News & Politics - Amanpour: Bin Laden still deadly relevant

Lexis · 08-22-2006, 08:13 AM

Don't usually post opinion pieces but I found this interesting as it will soon be 5 years since 9/11.

Quote:

Nearly five years have passed since the September 11 terrorist attacks, yet Osama bin Laden -- the world's most-wanted terrorist -- remains a dangerous fugitive, his words and actions inspiring jihadists across the globe.

It's hard to fathom that bin Laden would remain so relevant today, when in the days after the attacks, the Bush administration and much of the world was determined to get him.

"I want justice," President Bush said, referring to bin Laden after September 11, 2001. "And there's an old poster out West. ... I recall, that said, 'Wanted, Dead or Alive.'"

The United States unleashed an onslaught on Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban, but bin Laden slipped away. By most accounts, it's because the United States did not have enough boots on the ground, not enough U.S. soldiers to pin him down and block off escape routes in December 2001.

"In the first two or three days of December, I would write a message back to Washington recommending the insertion of U.S. forces on the ground," Gary Berntsen, the leader of a secret CIA unit pursuing bin Laden at the time, told CNN. "I was looking for 600 to 800 Rangers, roughly a battalion. They never came." (Watch more about bin Laden's escape from Tora Bora -- 2:04)

Bin Laden is believed to be hiding across the border in the rugged regions of Pakistan, but his global campaign of terror continues.

From Morocco to Madrid, Bali to London, suicide bombings and attacks have struck so-called soft targets, killing dozens of innocent civilians. Post-war Iraq appears to have also provided fertile ground for bin Laden recruits.

The latest alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airliners en route from London to the United States is said to bear all the hallmarks of al Qaeda. Those who track these events point out the plot was similar to one that was disrupted back in the 1990s. The bottom line: al Qaeda will keep trying an array of lethal plots.

That is why the movement and the man who inspires it remain so deadly relevant. Many will claim that hidden, bin Laden is not such a commanding figure, his power and aura vastly diminished. Yet that's not what his followers and admirers say. They believe that he leads a war between Islam and the West.

Michael Scheuer, who once headed the CIA's bin Laden unit, says bin Laden has been given permission by a young cleric in Saudi Arabia authorizing al Qaeda to "use nuclear weapons against the United States ... capping the casualties at 10 million."

"He's had an approval, a religious approval for 10 million deaths?" I asked him.

"Yes," Scheuer responded.

Working on the "CNN Presents" documentary, "In the Footsteps of bin Laden," we traced bin Laden's metamorphosis from a shy, well-educated, wealthy young Saudi Arabian boy to the hate-filled man he became. We were struck by his steady and relentless pursuit of his goals.

We were especially struck that by taking all his fatwas, press interviews, video tapes and statements together, they painted the whole picture: A clear and present danger that many of us had missed in real time.

Putting them all together, you can easily see bin Laden was planning and telegraphing all that has happened since.

Today he is hiding, but that does not stop him from still making video and audio tapes after suicide bombings and spectacular terrorist attacks. Today, his method seems to have morphed into a violent political ideology for his supporters. (Listen to more about bin Laden's allure)

More and more Muslims apparently believe the West is at war with them, and that they can fight back by blowing themselves up, along with the innocents. Bin Laden may be a fugitive, but "Bin Ladenism" has put down strong roots.

CNN.com - Amanpour: Bin Laden still deadly relevant - Aug 22, 2006

Although he may not be the mastermind behind all attacks anymore, he is certainly still an inspiration and makes a mockery of us by still being free. I want this man and his cronies to be punished for all the atrocities they ordered. It makes my blood boil to think they are still roaming around free as the wind.

Let's hope somehow we track him down.

ceilirose · 08-22-2006, 10:21 AM

Absolutely..but the US's resources are focused elsewhere. Now there's always the chance that something is being done behind the scenes. A slim chance but it's still there. I think this Administration is focusing on Iran, Syria and staying the course to be very concerned about bin Laden.

chicah · 08-24-2006, 01:27 PM

It's a wonder, right? They managed to find Saddam Hussain in a hole in the ground in the middle of nowhere, but they can't find Osama? He gotta have contact with someone or be in some kind of city because he's on tv regularly. It's a bit too weird, huh? Almost makes you wonder if he's not taken because if they take him they will lose one of their biggest reasons as to why people still support Bush, if Osama is still out there they have a defined enemy.
Yes, I've read a bit too much conspiracy theories lately

and I am always asking a bit too many questions to the official reason/report in cases.

MickeyJr3000 · 08-24-2006, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicah (View Post)

Yes, I've read a bit too much conspiracy theories lately

and I am always asking a bit too many questions to the official reason/report in cases.

LOL. Playing devil's advocate I see, chicah. I know this is unrelated to the topic here, but I always find you're the kind of person who doesn't take what she hears heads on. And as an active member of society, it is always important to question what the leaders, or the news reporter, tells you. Don't be swayed to agree with someone. Have an independent mind

:thumbs up:

In relation to the topic...how have they STILL not captured the guy? I feel they're just not trying. Bush is focused on the Iraq threat moreso than Osama right now. Time changes. Seeing his face doesn't threaten us any more.

Something about a nuclear weapons is more significant. And taking care of Afganistan.

Meanwhile, if the world doesn't play their cards right, I fear Osama Bin Laden's underground followers will be able to plan another massive attack...

ceilirose · 08-24-2006, 08:05 PM

The focus went off of Osama after the Administration set it's sights on Saddam. Too bad..it's beyond annoying that this man is still out there and able to taunt and posture at will. If there is another attack I'm sure he will be behind it. Right now the Iraqis are descending into their own civil war so I doubt their focus will be elsewhere. Just another mess that we all have to deal with.

Actually another conspiracy theory out there was that Osama had been captured in either '03 or '04, was being held captive and would be paraded out sometime in October of 04. Just in time for Bush to win in a landslide.

Didn't happen that way although he did have that video out there about a week or so before the Presidential election. I've always wondered why he looks so clean and well groomed in these videos. We get the impression that he's hiding out somewhere in the desert in really basic living situations. Maybe not...

chicah · 08-26-2006, 11:38 AM

Mickey: Thanks, I'm doing my best

try to stand up for my opinions even though I'm the only one who feels that way. Thanks for saying that, it really made me happy.

It's weird, yeah. I mean, if Osama was behind 9/11, he's the most important man to catch. But, no. And now it's almost like people don't think much about him anymore, like he's history. While he's still out there...

Lain · 09-10-2006, 04:45 PM

I was watching this last night on CNN. It's amazing on how the U.S has yet to capture one of the most wanted terrorists.

TokyoNiGHTS · 09-11-2006, 03:43 AM

This seems to fit here

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"The handful of assets we have have given us nothing close to real-time intelligence" that could have led to his capture, said one counterterrorism official, who said the trail, despite the most extensive manhunt in U.S. history, has gone "stone cold."

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Many factors have combined in the five years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to make the pursuit more difficult. They include the lack of CIA access to people close to al-Qaeda's inner circle; Pakistan's unwillingness to pursue him; the reemergence of the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan; the strength of the Iraqi insurgency, which has depleted U.S. military and intelligence resources; and the U.S. government's own disorganization.

Bin Laden Trail 'Stone Cold'


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