TalkLeft: US Says Close to Capturing Bin Laden. It would be nice to catch him. But the timing looks suspciously convenient.
Personally I have no truck with the “Bin Laden already captured” (aka 'bin Laden on ice') school of thought. I am, however, inclined to think that the “Pakistani forces herd him into the hills and respond to hints about proper timing” hypothesis has a plausible ring to it.
Sigh. Time will tell. But you’re right: the timing would look awfully convenient. In fact, I would think that an appropriate response would be “we’re very glad our military finally caught bin Laden. We can only wonder what advances would have been made in the War on Terrorism if George Bush had actually been fighting it for the last three years. After all, if he can produce Osama bin Laden on cue, then what was he doing two years ago?”
Personally I have no truck with the Bin Laden already captured (aka bin Laden on ice) school of thought.
Why not?
Because you think the Bush administration wouldn’t stoop to such tactics, despite everything else you know about them?
Honestly, the only reason for dismissing such a possibility out of hand is to try to appear “fair-minded”. There is no evidence indicating it could not be true, such as reported sightings of OBL on his own during the past 9 months.
I just think it would be too hard to keep the secret that he was actually in custody — and too risky as it would be nuclear if it came out. Better by far to trap him in some cave somewhere and wait.