Pakistan Denies Bin Laden's In Country
Rejects U.S. Claims That Al Qaeda Is Setting Up Camps Near Afghan Border
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U.S. intelligence officials believe Osama bin Laden, right, and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri – seen together in video broadcast by Al-Jazeera TV in 2002 – are trying to establish an al Qaeda base in Pakistan's northwest. (AP)
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Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao, told The Associated Press there were no al Qaeda training camps in his country and U.S. officials had not provided any intelligence suggesting there were.
"We will act on any such intelligence, but so far they have not" provided any, he said.
Sherpao's comments came a day after Mike McConnell, the new U.S. intelligence chief, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that al Qaeda was trying to set up operations in largely ungoverned parts of Pakistan's northwest, along Afghanistan's eastern border.
"It's something we're very worried about and very concerned about," McConnell said. U.S. intelligence officials believe that bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, were trying to establish an al Qaeda base in the region, he said. McConnell noted the camps are in an area that has never been governed by any state or outside power.
U.S. officials fear bin Laden no longer has to rely on couriers for his communications, but can meet with his senior leaders face to face and plan attacks on the U.S., CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.
On a visit to Pakistan on Monday, Vice President Dick Cheney met with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to seek his aid in foiling an anticipated spring offensive by the Taliban and al Qaeda against coalition forces in Afghanistan.
Cheney was accompanied by Deputy CIA Director Stephen Kappes, suggesting that the U.S. officials were prepared to buttress their allegations about al Qaeda operations with intelligence data.
U.S. officials are concerned about a peace deal Pakistan signed with tribal leaders of the North Waziristan region in September. In that agreement, the tribes promised to respect the authority of the Pakistani government and curtail cross-border attacks by militants.
In return, Musharraf returned some of the tribes' weapons, released some prisoners and withdrew from posts inside North Waziristan.
At Tuesday's hearing, Lt. Gen. Michael Maples, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said the tribes have not abided by most terms of the agreement. McConnell added U.S. intelligence believes al Qaeda's training and related capabilities increased as a result of the deal.
Musharraf's office confirmed that during the meeting, Cheney expressed concern that al Qaeda was "regrouping" in the tribal areas and that the vice president "called for concerted efforts in countering the threat."
Musharraf, his office said, told Cheney Pakistan was already doing all it could to fight the militants.
Sherpao insisted Pakistan was "fighting the scourge of terrorism in the best interest of Pakistan."
Musharraf is a key ally of the United States in its fight against Islamic militants.
According to Derek Chollet of the Center for Strategic Studies, U.S. options in Pakistan are nearing a dead end, even a disastrous end if Musharraf were to fall.
"We're one bad event away from this going down the tubes," Chollet told CBS News, "which is a dangerous position to be in, given how vital Pakistan is and Pakistan's stability is to U.S. interests, given the fact that Pakistan is a nuclear power."
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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See all 130 CommentsBBC Reported WTC 7 Collapse 26 Minutes In Advance
(CUT... Take TWO....People lets keep to the SCRIPT...????)
BBC reports has Salomon Brothers Building collapsed...
we now go LIVE....to the Salomon Brothers Building ...
we are now LIVE where the Salomon Brothers Building has collapsed....
(CUT... Take TWO....People lets keep to the SCRIPT...????)
People, these people (reporters) didn't know what
the Salomon Brothers Building
LOOKED LIKE
SO when they showed a LIVE SHOT of the cities buildings
they DIDN'T KNOW that one of the BUILDINGS in the BACKGROUND
was the STILL STANDING
Salomon Brothers Building (World Trade # 7)
PEOPLE, TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE
CRIMINAL GOVERNMENT
BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE..
PEOPLE, IT IS TIME TO TAKE BACK
OUR COUNTRY FROM THESE CRIMINALS...!
http://www.infowars.com/articles/sept11/bbc_wtc_7_timestamp_confirms_bbc_reported_collapse_26_min_advance.htm
. ... ....
[~_~] i meen what the hel* were only at war!!!!
(i.e. they aid the COVER-UP)
the earth [~_~]...
i meen he** were only at war. that would probably end most of our problems...
the earth [~_~]...
i meen he** were only at war. that would probably end most of our problems...
If Rove decides to send Fox News a spin bite that says "We have intelligence that Pakistan is aiding terrorists" then that, in the New United States, constitutes intelligence. And once Fox News and Rush repeat it a hundred times a week for two or three weeks, it becomes 'official intelligence.'
They shouldn't say the U.S. has not provided intelligence. This administration manufactures new intelligence every day.
