The Compound factor Part 5 (The ISI visit)
This is a very curious statement:
Quote:
The ISI official told the BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones in Islamabad that the compound in Abbottabad, just 100km (62 miles) from the capital, was raided when under construction in 2003. It was believed an al-Qaeda operative, Abu Faraj al-Libi, was there. But since then "the compound was not on our radar, it is an embarrassment for the ISI", the official said. "We're good, but we're not God."
Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13268517
Abu Faraj al-Libi was detained in Mardan, Pakistan in 2005, in a joint operation and is in Guantanamo Bay, from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Faraj_al-Libbi
When you are pursuing a fugitive any residence linked to him and his close associates should remain on the radar, if only for reference purposes and was this information shared in 2003?
Pakistani official statement
Worth capturing here and has some noteworthy passages:http://www.mofa.gov.pk/Press_Release...May/PR_152.htm
Like:
Quote:
Abbottabad and the surrounding areas have been under sharp focus of intelligence agencies since 2003 resulting in highly technical operation by ISI which led to the arrest of high value Al Qaeda target in 2004. As far as the target compound is concerned, ISI had been sharing information with CIA and other friendly intelligence agencies since 2009. The intelligence flow indicating some foreigners in the surroundings of Abbottabad, continued till mid April 2011. It is important to highlight that taking advantage of much superior technological assets...There has been a lot of discussion about the nature of the targeted compound, particularly its high walls and its vicinity to the areas housing Pakistan Army elements. It needs to be appreciated that many houses occupied by the affectees of operations in FATA / KPK, have high boundary walls, in line with their culture of privacy and security. Houses with such layout and structural details are not a rarity.
Bin Laden Arabic Editorial Roundup
Bin Laden Arabic Editorial Roundup
Entry Excerpt:
Bin Laden Arabic Editorial Roundup
Selected Excerpts Compiled by Scott Weiner, PhD Student
The George Washington University
Translated from Arabic
Continue on for the editorial roundup.
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OBL: Epic Fail and Legacy
OBL: Epic Fail and Legacy
Entry Excerpt:
Osama Bin Laden: Epic Fail? - Dr. David Betz at Kings of War:
"... On the other hand, I also agree with something Bruce Berkowitz wrote about Bin Laden years ago in his book
The New Face of War: ‘History will not portray Osama bin Laden as a mere terrorist, rather instructors at West Point and Annapolis will cite him as one of the first military commanders to use a new kind of combat organization in a successful operation.’ There’s no contradiction here; Bin Laden joins a long list of military innovators who fought in lost causes. The advantage of being first is often fleeting and I think, hope earnestly, that that is what is happening here ..."
FPRI Perspectives on bin Laden's Demise - Foreign Policy Research Institute:
The world is better off without Osama bin Laden. But his demise does not mean the end of terrorism. What is bin Laden’s legacy, and what will Al Qaeda and its affiliates do in the post-bin Laden era? We asked two Senior Fellows of FPRI to comment on these questions – Lawrence Husick and Barak Mendelsohn.
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The Compound factor Part 6 (Life inside)
Slowly some more details are appearing, much of it appears to be from asking the locals and I expect some speculation:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13266944
I liked these snippets:
Quote:
..neighbours say the "Osama entourage" passed themselves off as gold merchants...all observers are united is that the women were rarely seen. Most people assumed that this is because they were Pashtun, and they tend to observe strict purdah.
Slightly more local 'colour" on:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...den-death-raid
Note the nearest neighbour's house was occupied by a Pakistani Army major.
You judge how accurate this is.