CIA: Bin Laden in Pakistan Establishing New Camps

ABC News | February 27, 2007
Brian Ross and Z. Byron Wolf

In the most definitive statement in years, America's top intelligence official said Tuesday Osama bin laden is in Pakistan actively re-establishing al Qaeda training camps.

The newly appointed Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell made the assertion about bin Laden and his No. 2 man, Ayman al Zawahri, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Referring to Pakistan's rugged tribal area, McConnell said "to the best of our knowledge that the senior leadership, No. 1 and No. 2, are there, and they are attempting to re-establish and rebuild and to establish training camps."

Until now, U.S. intelligence officials had declined to publicly identify, with such certainty, the location of bin Laden although he has long been suspected of hiding in Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan.

McConnell's testimony came the day after the CIA deputy director, Stephen R. Kappes, flew to Pakistan to confront President Pervez Musharaff with "compelling" evidence that new al Qaeda training camps were being established on Pakistani territory.

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U.S. officials would not describe the evidence in any detail, but people in the intelligence community have speculated recently that the CIA may have obtained surveillance photos of either bin Laden or Zawahri in Pakistan.

McConnell's public testimony was followed by a closed, secret session with senators.


whats most tragic, is that we no longer "actively seek" Bin Laden, so I doubt we'll send in anybody after him...

Which wouldnt be tough, considering how close Pakistani ISI is to the US, after all, they handed over "Project Bojinka" which was indeed 9/11.....


Oh would that the Bush administration would do something usefull, like actual border security (amnesty?!?!) or maybe drive DOWN the cost of gas for working men with families like mysefl...


Partnership for Prosperity here we come....maybe then, at 20 dollars an hour, I can prosper, instead of break even, shirk healthcare payments, and pray to the lord I dont get sick so I can make my truck note....