Is Osama bin Laden getting busy?

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Monday, March 28, 2011 - 11:49 AM Share

As if there were not enough going on: Proven provider John McCreary sends up a rocket over an Asia Times report that bin Laden has been hotfooting it all over the Durand Line. Not clear whether the terrorist is policing up internal problems of his infernal organization, or winding up to try to reclaim the global spotlight. Let's hope it is the former.

Asia Times Online on 24 March published an article by Syed Saleem Shahzad, who is an insightful commentator on South Asian affairs, as well as the publication's Pakistan Bureau Chief. He has studied al Qaida a long time.  He wrote that US intelligence has actionable information that Osama bin Laden has been "criss-crossing" the Pakistan -- Afghanistan border region in northwestern Pakistan during the past few weeks.

Shahzad wrote that US officials are "stunned" by bin Laden's visibility and the frequency of his movements. Bin Laden's purposes are not known. Terrorist analysts reportedly think the new level of activity means bin Laden is planning another large attack, though the 9/11 planning was actually not done by bin Laden. The South Asia analysts think he is meeting with friendly Afghan warlords to bring the Afghan War to a favorable conclusion for the Taliban.

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STEVE358

5:48 PM ET

March 28, 2011

Amazing, Isn't it?

I read John's reports and commentaries daily.

Excellent work. Always on the mark.

 

TYRTAIOS

7:08 PM ET

March 28, 2011

Misdirection

Although at first glace tantalizing, after re-reading the article in the “Asia Times,” I have some further questions on this reporting.

One of the multiple sources cited was from the Sa'uds, which raises my concern considering their General Intelligence Directorate or Rasat al-Istkhbarat al-Amah if you like, has in the past not generally been known for producing steady proven foreign intelligence, but focused more on near regional and internal collection and analysis as it relates to the threat to the Kingdom itself, and its oil producing infrastructure.

Further, officials are said to be stunned by the visibility of bin Laden's movements, and their frequency? One wonders with all our various surveillance why we ain’t hearing or seeing him during these reported activity windows?

Additionally, after the al-Balwai double-cross in Khost awhile back that denuded some fine talent that got too eager and failed to follow proper established protocols, I would be a bit concerned on the information provided, as it seem to be breaking with bin-Laden’s own security protocols as I understand them.

Personally, if I were bin-Laden I would make my way to Yemen. . .the time seems right for that, he's not getting any younger, and it’s his ancestral home. But of course, I could be a social sock puppet planting despicable misdirection on a blog.? : o

 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military for the Washington Post from 2000 through 2008.

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