Obama To Renew Focus On Hunt For Bin Laden

The incoming Obama administration plans to explore a more regional strategy to the war in Afghanistan -- including possible talks with Iran -- and looks favorably on the nascent dialogue between the Afghan government and "reconcilable" elements of the Taliban, according to Obama national security advisers.

Obama also intends to renew the U.S. commitment to the hunt for Osama bin Laden, a priority the president-elect believes President Bush has played down after years of failing to apprehend the al-Qaeda leader. Critical of Bush during the campaign for what he said was the president's extreme focus on Iraq at the expense of Afghanistan, Obama also intends to move ahead with a planned deployment of thousands of additional U.S. troops there.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[arvay]

Attention readers, this item is being censored, no anti-AIPAC comments allowed.

[boing007]

Bush is the Godfather.

[rosiebond007]

Bin Laden is almost irrelevant - don't turn him into a martyr - there will be hell to pay.

We need to get to grips with terrorism.

[NorthernCross]

I'm not sure how BO intends to "renew the hunt", since it's widely believed that OBL, if he's still alive, is in North Waziristan, Pakiastan. Or does Obama want to take our forces deeper into Pakistan?

[AmandaBC]

I hope Obama starts with an extensive search of the White House underground... ;)

[Meteor]

Right, Amanda BC!

Bush probably didn't capture Osama bin Laden because if captured he would squeak on the fact that the 9/11 plot was not totally his planning. If killed, someone else in his camp would no doubt spill the beans. 9/11 is still an open case crying for a full investigation and the reality of it runs up many threads that will shake the foundations of our nation. Are we a nation with a rule of law or a fascist dictatorship or oligarchy?

[hortonhearsawho]

Anyone check sarahs back yard?

[MoeJava]

Now that Obama is President-elect, will John McCain give him all that specific, valuable information on how to catch bin Laden? If he doesn't - consider him a traitor because he is not putting Country First.

Actually, if McCain truly believed "Country First" was the thing to do, he would have already spilled the beans and made Bush and the DOD look better than they do.

On this Veteran's Day - please begin to give our troops a break - bring them home!

[rollingdivision]

Now Obama won't get rid of Bush's illegal secret war orders, wow.

"Obama Will Not Suspend Bush Secret War Orders" which are outside of official declarations of war and congressional oversight.

"These secret presidential orders, considered unconstitutional by many legal scholars, allow for the president, solely, without informing or approval from congress to order covert military and intelligence operations in foreign countries.

During the election campaign, President elect Obama was highly critical of these presidential orders of the Bush administration which allowed for secret black military and intelligence operations. Obama criticized Bush for not going to the foreign leaders and gaining their cooperation eliminating the need for covert operations. Additionally, Obama questioned the legality of Bush not going to congress for official sanction of war operations and effectively running illegal undeclared wars without oversight. Obama said if he were elected, he would work with other countries to gain their cooperation and not use these sorts of covert operations. He also indicated, he would not go around congress but would work with congress to get official approval for necessary covert operations in the rare cases where foreign government would not cooperate."

[IndependentTogether]

shouldn't you wait until Obama, himself, comes out with a statement on that issue?

[rollingdivision]

The was in AP and Slate.

[rollingdivision]

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2008/11/10/D94CD2S00_obama_covert/index.html can't find the AP link now.

[ReasoNseeKer]

Obama will make public all covert operations before they take place. You can watch MSNBC and see a list of all special forces missions a week before they happen.

[rollingdivision]

Going to the local government or congress as Obama said is not publicizing covert operations. By that logic the president could keep information of all military operations from congress. No, he should do what he said he would.

[CheshireCat2]

I am just wondering why Rahm didn't run himself?

[exotic]

President elect, you don't have to go far.The gentleman you met with yesterday can tell you EXACTLY where to find him. If you need specifics, just ask his dad.

[CheshireCat2]

Was out nations security compromised with the O administration leaking yesterday?

[ThunderclapNewman]

Nothing was leaked.
and there is no O administration until 12:01 pm, January 20th, 2009.

[whatureallysaid]

and there won't be much of one after that time either

[IndependentTogether]

I really don't understand some of these posts. You say "why" or "it doesn't matter" or "he's just a symbol".

Remember, the World Trade Center was destroyed and 3000+ people were murdered! Would you issue those same sentiments if someone blew up your house down with your family inside? Hell no! You'd be saying "GET THAT F*$@ER!!!" So why do you think it "doesn't matter" if OBL is dealt with?

Personally, I think it's an INSULT and an OUTRAGE that Bush dropped the hunt for OBL. I applaud Obama for making this a priority... whether he succeeds or not, at least he's waging the RIGHT war.

[pilgrim7]

Am I the only one who believes Osama is dead?

[CheshireCat2]

No, either that, very ill or very scared. One would have to wonder why there have been limited leaks.
OBL's son being the trigger man on Bhutto. That is all very suspicious. However, at the rate of leaks we can expect from the O administration, we should all know soon.

[CaptainStormfield]

Nope. at least 2 of us. see my profile statement :)

[pilgrim7]

Interesting, Captain.

Have you seen this one: http://www.snopes.com/rumors/kidney.asp

That phony video of him (thick-necked and big-boned rather than thin) that was circulating was the straw for me.

[deancostanza]

nope

watch this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zScYmvmANcA

[pilgrim7]

Then I know you've seen this one about the fake videos, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=814KwlUnXpI&feature=related

[AmandaBC]

Absolutely not. Unless you believe Benazir Bhutto was a liar. She wasn't.

[AmandaBC]

Absolutely not. Unless you believe Benazir Bhutto was a li_ar. She wasn't.

[whatureallysaid]

The stock market is indifferent to the past. It is only concerned with today's information because prudent investors want to price the future earnings of companies.

Astute investors believe their taxes will rise.
They also believe the deficit will rise (to record levels).

The stock market has taken into account our president elect.

How much more can you personally afford to lose?

[CheshireCat2]

IF I sold now, I would have to put it in coin rolls.

[Ramirez]

I'm banking on Hope.

[kingofscotts]

Hmmm, so Obama has military plans for Afghanistan.

I wonder if anyone in his braintrust thought it might be a cool idea to keep those secret?

It's already becoming clear that Obama's people don't know how to keep their mouths shut.

They tell reporters things then they say "uh but don't use my name because I'm not supposed to be talking about this"

WHAT COULD GO WRONG

[peggyleg]

SOS from the libs....can't keep their mouth shut on ANYTHING...

[TheWrayman]

Yeah, thank goodness Jonny Mac hasn't EVER revealed his Super Secret plan that will absolutely positively get Bin Laden....y'know the one he was bragging about all during the campaign....

[Hawka]

Yeah, okay, keep talking about keeping secrets, remember the name of that CIA agent you outed? How about all those snippets from the McCain campaign about the Wasilla-hill-billy?

[IndependentTogether]

That Obama has plans for Afghanistan is hardly a secret. He was the FIRST to say that we should send more troops to Afghanistan and that we have to provide the warlords with an alternative to the drug trade.