Bin Laden is isolated, focused on his own security: CIA

[Imran Khan]

Bin Laden is isolated, focused on his own security: CIA
13/11/2008 22h37

Michael Hayden
©AFP/File - Saul LoebWASHINGTON (AFP) - Osama bin Laden remains deeply isolated and has been forced to devote much of his energy to his own security, CIA Director Michael Hayden said in a speech on Thursday.

"He is putting a lot of energy into his own survival, a lot of energy into his own security. In fact, he appears to be largely isolated from the day-to-day operations of the organization he nominally heads," said Hayden, referring to the Al-Qaeda network.

Hunting down bin Laden remains a high priority for the Central Intelligence Agency, he said.

"I can assure you, although there has been press speculation to the contrary, I can assure you that the hunt for bin Laden is very much at the top of CIA's priority list."

He suggested that bin Laden was hiding somewhere in the remote Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, where he said Al-Qaeda has regrouped and bolstered its organization.

Hayden described "the sheer challenge of surveying every square mile of that inhospitable and dangerous region," and said "part of the explanation for his survival lies in the fact that he has worked to avoid detection."

Killing or capturing bin Laden would deal a severe blow to the terror network blamed for the attacks of September 11, 2001, he said.

"Because of his iconic stature, his death or capture clearly would have a significant impact on the confidence of his followers, both core Al Qaeda and these unaffiliated extremists, unaffiliated extremists throughout the world."

http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/photo_1226615823306-1-1.jpg

 

[jeypore]

Another CIA report, who knows if it is right or wrong.

 

[dr.umer]

Good to see how CIA tries to save the face of Bush Administration while thinking everyone else is a fool. First of all they need to sit together and decide what they need to tell the press. Some officials are saying "high value targets" are hiding in Pak-Afg border region and they are still a threat to the world and this one here is saying Osama is isolated.

The person who told Mr. Michael Hayden that Osama is isolated didn't give his address ?

 

[BATMAN]

Another CIA report, who knows if it is right or wrong.

CIA can never be wrong.
All US actions are based on the intelligence provided by CIA. It is scary to imagine if they ever were wrong.
I still hope WMD would be found from Iraq and OBL is not moving away from Pak-Afghan border after learning that CIA boss almost pin pointed his hide out and daily movement.

 

[pkpatriotic]

Pakistan deserves great credit for anti-terror war: CIA chief
Saturday, November 15, 2008

WASHINGTON: Pakistan deserves great credit for its sustained anti-terrorism campaign in its border areas with Afghanistan, CIA Chief Michael Hayden said, declaring that the United States and its allies are keeping al-Qaeda off-balance by deepening isolation of its members.

He said al-Qaeda is feeling less secure throughout federally administered tribal areas but claimed major current terrorist threats to the United States, known to the Central Intelligence Agency, thread back to the historically ungoverned border areas. At the same time, Hayden acknowledged the complexity of the problem along rugged Pak-Afghan border, saying counterterrorism task might look easy thousands of miles away but it is extremely difficult up close. He did not touch on the question of unilateral strikes into Pakistani territory, which have drawn strong criticism from Islamabad. “To the extent, the US and its allies deepen their isolation, disturb the safe haven, target terrorist leaders there, we keep al-Qaeda off-balance,” he stated at a Washington think tank.

“The Pakistani government and military deserve great credit for it current campaign against extremists in Bajaur agency. The Pakistani Army has been fighting there forcefully and with considerable success since early August. This is a major commitment. This is a multi-brigade operation. It is very hard fighting,” he added at the Atlantic Council.

The CIA chief also acknowledged Pakistanís sacrifices, saying they are suffering significant casualties but “they are also imposing significant casualties on our common enemy.” Continuing, he observed “throughout the Fata, al-Qaeda and its allies are feeling less secure today, than they did two, three or six months ago.”

He said it has become difficult for the militant organisation to ignore significant losses in their ranks. Mid-level operatives have been killed and in the past year alone, a number of senior al-Qaeda leaders, who had sought refuge in the tribal areas have died, either by violence or natural causes, he added. Those losses, he said, are significant. “These men were decision makers, commanders, experienced and committed fighters at the centre of planning attacks not only in Pakistan and Afghanistan but Europe and the United States.”

Hayden also lauded Pakistanís counterterrorism role over the years, saying more terrorists have been captured and eliminated with the support of the Pakistani security forces in the region than anywhere else.

QUOTE:
Doubted about their intentions behind such appraiser coated statement