If Rove decides to send Fox News a spin bite that says "We have intelligence that Pakistan is aiding terrorists" then that, in the New United States, constitutes intelligence. And once Fox News and Rush repeat it a hundred times a week for two or three weeks, it becomes 'official intelligence.'
They shouldn't say the U.S. has not provided intelligence. This administration manufactures new intelligence every day.
We should just go and look for ourselves.
Sign this Appeal.
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An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.
It is authorized by DoD Directive 1325.6 and DoD Directive 7050.6.
The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq and halt any calls for retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media efforts which embolden my enemy while demoralizing American support at home. The War in Iraq is a necessary and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
Most service members fully support the war in Iraq and feel calls to retreat by Congress and attacks by our media on our conduct and mission act to motivate our enemy while demoralizing our support at home, directly increasing the threat we face and resulting in greater American casualties. This Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to Congress to fully support us and actively oppose media attacks on our mission and our morale.
This Appeal will be delivered to members of Congress.
http://www.appealforcourage.org/
Either that or he is lying.
Perhaps Bozo Bush's pathological lying is contagious.
Both major parties are controlled by global corporations, oil companies and other war profiteers. Until ExxonMobil & other war profiteers have wrung every last dollar out of Iraq, neither party will do anything to remove the troops. Or, upset their sponsors.
Global corporations and most politicians consider dead civilians & soldiers "collateral damage." They are irrelevant when it comes to making profits.
Sadly, but equally true, is that the majority of Americans are just as greedy and would send their own mothers to their deaths if it meant reaping one million dollars in unearned and undeserved income.
The enemy is us.
... Who's the Enemy here ??? -- 9/11 Terrorist where Sunni's & most from the UAE,, OBL is Sunni.
It might not end the Taliban or Al Queda but it would be sweet.Rid the world of these idiots that started this whole fiasco.
Posted by usadvisor101 at 03:26 PM : Feb 28, 2007
The former Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan for about 12 years. And, they never lost a battle, either.
The US never lost a battle in Vietnam.
But, winning battles is irrelevant in an insurgency.
The US had and has no hope of winning in either Afghanistan or Iraq. But, the invasions allowed Bush and cronies to loot the US treasury for about one trillion dollars.
However, there are plenty of rocks for that dopey-looking ********* to hide under there anywhere, so that was a stupid statement made by Aftab.
If that freaking coward had any sense, he would be hiding in North Korea anyway... only then would he positively be safe from the world.
Write your Representatives and Senators! http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Americans - Asleep at the wheel.
Yet, a few days later:
Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao, told The Associated Press there were no al Qaeda training camps in his country and U.S. officials had not provided any intelligence suggesting there were.
Maybe Bush had some more monkeyed-up intel and the Pakistanis wouldn't go for it?
If that fails then it can be bombed back into the stone age.
Posted by usadvisor101 at 04:10 PM : Feb 28, 2007
It was a worthy cause, but Bush cut and ran to go headhunting in Iraq and left it half done. He's now begging NATO to do the job he ran from.
Posted by usadvisor101 at 04:10 PM : Feb 28, 2007
You're correct. Comparing the American invasion of Iraq to the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan is more appropriate.
Write your Representatives and Senators! http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Here is the House Speakers email address: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
It looks and sounds as if "We the People" are once again are being lied to. I got Intell that puts bin Laden is hiding in New Jersey of the USA!
Better go get your 25 million then!!!!!!!!!
Posted by radiob at 04:54 PM : Feb 28, 2007
I know you mention it as a joke, but the fact that no one has betrayed bin Laden for such a huge sum for over 5 years shows a real dedication in those that serve him. Ditto for Omar
"You're correct. Comparing the American invasion of Iraq to the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan is more appropriate"....
Do you think America is addicted to opium in Afghanistan? Ofcourse, invasion of Iraq could be justified to its addiction to oil.
Bush was justified in going into Afghanistan. The Taleban were given the opportunity to offer up bin Laden and they refused.
The failure occured when Bush pulled down troops and rebuilding efforts to go after Hussein. Had we stayed, finished the job of eradicating the Taleban and living up to our commitment to make things better for the Afghanis, the Taleban would not be resurfacing as they are now.
The problem is now twice as difficult, as you say, because we've already shown the Afghanis we don't give a rat's a$$ about them. The Taleban do - as it's their future.
Posted by diplomacy3 at 05:00 PM : Feb 28, 2007
The neocons wanted 4 permanent bases in Iraq. That was the driver for the regime change. They knew they could not sell the invasion to America on the bases driver, so they cooked up the WMD story.
They thought surely they'd be vindicated in finding something after the fact, but instead, got caught with their pants down around their ankles in front of the whole world.
Posted by radiob at 05:16 PM : Feb 28, 2007
You can not effectively use nukes on guerillas.
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