Wonder whether this will become a political WMD
I haven't found a link in English, but on French websites it goes like this:
A French documentary maker has found 4 French elite soldiers that claim they had Osama Bin Laden in sight, and had a clear shot at him, not once but twice: in 2003 and in 2004.
They claim they didn't shoot, because they never received that order from their American(!) command.
[*Post conspiracy theories below*]
What website is that from?
Singh400
Dec 21 2006, 22:00
I just don't believe that...
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20956860-401,00.htmlQUOTE
A DOCUMENTARY says French special forces had Osama bin Laden in their sights twice about three years ago but their US superiors never ordered them to fire.
The documentary, due to air next year and seen by Reuters on Tuesday, says the troops could have killed the al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan but the order to shoot never came, possibly because it took too long to request it.
"In 2003 and 2004 we had bin Laden in our sights. The sniper said 'I have bin Laden'," an anonymous French soldier is quoted as saying.
The French military, however, said that the incidents never happened and the report was "erroneous information".
The documentary Bin Laden, the failings of a manhunt is by journalists Emmanuel Razavi and Eric de Lavarene, who have worked for several major French media outlets in Afghanistan. A cable television channel plans to air the documentary in March.
Razavi said the soldier told them it took roughly two hours for the request to reach the US officers who could authorise it but the anonymous man is also quoted in the documentary as saying: "There was a hesitation in command."
Razavi told Reuters several sources told them the sightings were six months apart and they declined to be more specific.
But French armed forces spokesman Christophe Prazuck said "that never happened" when asked about the bin Laden sightings.
virtualraider
Dec 22 2006, 06:59
Its vey hard to believe that the French where waiting for orders from the U.S. And how could they let it happen twice? If I was a soilder with a shot at Bin Laden he would be dead, myself and my company would be 25 million richer.
Man1k3n
Jan 4 2007, 04:52
In a way I can believe this simply because back during Desert Storm Sr. President Bush had the opportunity to remove Saddam from power; however knew the ramifications of that matter and decided not to pursue that option. However this article is somewhat lacking in beyond reasonable doubt; I still accept it as somewhat truthful.
Arctirus
Jan 4 2007, 20:13
Saudi only agreed to let us use their air bases on the condition that we would not invade Baghdad.
dkreifus
Jan 4 2007, 21:20
This is riddled with generic statements.
Anoynmous soldier
American lead? (for a french group?)
"French Elite" ?
Why would they need American permission anyway? He is an international terrorist.
Something stinks, and it just might actually be the french this time
Man1k3n
Jan 4 2007, 21:53
He may be an international terrorist, but I can slightly believe the whole "waiting for permission" concept. I mean if they were to take out Bin Laden, I'm pretty much 100% certain that President Bush would call it an outrage by saying that Bin Laden should have been subdued and brought to justice to be tried by a jury for his crimes. So if France were to eliminate Bin Laden without "permission" it could have resulted in probably one of the most screwed up things ever, because who knows what bush thinks now, he probably would have held the French government responsible and would want them to be persecuted for cruel and unusual punishment or some nonsense like that.
Dutch2005
Jan 5 2007, 12:45
so criple him, make him unable to move, and (I)....
Man1k3n
Jan 7 2007, 09:18
QUOTE(Dutch2005 @ Jan 5 2007, 12:45)
so criple him, make him unable to move, and (I)....
ok...you have me in suspense....not!
Pr0digy
Jan 7 2007, 20:36
In my opinion, I don't think Bush would want bin Laden in trial. I think it's a little more personal.
Man1k3n
Jan 8 2007, 14:11
QUOTE(Pr0digy @ Jan 7 2007, 20:36)
In my opinion, I don't think Bush would want bin Laden in trial. I think it's a little more personal.
I would like to agree with you on that one; however the republican party is facing a lot of heat, because of Bush's tactics in Iraq as well as his failed attempts at finding and capturing Bin Laden. Now, hypothetically speaking, if the U.S. were to capture Bin Laden a lot of the American people would favor Bush again. Bush would indefinately put Bin Laden on trial for crimes against humanity simply because he would be taking the higher road rather than just killing Bin Laden. He would want this man captured and then put forth a media extravaganza just like they did when Saddam was captured.
dkreifus
Jan 8 2007, 14:14
As much as I'd like to, I don't think its Bush's fault that we haven't caught Bin Ladin.
It shouldn't seem to hard to capture a terrorist int he desert on dialysis, but the man has lots of allies and lots of places to hide. How long did it take find Saddam, and he is a national dictator. We only found him by a leaked source of his who wanted money probably.
Bin Ladin has loyal associates who despise the USA more than they like money
Man1k3n
Jan 8 2007, 14:28
QUOTE(dkreifus @ Jan 8 2007, 14:14)
As much as I'd like to, I don't think its Bush's fault that we haven't caught Bin Ladin.
It shouldn't seem to hard to capture a terrorist int he desert on dialysis, but the man has lots of allies and lots of places to hide. How long did it take find Saddam, and he is a national dictator. We only found him by a leaked source of his who wanted money probably.
Bin Ladin has loyal associates who despise the USA more than they like money
You're absolutely right now that I think about it. It isn't necessarily Bush's fault at all in terms of finding Bin Laden. I know for almost a fact that if I were President that I would have a hard time finding Bin Laden as well. There are a lot of people in the Middle East that is very loyal and respectful toward Bin Laden and his cause, hence the situation we have in Iraq.
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