What the latest WikiLeaks release reveals about bin Laden
WikiLeaks' latest release is classified military documents that detail information obtained from Guantanamo detainees. What do they reveal about Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda?
Documents describe bin Laden's moves
CNN's national security analyst Peter Bergen, author of "The Longest War," weighs in on what the WikiLeaks documents reveal about bin Laden that the world didn't know a few days ago. Here's an edited transcript:
I think we have a little bit better sense of where he was in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.
I think overall, these WikiLeaks documents about Guantanamo remind me a little bit of the WikiLeaks documents we had about Afghanistan and Pakistan from the U.S. military. They don't really add anything seismic to our general understanding of what happened. They're filling in details. They will be very interesting for future historians.
These are not top-secret documents. They're secret. So they're not the crown jewels. The fact that bin Laden was hard up for cash I think is pretty interesting, but that sort of accords with something we already knew, that bin Laden didn't have millions of dollars when he was in Afghanistan. Even though he's the son of a billionaire, money was tight during this time period.
It's interesting now we have confirmation that the operational commander of 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, was watching these events unfold live on TV in Karachi, Pakistan. But again I think that's something, if we didn't know for a fact, we certainly probably thought was true already.
Cnn loves wikileaks... anything they can do to undermine america....right ccn?
Riza...too bad you weren't there in Abbattabad too...idiot.
I think you're thinking of Islam...not Hinduism. Bin Laden is not Hindu... In fact, he's not even an orthodox Muslim. He considers any who disagree with him a heretic and has killed scores of Muslims too. Your post makes no sense.
Do they really find it surprising that a guys imprisoned for months (years?) when he did nothing wrong turns again the people that imprisonned and mistreated him (possibly even tortured him).
Guantanamo isn't just illegally detaining terrorists it's creating new ones.
And can we really blame them? If I was imprisoned, abused and tortured for months with no good reason and no hope for a fair trial, I don't think I would be prone to forgive either.
They all should have been judged a long time ago. Detaining people ad vitam without trial is not only illegal but also appalling. It goes against evering democratie stand for.
Osama is stupid defaming the name of Islam
Yes, it had such a stellar reputation before.
hahahhaha LMAO PMSL 😛
it wasn't that bad before either but you have a point.
To be honest, Bush started it, so we should not blame Obama or any other president.
Past is past, think about future 😉
Guys just try your best not to eat each other 😛
he said OSAMA not OBAMA you fool
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You really have to hand it to Assage – he is a true entrepeneur. Governments have something they want no one else to have. That makes it Valuable. He created a new way to market and realize this "value". I wonder how long he will live?
If something is going to happen to Assange, we all know who are responsible.
How can a man who most probably has been dead for the last 8 or 9 years be short of cash? I guess that the MIC needs this man to scare the public into supporting this obscene war!!!
"and the americas and the west are being used by hindu sanatan pharisees'?
What do you mean the West is being used by hindu sanatan pharisees? We should have never intervened, but also what do you mean this was pre-planned by both sides?
in the era of WikiLeak no secret is secure
way it should be as our government's motives are rarely pure
The leaks from gitmo should cause us all trouble
infighting, breach of law, jailers befuddled
innocent kept, guilty freed to return
for their one way trip to the virgins to earn
justice may hold the scales and be blind
but we need the open eyes to watch and find
acts of torture we as a country should have long since left behind
accolades to WikiLeaks as this gitmo mess slowly unwinds
Not since the Pentagon Papers have we uncovered such dirt
Tarnishing our standing, laying on a big time hypocritical hurt
Division inside Afghan people is facilitating the wars in their country betwen foreign nations. ALQaeda original goal was to overcome Mubaraq in Egypt and to contrast US military presence in S.Arabia. Afghanistan was involved just when Osama went there and Clinton started bombing before 9/11. I heard a news that ALQaeda has nuclear bomb in the west ready to explode if Osama was captured. Surely he was a problem for Afghan people like all other foreigners.
I have read a bunch a fiction in the "news" as well. Whether this allegation is true or fiction or something else remains to be seen. It is a wonderful treat to hear you feel OBL is a threat not only to Afghanistan but to others. Have you read the rest of the news lately? People are rising up against their suppressors throughout the middle east. Imagine that.....something I have been saying for years. People do have the power to change their destiny. So when the Taliban had a strangle hold around Afghanis they had it within their power to do something about it. They had it within their grasp to rise up and do something about OBL. Abstaining is also a vote, not an excuse. (Clown:-)
OBL is a threat, but the US are a bigger threat. Unfortunately the USA has always supported the suppressors in the m.e, from Mubaraq, to Saudi monarchy, to Saddam, to Reza Palevi. AlQaeda planned to overcome Mubaraq, and so started the contrast with US. About Afghanistan, there is no real ethnic difference from Taliban and Afghans. They are mostly Pashtun.
