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CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Year

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 11:23:55 PM EST
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For ten years, well before 9/11, the CIA has had a secret unit, Alec Station, dedicated to finding Osama bin Laden. Yesterday, it confirmed the unit was closed last year.

The CIA's rationale: Bin Laden isn't so dangerous anymore because terror groups no long work in a "hierarchal" fashion. They are more spread out, which according to the CIA, warrants a focus on "regional trends rather than on specific organizations or individuals."

Former CIA official Michael Scheurer, the first chief of Alec Station, disputes the CIA's assessment.

"This will clearly denigrate our operations against Al Qaeda," he said. "These days at the agency, bin Laden and Al Qaeda appear to be treated merely as first among equals."

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    CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Year | 23 comments (23 topical)
    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#1)
    by Johnny on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 09:49:13 PM EST
    Really? Why does the CIA hate our freedoms?

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#2)
    by Patrick on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 09:55:11 PM EST
    Johnny, That was funny the first time, and maybe even slightly amusing up to the third or forth time, but dang, it's getting tired now. Time to think up a new witty comment

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#3)
    by Edger on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 10:07:31 PM EST
    Bin Laden isn't so dangerous anymore because terror groups no long work in a "hierarchal" fashion. And he doesn't have any oil.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jul 03, 2006 at 10:26:04 PM EST
    What has Bin Laden Done since 911. Admitted that he was responsible for the trade center attacks and then dared Bush to come get him in Afghanistan. Ironic how the video quality suffered dramatically after bombing Bin Ladens hideout perhaps hinting he was no longer alive since his kidneys left him on a machine and the average lifespan for a male was 46 years old. Gee wasn't Bin Laden 46 and in terrible health. But apparently propoganda from the White House that Bin Laden being alive was better because we had purpose for Bombing Afghanistan and Iraq.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#5)
    by Johnny on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 01:16:56 AM EST
    Patrick, I was being serious... Why the sudden disinterest in public enemy number 1? You voted for this administration, explain it to me. So, until you can explain this administrations awesome record of flip-flopping on national security, I will seriously ask: "Why does the CIA hate our freedoms?"

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#6)
    by john horse on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 04:23:49 AM EST
    We aren't going after the guy that was responsible for the World Trade Center? The guy that "I mean what I say" George Bush said we would get "dead or alive." What type of message does giving up on going after Bin Laden send to the terrorists? Doesn't it show that Bush is a quitter? When it comes to Bin Laden, when the going got tough Bush cut and ran.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 05:58:16 AM EST
    So Baby-Bush is basically saying: I wanted him dead before I wanted him alive. No flip-flop there. This is the guy responsible for the death of 3000 Americans. Incredibly, Righties still want to follow this guy. By the way OBL "isn't so dangerous anymore" until he strikes us again. Do you think he's resting in a terrorist retirement home? Bush attacked the wrong guy, in the wrong country! This will come back to us all. History is not so stupid.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#8)
    by soccerdad on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 06:38:16 AM EST
    My guess is that they needed those people to turn their efforts towards iran in preparation of the planned attack. Why keep agents working on the mythical "War on Terror" when they could be working on something of value to this admin.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#9)
    by Edger on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 06:59:06 AM EST
    What an insult. Bush has no shame. How could he? After everything bin Laden has done for him. They guy pretty much single handedly made bush's career for him! Sorry, karl buddy... what it is, you know?

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#10)
    by Punchy on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 09:01:35 AM EST
    Don't we have something like a $50 million dollar bounty on his head? How can the gov't offer to pay so much and then say "well, he's not that dangerous"... Mixed signals everywhere. Standard fare for these jokers.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#11)
    by Che's Lounge on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 09:13:46 AM EST
    AQ is a myth anyway. Why does this surprise any of us? Talk about ADD! The Adderal must be mixing badly with the Ambien.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 09:27:02 AM EST
    Maybe the reasons for backing off is that WH might not want what Bin Laden has to say made public about those close ties with his family.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#13)
    by ltgesq on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 10:50:14 AM EST
    I'm sure bin ladin needs kidneys. If i recall, this same bunch claimed Zaquari was missing a leg. The only organs I've seen missing is bush's balls to tell the truth: that he really dreams of is a military dictatorship with him in charge. Without the bin ladin boogeyman he would have had some real trouble passing all the retrogressive legislation over these past years. Bush needs bin ladin more than he needs Dick (faceshooter) cheney.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#14)
    by Punchy on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 11:02:38 AM EST
    Without the bin ladin boogeyman he would have had some real trouble passing all the retrogressive legislation over these past years. Bush needs bin ladin more than he needs Dick (faceshooter) cheney.
    That's EXACTLY it. He NEEDS OBL out and about, scaring the masses. Capturing OBL may convince many that the "war on terror" is over...and Bush can't possibly have that. That would require the closing of Gitmo, the end to their fearmongering, and the like. I'm convinced Bush never wanted him captured, ever. Tora Bora or anywhere else....

