National Security Adviser General James L. Jones spoke on CNN's State of the Union. Jones said Osama bin Laden still lives in the rough border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The General said:
the best estimate is that bin Laden "is somewhere in North Waziristan, sometimes on the Pakistani side of the border, sometimes on the Afghan side of the border."This sounds like framing for the Afghanistan troop surge. Note use of the word "estimate." It was multi-pronged campaign. Pentagon Chief Gates and Secretary of State his the airwaves, as did Senator John McCain. Gates said:
He said he couldn't confirm reports that bin Laden had been seen recently in Afghanistan. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said it was important to kill or capture bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders, "but certainly you can make enormous progress absent that."McCain's contribution:
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said people in the region have told him bin Laden "moves back and forth." He said the hunt for bin Laden has prevented him from establishing bases for training and equipping terrorists, adding, "Don't think al-Qaida could not flourish without him if we give them a safe haven."
Surge sell! If there is ever a retraction, expect it on Friday.
Update: On the same show General Jones said the situation regarding Iran is "not looking good." How will 30,000 more U.S. troops in the region impact America's strategy on Iran?
