The Bush administration has concluded that Osama bin Laden was present during the battle for Tora Bora late last year & that failure to commit U.S. ground troops to hunt him was its gravest error in the war against al Qaeda, according to civilian & military officials with first-hand knowledge.
Intelligence officials have assembled what they believe to be decisive evidence, from contemporary & subsequent interrogations & intercepted communications, that bin Laden began the battle of Tora Bora inside the cave complex along Afghanistan's mountainous eastern border.
After-action reviews, conducted privately inside & outside the military chain of command, describe the episode as a significant defeat for the United States.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A62618-2002Apr16?language=printer
How come "Mr. Perfect Military Man" (AWOL Bush)
messed up so badly & couldn't
catch the man who killed 3000 Americans?
2006-09-17 15:06:17 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Its clear in every thinking man's judgement that the favorite son of the Bin Ladens was protected. Bush gave him 48 hours to clear out after warning Pakistan to pass on the message. We are not fooled.. Right?
2006-09-17 15:13:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Until you have been over here you can't imagine the conditions. Think of the Rocky Mountains, then make the higher, steeper, worse weather, very few places to land troops and no roads to speak of. Now say your average infantry soldier weighs in at 180 and carries close to 100 pounds. How many soldiers would it take to find one man in a place as large as Bora Bora? You will get a completely different answer from politicians and military people. Unfortunately the military people have to ask the politicians, this is how many we need, how many can we send? If you will read the history of Afghanistan you will see that everyone in the last 1000 years has had trouble fighting here. Technology only make the mountains a little flatter.
2006-09-17 22:24:59 · answer #2 · answered by lostokieboy 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They probably just figured they would drop some bombs on a mountain and somehow get him. They probably didn't want to risk getting any troops hurt or killed fighting them in close proximity. The modern US military usually prefers distant fighting from a comfortable distance with enemies so they don't risk getting hurt, which could have been a factor for why they weren't successful in getting him in Tora Bora. Bush: Mission Accomplished. Another successful military campaign.
2006-09-17 22:27:48 · answer #3 · answered by p2prox 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The US military never had the men they needed in Afghanistan. Nor in Iraq. Both missions have been made difficult to win due to very bad decisions on manpower & equipment.
2006-09-17 22:23:43 · answer #4 · answered by Bad M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As if he were intending to catch him. Bin Ladin is just a scapegoat and no longer seems to be top priority to Bush for some reason.
2006-09-17 22:22:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Simply put, he paid too much attention to his political advisors and too little attention to his well qualified experienced military advisers. Bush if you recall has no actual military expertise, which is fine if he will listen to people who do. Oh well.
2006-09-17 22:12:37 · answer #6 · answered by ash 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
because bin ladin know american tactics, he was trained by the CIA
he was involved in the afganistan war with the soviets back in the 80's so he has experience.
the united states are fighting him on his 'backyard', so he has home ground advantage.
2006-09-17 22:31:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
how come Bush isn't still hunting down bin Laden,,, because he says he hasn't been invited by the president of Pakistan or the government,,,, Saddam must have sent him an invitation.
2006-09-17 22:13:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
um just because he is commander in chief does not mean that he is directing the soldiers every move. But remember, hindsight is 20/20.
2006-09-17 22:36:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
He probably wasn't privileged to information that you and Washington post share on this topic
2006-09-17 22:13:00 · answer #10 · answered by workin_man66 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