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.

Zilla Huma Usman, RIP

Radical Islam strikes again, taking the life of a woman who refused to kowtow to their misogynistic BS that they pass off as religion:

A Pakistani minister and woman’s activist has been shot dead by an Islamic extremist for refusing to wear the veil.

Zilla Huma Usman, the minister for social welfare in Punjab province and an ally of President Pervez Musharraf, was killed as she was about to deliver a speech to dozens of party activists, by a “fanatic”, who believed that she was dressed inappropriately and that women should not be involved in politics, officials said.

Mrs Usman, 35, was wearing the shalwar kameez worn by many professional women in Pakistan, but did not cover her head.

The attack happened in Gujranwala, 120 miles southeast of Islamabad, where the minister’s office is based. As Ms Usman, 35, stepped out of her car – where she was greeted by her co-workers throwing rose petals - the attacker pulled out a pistol and fired a single shot at close range, hitting her in the head. She was airlifted to hospital in the provincial capital Lahore, but died soon afterwards.

I'm hoping "fanatic" is in quotes because they think terrorist is more appropriate, but maybe they don't think he's really a fanatic, just your run-of-the-mill Islamic male.