Additionally Taliban were trained by the US and Saudi Arabia to fight the Soviet. They liberated the country, they ARE important part of the Afghjan people and even those who do not support them like the RAWA org. are even more against the US occupation.
AQ plotted to overthrow Mubarack. Good. Perhaps they should take a lesson on how it should or can be done. Read the news, not the history books. Besides, What does a irrate bunch of Bomb throwing maniacs have to do with Egypt? Not even a bunch, a very small few. God gave them the task of "cleansing" world politics? One man, one vote – not one or a hundred bombings. There are effective ways to send your message and effective ways to start a war. And now we see the results of the latter.
Hey, when Coalition forces pull back and hand over responsibility to Afghan militias, police, etc., Please explain why these facilities are bombed and attacked? How in the world do you think this is furthering a withdrawal from your country? By throwing into further chaos? No. It is to make the news and spread hate and discontent – for what, not even they know or can explain. The Soviets withdrew, and the Taliban grew strong. Power corrupts (ask Karazei). The Taliban apparently think the world should live like them. Probably more like as they say, not as they do. Whatever. I would be very happy to allow the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and whatever other hate mongering organization you can name to live as they desire within the confines of their country and human decency. As with the Kurds, or Pakistanis and Indians or you name the conflict, the leaders of the world (and their subjects) can only add to the problem and be a part of it, rather than do what it takes to be a part of the solution. Why? Because we love to hate, no? We have little true understanding what it means to Love to Love.
Napoli – you are a confused clown, as somone called you. Democracy is an oxymoron and cannot really exist. Mubaraq could be removed only using violence. Nothing has really changed in Egypt after his departure. Actual leader can be eliminated only by AlQaeda.
Afghan militia is an illegal repressive force that must be removed using violence. This is why Afghan people are supporting Taliban, even if just a few are fighting.
Salareno – Confused Clown – Thanks. I never thought of myself as being funny. Democracy is not in question here,. so if you please, try to stay within the relm. Mubarack was removed, yes with voilence but also in a democratic manner, by freedom of speach. Violence was a result, not a means. Does that make it better? Sure it does. AQ has no claim to nationality yet pretends to. They carry one as if they were some super power trying to impose their sensless will on others with voilence as a means. That is not how the world works. Taliban (the leaders of the "innocents") had their chance but choose the path of war and destruction. Government is for and by the people. Therefore, Afghanistan choose the path of death and destruction. The country was attacked and occupied to remove the government. That part was easy, making it stick is a bit more sticky. The Taliban lost their country and teh war – plain and simple. It must be the mountian goats that have them beleiving their remains a chance to get it back. Local populations can probably care less who is in control unitl they come knocking on the doors and disfigure tjheir children, kill, and maim. But they should because by then it is too late. Because that is when someone will come with a bigger stick and beat the crap out of the country (hum, sounds familiar, no?).
Even for American is difficoult to change their destiny. They are ruled by few rich and powerfull families financing the politicians and the media.
Perhaps. But not impossible, if so desired.
The only politician who appears going against the estabilishment is Ron Paul and it seems running for president too. We sahll see if he, once elected, will mantain his promises, differently from Obama. I like him not just because he is against the wars, but even in his economical policy: low taxes, free economical system, return to the gold standard, less power to the Fed (and banks).
The lesson to take home is it is okay if things do not go your way. Sure, the US has had its share of people who wanted to change thjings and run the country their way, most have failed, but very few in deed, have resorted to suicide bombings.
Overall, the west is basically content with how their governments work. What is really needed is a new way forward or new model of government. You can poke holes in every form of modern government. They all have their faults, some worse than others. Until that day when someone proposes a new model you will not see any great changes in the west. You may find people discontent with corruption, unemployment, economy, etc. but not with the basic form of government until that new idea is presented.
Politicians are all of the same gene pool. In the democracy, it is not one man one vote, rather one vote per unit of money
Hum....I thought i read recently OBL was financing Al Qaeda.....guess not, it seems. At least not with his own money....after all, even his money has limits. So, this begs the question, Where is AQ getting it's money?? Charities, Nato Contracts?
Napoli Osama and Obama are two faces of same coin. Both use same currency dollars and both for the last three decades killing Afghans and Pakistanis for their global designs. This is human tragedy and a challenge to human conscience as it is not just a killing of these poor and innocents in this region but it is also a risk for world peace. No doubt for MIC contractors this war is a business matter but for Americans as a nation it is a matter of life and death.
Well put,BANGASH. Thank you.
Obama has been on a Killing spree for the last thirty years???
I would enlarge your scope and say it is a matter of life or death for the World, not just the US. Mad men need to understand and accept the fact there are varying points of view that need respect. People of the middle east have not demonstrated to me, at least, the capacity to agree to disagree and live in harmony with a disagreement.
You are right -it is a shame there are innocents who have become pawns in this struggle. The Battle Field, however, was not chosen by the US, rather leaders of these "innocents".