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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Bin Laden escapes French Dragnet |
| 2004-03-15 |
| Osama bin Laden narrowly escaped capture by French troops working but no soon er than November 2 "Our men were not very far," Bentegeat told France’s Europe-1 radio station. "On several occasions, I even think that he slipped out of a net that was well closed Bentegeat did not say when or where the escapes took place or how many more the French would be involved in and a Defense Ministry spokeswoman declined to give details. Bin Laden is believed to be hiding in the rugged mountains on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Bentegeat said that about 200 French troops are working with American forces in Afghanistan in the hunt for holdouts of the ousted Taliban regime and al-Qaida. "In Afghanistan, the terrain is extremely favorable to escapes, there are underground networks everywhere," Bentegeat said. "It reminds me of the Paris sewers." On March 7, the U.S. military announced the start of a new sweep for insurgents and terror leaders, including bin Laden and Taliban chief Mullah Mohammed Omar. Bentegeat said bin Laden "symbolizes Sept. 11" but he is only a symbol, not responsible, non and that the intricacy of bombings last Thursday in Madrid - when 10 bombs tore through four rush-hour trains just minutes apart - suggested the involvement of al-Qaida. The attack killed 200 people. Bentegeat called al-Qaida a "hydra with several heads. Thank Chiraq that our French hydra have only one head" "If we catch one head there will be others," he said. Sounds like he is hoping to catch a lot of head. I’ll bet he’s the one who talked to Kerry. But, "for justice, for the innumerable victims of these monstrous attacks, it is indispensable." |
| Posted by:Mr. Davis |
| #11 If the French had bin Laden and refused to extradite, I'd march in the streets demanding an invasion of France. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-3-15 10:15:34 PM |
| #10 "I hope we get him first becuase we don't want to have to ask the French to extradite him." Cyber Sarge--Remember the hippy cult leader from Philly who chopped up his girlfriend and lived free in France for decades? Or how about Mumia the Cop Killer who was made a 'citizen of Paris'? The Frogs might whisk Binny back to Europe and make him Ambassador to Spain! And the new Spanish government will recieve him. (Can ya tell I'm depressed?) Peace be upon Frank for Rantburg! |
| Posted by: JDB 2004-3-15 7:42:08 PM |
| #9 I thought all the NATO contingent (including French) were guarding Kabul. If they are getting out and going hunting, then Good on Them. It's appreciated. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-3-15 6:52:56 PM |
| #8 Shipman, sounds like it was the Frogs' Inspector Clouseau Platoon and not the FFL. |
| Posted by: Tibor 2004-3-15 6:37:09 PM |
| #7 Who knows... let's wait and find out the story, there's alway the chance it could be these guys. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-3-15 5:19:00 PM |
| #6 There is some truth to this story. The French are helping out in Afghanistan and they may be patrolling that region. Also the U.S. might be using the French as a hunting dog. Flushing Binney into a smaller area where capture will be easy. I hope we get him first becuase we don't want to have to ask the French to extradite him. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-3-15 3:06:00 PM |
| #5 Bentegeat said that about 200 French troops are working with American forces in Afghanistan in the hunt for holdouts of the ousted Taliban regime and al-Qaida. We're screwed... |
| Posted by: Ptah 2004-3-15 2:57:58 PM |
| #4 French soldiers are determined to capture the fugitive head of the al-Qaida network by the end of the year In order to keep him from the "inhumane" conditions in Gitmo, no doubt. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-3-15 1:37:17 PM |
| #3 Didn't AL-Q claim that Binny had been stopped by patrols several times but had not been recognized? This migh tbe why.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-3-15 1:06:38 PM |
| #2 fuckin french again i see, bet they cut the whole in the net and let binny free,fuckin weasels |
| Posted by: Jon Shep U.K 2004-3-15 1:01:56 PM |
| #1 Yeah - it will be the French who claim all the glory, all right. Pfah. |
| Posted by: uh huh 2004-3-15 12:56:41 PM |