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White House: 'Inconclusive' Whether Osama Alive or Dead
May 10, 2009 10:31 AM
In his first Sunday interview, National Security Adviser Gen. Jim Jones told me it's "inconclusive" whether Osama bin Laden is alive or dead.
"The best intelligence is that we, we gauge our reaction based on what intelligence we have, and it is inconclusive," Jones told me this morning on "This Week."
"Secondly, we wait and see how long it has been before we've seen him actually make a statement, release a video, and make our judgments on that," he said, "The truth is, I don't think anybody knows for sure."
If alive, bin Laden is thought to be hiding in the mountainous region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This week during his visit to the U.S. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai said that he believes bin Laden is alive. But President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan said he thinks bin Laden is dead.
I asked Jones about audio tapes of bin Laden released in both January and March of this year that U.S. intelligence that were thought to be authentic.
"So what has changed since then to make the intelligence inconclusive?" I asked.
"Well, as of March, they thought it was authentic, but we don't have any firm information that says that that has changed one way or the other. So I think we'll just continue to press on and we'll see what happens there," Jones said.
"I -- my gut -- I would like to know conclusively if that's not the case. And I think we have that evidence."
Jones argued bin Laden's death would deal a symbolic blow to al Qaeda.
"I think it matters symbolically to the movement, for sure. But it's clear that that movement has been resilient in replacing their leaders as quickly as we are able to capture or eliminate them. But I think symbolically it would be a very big thing if he weren't," Jones said.
--George Stephanopoulos
May 10, 2009 in This Week with George Stephanopoulos | Permalink | Share | User Comments (27)
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Why are people still concerned about Obama? Hasn't it been proven that George Bush blew up the World Trade Center using his operatives? You tube "Building 7." Bin Laden would have to have been a magician to have brought that building straight down. 9-11 was an INSIDE JOB. Get Bush!
Posted by: Mysteryman | May 10, 2009 11:51:38 AM
well dang!!! we need to find out if he is dead or alive!!!!! it will make it quicker to get out of the war!! do something about it.......PLEASE!!!!
Posted by: the little voice tha mite count | May 10, 2009 11:57:11 AM
Why haven't we considered searching for Bin Laden in the areas in India that border Pakistan? Just curious.
Posted by: Colleen | May 10, 2009 12:08:02 PM
There will be perpetutal war for perpetual "peace" as long as the administration D or R can put out the bin Laden hologram to justify their war crimes.
Posted by: hmn | May 10, 2009 12:09:31 PM
Mysteryman - Bush didn't blow up the trade centers. Bin Laden was behind it with justifiable reasoning, i.e. overwhelning support for Israel in light of Palestinian suffering at the hands of Israel, 10 year bombing campaign on Iraq, sanctions an Iraq and other arab nations leading to the deaths of those Bin Laden identified with, US bases in the holy land. We have more to fear from our corrupt leaders than Bin Laden. We have more to fear from the stupidity of our fellow citizens than Bin Laden.
Posted by: Huh | May 10, 2009 12:10:58 PM
Osama is God's gift to the Pentagon! With the fall of communism, the US military lost their vital Soviet bogeyman that they used so effectively for 40 years to scare Americans into spending trillions on arms. Now Osama and Al Qaeda take their place as official "bogeyman". I suspect the Pentagon brass go to bed every night praying that Osama continues his successful career of supporting the US military budget.
Posted by: AlChemist | May 10, 2009 12:12:44 PM
Let's find out where he was buried so that Bush and co. can go dig him out to fullfil the promise "get him dead or alive".
Posted by: James H | May 10, 2009 1:13:02 PM
Two weeks ago a university in Copenhagen, Denmark published a paper with the results of the chemical tests, conducted on the ash from the site of WTC. The conclusion is clear - in the ash there is in abundance trace of nano-thermite explosives! But as usually, this news wasn't on the mass media! And by the way, as far I am aware, this is the seventh or eight laboratory so far to came to same conclusion! Based on my years in the construction, I never had any doubts in my mind that whatever we witnessed at 9/11 was a controlled demolition!
Posted by: Chemist | May 10, 2009 1:25:56 PM
Yawn. The guy is 7 feet tall and has Kidney issues ... not too difficult to find if you really want to do so. Also, what freak show thinks WTC Building 7 was taken down by something other than intense heat from a blazing, raging fire. Duh. Fire leveled Building 7. Not Bush.
Posted by: Kohlbee | May 10, 2009 1:27:29 PM
This is a non-story. Since when is inconclusive evidence justification for a story? Must be a very slow news day, and they just pulled this story out of the hat.
Posted by: tom | May 10, 2009 1:27:37 PM
I think he shaved his beard and moved back to his family in Saudi Arabia and told his No. 2 to take over. He still sends back voice-overs so we won't go looking for him in the right place! Not to be cynical-this mountain and cold night stuff is macho when you're young but when you get older, the rockin chair and the fireplace look pretty good!
