Bin Laden: before Abbottabad (merged thread)

[Rank amateur]

Given the realities of the time, it's not surprising that both of his requests (a blocking force or mining) were rejected.

Could you please explain. Isn`t a blocking force one of the simplest and most basic ways to deploy troops.

The Muj couldn't be trusted

Isn`t that highly relevant given that our strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan to this day is to turn over security to the locals. Do you really think that its old news to the millions of Americans and millions of 60 Minutes viewers who our going to be voting in the next 30 days. (For example, I had no idea the local went home every night, and were sleeping peacefully in their beds, when our guys were very close to Bin Laden and knew exactly where he was and I think I`ve learned a thing or two from hanging around here that the average 60 minutes viewer might not know.)