I just think we’ll be “on the verge” of capturing/killing him for a number of years more. And he’ll be on our radar for the same period, always planning SOMETHING whose execution will be just around the corner, and for which we must be vigilant with the latest and greatest “hardware”.

  • nflfoghorn

    Bears repeating…
    His henchmen/cowards used OUR STUFF against us. No dirty bombs, no guns. We may have overcompensated for the threat. Also, with drones offing his buddies there aren’t too many of ‘em left who think his and al-Zawahiri’s way.
    .
    Probably should look to Gadahn and that other skinny guy from Yemen whose name escapes me as current “faces” of AQ.

  • newfreedomblog

    “Couric: How important do you think it is, Mr. President-elect, to apprehend Osama bin Laden?
    .
    Mr. Obama: I think that we have to so weaken his infrastructure that, whether he is technically alive or not, he is so pinned down that he cannot function. My preference obviously would be to capture or kill him. But if we have so tightened the noose that he’s in a cave somewhere and can’t even communicate with his operatives, then we will meet our goal of protecting America.”

    .
    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/14/eveningnews/main4722185.shtml

  • GivenUp

    On some level the fact that he remains alive and free is a thorn in the eye of the US military establishment, especially now that he is moving about it feels like he is trying to say that we have no power to strike at him. He may not be a real threat anymore but the symbolic value of killing Bin Laden would be significant.
    .
    Also, once he is dead he is no longer the bogeyman and people might be able to think a little more rationally about the threat of terrorism. (a small hope but hey)

  • http://jcapan.wordpress.com jcapan

    MT, love that you linked to AT!

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