Dav1936531 wrote:

From: Guy Alcala
Date: 3/18/04 4:26 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:

Oh, come now. Can't we even bet on whether the whole story is a put-up job
for U.S. consumption, or whether they in fact have someone important cornered,
or whether its al-Zawahri, or whether they'll capture/kill him or he/they
escape, etc. Let's not limit ourselves.
Guy

Gen. Mushariff recently pointed to Al-Qaeda as the group behind the recent two
attempts on his life. I think he is probably serious about finding those
responsible. And doing it during the time that Colin Powell is in country makes
him look good...and deals a nice political victory to the Bush administration
to boot.

Sure, he may well be. OTOH, we can't asume that everyone else involved has the
same priorities. Not that I think it is a put-up job, but I think the bet has to
be an option for those who want to take it.

The fact is that they have probably had a pretty good idea of where he and
Osama have been hiding out for a long time. Money talks in these places, and
they probably have been able to buy pretty well connected (to Al-Qaeda)
informants.

The $25 million on OBL's head, and the $25 million on Zawahri's haven't talked up
until now. I see the Congress has doubled Osama's bounty to $50 million. Gee, how
likely is it that there's someone out there in the hills of Afghanistan saying to
themselves, "A measly $25 million?!! Why, I wouldn't even consider betraying him
for a nickel less than $50 mill!"

Guy