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#15)
    by john horse on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 12:38:28 PM EST
    I would have thought that my friends on the right would be as outraged as I am about Bush giving up on finding Bin Laden. Their silence speaks volumes. Bush goes after someone who had nothing to do with the World Trade Center murders and decides to stop searching for the guy who was directly responsible. What I think we have going on is a case of cognitive disonnance. On the one hand, I believe that most of those on the right believe (like most of those on the left) that we should go after Bin Laden with whatever it takes for as long as it takes. On the other hand, this would mean questioning the actions of the Bush adminstration which would be contrary to the blind obedience that has resulted after years of conditioning. Here is a simple question for my friends on the right. Do you think we should terminate our search for Bin Laden?

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#16)
    by jondee on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 01:52:18 PM EST
    Considering the huge bump Shrub would have gotten from "gittin" Bin Laden, I have to wonder if the seeming half-hearted pursuit could have anything to do with the Bin Laden family and some of "our" other Saudi friends. Or, am I nuts?

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#17)
    by Sailor on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 02:52:21 PM EST
    What has Bin Laden Done since 911.
    See London, Madrid, Bali, Afghanistan, Iraq ... etc. Not to mention exceeding his recruiting goals.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#18)
    by jondee on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 02:53:57 PM EST
    Sorry, ddarclay (a truely inspired person of genius) already covered that. Missed it.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 04:03:08 PM EST
    FBI says, "No hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11" On June 5, 2006, the Muckraker Report contacted the FBI Headquarters, (202) 324-3000, to learn why Bin Laden's Most Wanted poster did not indicate that Usama was also wanted in connection with 9/11. The Muckraker Report spoke with Rex Tomb, Chief of Investigative Publicity for the FBI. When asked why there is no mention of 9/11 on Bin Laden's Most Wanted web page, Tomb said, "The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Usama Bin Laden's Most Wanted page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11." Surprised by the ease in which this FBI spokesman made such an astonishing statement, I asked, "How this was possible?" Tomb continued, "Bin Laden has not been formally charged in connection to 9/11." I asked, "How does that work?" Tomb continued, "The FBI gathers evidence. Once evidence is gathered, it is turned over to the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice than decides whether it has enough evidence to present to a federal grand jury. In the case of the 1998 United States Embassies being bombed, Bin Laden has been formally indicted and charged by a grand jury. He has not been formally indicted and charged in connection with 9/11 because the FBI has no hard evidence connected Bin Laden to 9/11."
    Maybe they were too busy chasing down those false leads in the anthrax2001 investigation.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#20)
    by Aaron on Tue Jul 04, 2006 at 09:52:22 PM EST
    repost Still on his whirlwind worldwide tour, bin Laden's relationship with George W. Bush and the Bush administration has never been better, but lately there's been some trouble reported in paradise. It seems Osama has been at odds with the US Secret Service agents who biannually smuggle him and the whole bin Laden clan into Bush's Crawford ranch for their regularly scheduled strategy and policy discussions with the president over a Texas style barbecue (dry rub ribs and armadillo pie). Apparently Bush's protection unit has had to restrain Osama's little brother, Mohammed bin Laden, a number of times after he and George have gotten into heated arguments over which region has a hotter climate, Central Saudi Arabia or Midland Texas. These altercations, which seem to always take place after the younger bin Laden and Dubya have imbibed in a few too many Lone Stars, led the Secret Service to begin restricting the amount of beer served at these gatherings. Sources tell us that this move has angered Osama and especially the president, who was heard to state in response to the proposed beer cap "who do they think they are, Barbara?" On a lighter note, it seems Laura has become quite close with several of Osama's wives especially Amal al-Sadah, Osama's favorite, going so far as to exchanging potato salad and couscous recipes. Though Mrs. bin Laden still wears the traditional abaya and veil keeping her face covered most of the time, Laura has begun advising "Amaly", as she has taken to calling her, on the finer points of applying makeup, even convincing her to wear lipstick, much to the chagrin of her husband. On the youth front, rumor has it that bin Laden's eldest son Saad has become quite smitten with one of the Bush sisters, we won't say who...... Jenna, the wild one. But unfortunately wedding bells are not in the offing given the two families competing fundamentalist religious beliefs, which have created irreconcilable matrimonial issues. It seems Osama likes to josh around with the president, saying he was most responsible for George's reelection in 2004. But Dubya just jokingly chides the elder bin Laden right back with the scathing retort "shut up you overgrown towel head, or I'll give your jihadist ass to the FDNY." "They always get a big laugh out of that," says Laura. repost The two families have become so close that the bin Laden's are considering buying the property adjacent to the Crawford ranch in Texas so that Osama and Dubya can enjoy their golden retirement years together, reliving the glory days. August 08, 2005

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#21)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Jul 05, 2006 at 10:28:53 AM EST
    Alec Station disbanded? For all we know it has been replaced Bilbo Station or some such. It does not seem reasonable that the details of the Bin Laden hunt would be given a wide airing.

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#22)
    by Sailor on Wed Jul 05, 2006 at 11:13:48 AM EST
    what details?

    Re: CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Yea (none / 0) (#23)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Fri Jul 07, 2006 at 12:28:26 PM EST
    NPR broadcasted a Bush press dog and pony show this AM and in it he was asked about this terminated CIA OBL search issue, among other things, and his response was something along the lines of "That's ridiculous. We have significant assets deployed to apprehend him and we will do so." fwiw.

    CIA Terminated Bin Laden Search Unit Last Year | 23 comments (23 topical)