CIA Increasing Efforts To Get Bin Laden, Al-Zawahiri

Looks like the CIA is ramping up its efforts to catch Osama bin Laden and al-Zawahiri (hat tip: LGF):

Armed with fresh intelligence, the CIA is moving additional man power and equipment into Pakistan in the effort to find Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al Zawahri, U.S. officials tell ABC News. “Reports that the trail has gone stone cold are not correct,” said one U.S. official. “We are very much increasing our efforts there,” the official said.

People familiar with the CIA operation say undercover officers with paramilitary training have been ordered into Pakistan and the area across the border with Afghanistan as part of the ramp-up. Although never publicly acknowledged, Pakistan has permitted CIA teams to secretly operate inside Pakistan.

Pakistan officials say they are aware that CIA teams have increased their presence in northern Waziristan since last September when Pakistan withdrew its troops from the area under a much-criticized “peace deal” with tribal leaders.

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell testified last week that current intelligence “to the best of our knowledge” puts both bin Laden and al Zawahri in Pakistan. It was the first time a high-ranking U.S. official publicly identified Pakistan as bin Laden’s hiding place.

I'm just wondering, what's the mainstream media doing mentioning this? I can't see how it hurts the war effort, unless maybe they like reminding us we never caught OBL...

Then again, I don't think ABC's blog counts as major media coverage. And aside from Fox News and USA Today, I'm not really seeing any other mention of this in any big news outlets, so never mind. Guess it's just another MSM whitewash...

Anyway, a great story. As Rusty over at Jawa notes, "If they ever get bin Laden, and he really is in Pakistan, don't worry: that will be some mighty fine crow, well worth the eating." Amen to that. I can't wait to serve bin Laden a big, meaty justice sandwich.

Al Gore and GW on Bin Laden

Hat tip to the Political Pit Bull who found a golden nugget in an extremely long and boring article about Ariel Sharon:

Speaking of George Bush, with whom Sharon developed a very close relationship, Uri Dan recalls that Sharon's delicacy made him reluctant to repeat what the president had told him when they discussed Osama bin Laden. Finally he relented. And here is what the leader of the Western world, valiant warrior in the battle of cultures, promised to do to bin Laden if he caught him: "I will screw him in the ass!"

Way to go GW. It's good to know that he's sincere in his hate for terrorists.

It's also good to know that Al Gore may have a little but of a human heart under that robot exterior, showing an unusual amount of sense for the man who now leads the environmental nuts:

Snatches, or more properly "extraordinary renditions," were operations to apprehend terrorists abroad, usually without the knowledge of and almost always without public acknowledgement of the host government.... The first time I proposed a snatch, in 1993, the White House Counsel, Lloyd Cutler, demanded a meeting with the President to explain how it violated international law. Clinton had seemed to be siding with Cutler until Al Gore belatedly joined the meeting, having just flown overnight from South Africa. Clinton recapped the arguments on both sides for Gore: Lloyd says this. Dick says that. Gore laughed and said, "That's a no-brainer. Of course it's a violation of international law, that's why it's a covert action. The guy is a terrorist. Go grab his ass." (pp. 143-144)

It's too damn bad he's unwilling to stand up for his private beliefs, when he would much rather kowtow to the peacenik left.

MSM Apparently Forgot Saddam/Osama Link

Curt over at Flopping Aces has a great post on the media's whitewash of the Saddam/Osama connection - how they talked about it before the War, how the Dems believed it, etc. He includes this video from 1999 (via Powerline), an "ABC news report which details all the connections between Saddam and Osama:"



Curt also compiles a little reminder of the Dems' prewar feelings on the Saddam/Osama connection:

We have solid reporting of senior-level contacts between Iraq and al-Qaida going back a decade.
- George Tenet 2002

there was that relationship that went from opposing each other to not opposing each other to possibly working with each other.
- Patrick Fitzgerald 2004

Certainly there's a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda
- General Wesley Clarke 2002

In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.
- Sen. Hillary Clinton 2002

Read the whole post; it has far more information than I could shamelessly steal.

Break In The Hunt For OBL

Political Pit Bull reports on some big breaks in the hunt for Osama - the capture of a Pakistani with AQ ties who may have once been OBL's personal escort. I have to agree with Ace on this one: "Waterboard him. Hell, cut off his g[**]damn fingers. Let's stop f[***]ing about."

Terrorsists Support Libs Becuase Libs Support Terrorists

Why am I not surprised... Reports AP:

On the audio tape made available on militant Web sites, the al-Qaida in Iraq leader also welcomed the Republican electoral defeat that led to the departure of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. He added that the group's fighters would not rest until they had blown up the White House.

Aren't these the guys who were practically campaigning for Johny Kerry? If anyone is shocked by the fact that the terrorists support liberals then they need to pay closer attention. If you were trying to destroy civilization would you rather your only adversary want to kill you back or want to talk with you about your feelings? I think being endorsed by Osama should automatically qualify you to be thrown from office...