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| Terror Networks |
| Hunt for Osama bin Laden Narrowed to Hostile, Rugged Region of Pakistan |
| 2003-09-08 |
| EFL. Pakistan? Ya don’t say?! The hunt for Osama bin Laden has been narrowed to a 40-square-mile section of the Waziristan region of Pakistan, senior U.S. officials told ABCNEWS. How many B-52’s would it take to flatten 40 square miles? "[It is] a very hostile area in terms of geography, mountains, terrain, ravines and two ferocious tribes, the Wazirs and the Mahsuds who dominate the area," said Dr. Akbar Ahmed, professor of International Relations at American University in Washington, D.C. Authorities are casting a net around the towns of Angoor Ada and Wana in southern Waziristan, which are infested with al Qaeda supporters, but it is a difficult and dangerous area to operate in. Local residents showed ABCNEWS the mountain homes of known al Qaeda operatives, graffiti praising the Taliban leader Mullah Omar, who is also believed to be hiding in northern Waziristan, and the marketplaces and bazaars where authorities believe that bin Laden and his entourage could get its supplies. At least eight people were murdered in the town of Angoor Ada, in broad daylight, on the suspicion they were informing the U.S. of bin Laden’s whereabouts, according to locals. As a result, locals are tightlipped about al Qaeda’s presence. Ya think? Locals also told ABCNEWS that one tribe has been known to kill their own relatives for helping Americans with development and infrastructure work on either side of the Afghan-Pakistan border. Authorities told ABCNEWS there is new information from electronic intercepts and intelligence on the ground that shows bin Laden is very much alive, somewhere in the rugged terrain of Waziristan. Local sources there said al Qaeda has affiliates in different cities from Wana to Karachi, who are responsible for transporting al Qaeda members and sending messages by camel, enabling bin Laden to avoid U.S. spy planes and satellites overhead. Four FBI and CIA agents are stationed with Pakistani troops to relay U.S. intelligence information, but even the Pakistanis have a hard time operating there. By treaty with the Wazir tribe, they are not allowed further than 100 yards on either side of the road, according to Ahmed, who once held a political post in the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan, which includes Waziristan. "This really is a closed area," he said. "The government of Pakistan has very limited control. Beyond 100 yards of both sides of the road, they have no control, which means there is no criminal law, no civil procedure codes, no normal laws of Pakistan function." Why doesn’t this surprise me? The tribal code also focuses on revenge, hospitality and honor, according to Ahmed, so if bin Laden was hiding in this area, all the codes would be applied. "He would be hiding as a guest, so the law of hospitality would be involved," said Ahmed. "If someone handed him over for the huge reward that is being offered, the honor of the tribe would be at stake." Tribal customs and traditions aside, Saleh-Hayat said it is imperative of Pakistan, "to now focus on the tribal belts and to extend its laws into those areas 
but it is a gradual process." In other words, don’t hold your breath. U.S. special forces are stationed across the border in Afghanistan with approximately 45 checkpoints should bin Laden head there, but authorities said there are many unfrequented routes and it is impossible to seal the entire border. Special forces in Afghanistan, however, are not as specialized as they once were. This specifically hurts the hunt because, he added, in order to deploy intelligence resources to collect information on bin Laden, the U.S. needs Arabic speakers. "If you’ve drawn off many if not all of your Arabic language resources and sent them off to Iraq you’re shorthanded in terms of dealing with intelligence collection problem of fixing bin Laden’s location," said Cannistraro. "So there are fewer resources to deal with in trying to basically find and capture, the principal leader of a terrorist organization that’s killing Americans." Iraq’s not going anywhere. I throw whatever was needed into Afghanistan/Pakistan to get this prick. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #20 There's a mismatch here: These hicks don't want government control beyond 100 yards, don't want to be ruled as Pakistanis by Pakistani law, yet want to be counted and treated as Pakis when it comes to foreign influence. Think of a guy who builds a factory outside the town limits, doesn't pay taxes, and doesn't want to submit to town regulations and zoning. He has no right to complain if the city fire department doesn't come when his factory catches fire, or the city police won't arrest the guys who stole the payroll. Time for Pervez to say to these yahoos "No paki cover where there are no paki boots." This sort of honor thing implies that the biggest honcho in the valley is hosting OBL. Find where this guy has his herds, send in the A-10s to buzz them and scare the be-zesus out of them. Maybe fire a few rounds from the gatling gun and blow some big rocks away. When the Big Man's racing camel can't race because it's nerves are shot to hell, you'll see OBL flying out on his ear jig-time. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-9-8 10:30:22 PM |
| #19 Fierce tribes my ass. Get Tactical on the these cavemen and watch the honor drain away in a pool of blood. I said my prayer "May it be today". I'm sick to death of tribalism. Cavemen were tribal, Stone age was tribal. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-9-8 10:24:04 PM |
| #18 The thing is, if the US were to take out this area we would be doing a lot towards stabalizing Pakistan, in the long run. In the short run it might be bad for the dictator general. I laughed at the blanket comment. This time the blankets can be coated with diaharia causing bacteria. I'd love to see these guys spending all day either praying to Mecca or praying at the toilet while the US and Pakistan decide what to do. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-9-8 9:33:29 PM |
| #17 Actually a Moab would still leave a skeleton once all the flesh smolders away. OBL is abnormally tall unless he is always been photographed by the Pakistani midget terrorst for operation deception purposes. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-9-8 8:42:21 PM |
| #16 The tribal code also focuses on revenge, hospitality and honor Hell this sounds like the Southeastern Conference... let's send in the Dawgs. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-9-8 8:24:19 PM |
| #15 "40 square miles" Are they talking a square 40 miles on a side? Or one only about 100 grid squares? (6.3 X 6.3 miles) |
| Posted by: Dave 2003-9-8 8:11:19 PM |
| #14 "revenge, hospitality and honor" We have those too. Sadly we are all out of hospitality and honor. |
| Posted by: flash91 - fatwah you talkin bout willis 2003-9-8 7:42:23 PM |
| #13 Not all chemical compounds are deadly. Some can have some interesting side effects, however. Can you see this valley carpeted with mothballs impregnated with a retch gas? Load up the sealed containers into a half-dozen C-141's, make several runs over the terrain, dropping more each time. Give the stuff about twelve hours to work, then go in in scuba gear, shovel down to the ones we want, and leave. The rest will decompose and make nice compost for whoever takes over the area next. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-9-8 7:21:30 PM |
| #12 "40 square miles" Of course, if you ironed out the wrinkles in that map, it's more like 400 square miles.... That being said, that area is not *that* large. It's about the size of an average township here in New England. Assuming they have him pinpointed correctly to be within that area, I would say that the only real problem now is to figure out exactly how to nab him... |
| Posted by: Carl in NH 2003-9-8 7:08:45 PM |
| #11 I suggest some napalm. That'll put the idea in their heads that a little heat is what they're going to feel when their time on this planet is up, and with any luck it'll be pretty soon. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-9-8 6:09:26 PM |
| #10 ...a very hostile area in terms of geography, mountains, terrain, ravines and two ferocious tribes, the Wazirs and the Mahsuds who dominate the area" Hmmm... You guys need any blankets?... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-9-8 5:10:25 PM |
| #9 A mushroom cloud and a crater would send a message that ought to be sent. I wouldn't risk the life of one special forces member just to put Osama's and Omar's heads on stakes. I can go MOAB if you guys aren't willing to make the "axis of evil" pee in their pants. |
| Posted by: Tom 2003-9-8 5:03:13 PM |
| #8 The picture this article creates is an almost completely isolated and ineffective OBL--he can't organize or implement international operations and his sphere of real influence is about 40 square miles. I hope this is true. |
| Posted by: sludj 2003-9-8 4:58:04 PM |
| #7 Neutron bomb woulda been sweet for this. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-9-8 4:40:21 PM |
| #6 I think we need a more subtle touch then MOAB or Nukes here. Perhaps some special forces to sneak in and capture OBL and Omar (and if they happen to lop off the heads of these tribes at the same time so much the better). |
| Posted by: GregJ 2003-9-8 4:39:02 PM |
| #5 Plus there is the fact that as soon as we have a confirmed capture of kill of OBL, how many democrats will say "war's over, bring the boys home!" |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-9-8 4:38:46 PM |
| #4 Actually, the care and feeding of OBL and whatever entourage he has requires a fair bit of resources. It wouldn't be so bad if he were left alive for awhile since it freezes some of the Soddi $ that otherwise would be committed to other terrorists. |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-9-8 4:29:15 PM |
| #3 Moab into the 21st Century! (my new motto for the tribal areas) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-9-8 3:53:14 PM |
| #2 Osama, two "ferocious tribes", and two towns "infested with al Qaeda supporters". Sounds like a great target to me. Nuke 'em. |
| Posted by: Tom 2003-9-8 3:46:14 PM |
| #1 One of GW's basic tenants (no pun intended) was that if you harbor terrorists you will be dealt with just like the terrorists. These guys are caught up in their tribal traditions a little too heavily. They need the heat turned up on them just like with the Taliban and see that actions have consequences. We are fighting this thing with both hands tied behind our back with this hundred yards meters cubits thing and that is crap. Pakistan will go slower the closer we get to Binny. It is time for at least one glove to come off for us. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-9-8 3:42:32 PM |