Posted by: Dave of Detroit | May 10, 2009 1:37:31 PM
"Two weeks ago a university in Copenhagen, Denmark published a paper with the results of the chemical tests, conducted on the ash from the site of WTC. The conclusion is clear - in the ash there is in abundance trace of nano-thermite explosives! But as usually, this news wasn't on the mass media! And by the way, as far I am aware, this is the seventh or eight laboratory so far to came to same conclusion! Based on my years in the construction, I never had any doubts in my mind that whatever we witnessed at 9/11 was a controlled demolition!"
Rosie is that you?
Posted by: Bill | May 10, 2009 1:49:02 PM
At Bin Laden's age, he must either be dead, or he's getting very tired of living in a cave. Chemist - Your theory makes no sense.
Posted by: tom | May 10, 2009 2:01:25 PM
"Your theory makes no sense." - Yep, the Bush/Cheney's theory definitely makes much more sense. Not for me, but for people with IQ level at the far left side of the IQ chart this makes perfect sense!
Posted by: Chemist | May 10, 2009 2:35:59 PM
The Bush family is close friends with the Bin Laden family. They should ask them about Osama.
Posted by: Ford Fairlane | May 10, 2009 2:38:59 PM
It's not if this person is alive or dead. One wonders if he is even human. Even (his) own children who are catching hell behind what he is doing. To kill women or even have a women kill for a man. Most of all to kill an innocent child of any Gods and calling yourself a mortar seems worst to me than than reporter who throw shoes at former President Bush. What or who Gods could ever respect a man that does this. The power to me is knowing how to use that gray matter between your ears. Not blowing things up and destroying all things created by all Gods. That is sickening. If all else fails be a man meet your enemy in the desert and both of you fight out your battles like the real men of yesteryear, without killing a bunch of innocents. Actions of terrorist will always bring out the Police Forces of all Nations to find the criminals. A military conflict will only involved the countries of the indifference. This is why most countries are out looking for Osama bin Laden. He is view as the worlds worst criminal, than a man with a true cause worth reviewing.
Posted by: Pedro | May 10, 2009 2:49:48 PM
2 States solution !!!? LOL
I want to remind to the honorable General Jones his total & colosal personal failure in Gaza.
Posted by: In Israel | May 10, 2009 3:04:04 PM
Wait wait WAIT. For the last eight years, all I read on these boards was that Bin Laden was a fictional creation of the Bush and the CIA. What has changed? Are we now coming around to the idea that maybe Bin Laden (and Islamic terrorism) is REAL? Good for you!
Posted by: tony | May 10, 2009 3:04:29 PM
Here, here AlChemist. We had Osama bin-Laden dead in his tracks had the Bush administration kept it's eye on the ball going after the actual perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks. Instead the American people got diverted into a war of choice in Iraq.
Can you say "military industrial complex"?? General Electric (GE), NewCorp (NWS), Halliburton (HAL), Raytheon (RTN), Boeing (BA), and Time Warner (TWX).
Posted by: Rich | May 10, 2009 4:47:10 PM
Let's find out where he was buried so that Bush and co. can go dig him out to fullfil the promise "get him dead or alive".
Posted by: James H
*************************************
Forget that idea,they can't even find Hoffa
Posted by: spacerook1 | May 10, 2009 7:39:03 PM
It never ends - we make thugs like bin-laden - news - where is he - what kind of food does he like - what he saying - where is he - how is his health?
It is enough for me to know that he being hunted and when found killed.
I never want to hear his name again - if I could add two names for the same fate please include pelosi and reid.
We now nake legends out of creeps - bums - sicko's - rapists - and we make movies that glorify them or try to show their side or make them human.
They are not human - they are animals - as far as pelosi and reid they kill more people their way. How these things can live after what they have done.
Term limits for congress - its way over do -
Posted by: a citizen | May 11, 2009 12:04:20 AM
Where's Obama's invasion of Pakistan? Was
this another Obama campaign lie?
Posted by: Mihann | May 11, 2009 1:43:00 AM
How is this news??? It's inconclusive??? Haven't we been saying that for 8 years now?
Posted by: Ryan | May 11, 2009 5:03:26 AM
Yes,everybody knows he is alive,but not sure if he is dead.We need to come to a clear conclusion and ask ourselves if he is alive, what is he up to? is Osama ready for talks with new adminstration in Washington? Let us make it clear that he is a human being and waging war propaganda will yield no fruit but a round table talks with Osama and Alqaeda may make the earth safe.I am in Asia and till you know what the terrains and remote areas spells you will say only war,but first the youths in this region need education and they can know right from wrong what they know is that the West is waging war against them and their territory is under threat thats why they fight.ROUND TABLE TALKS IN SWAT,PESHAWAR,BUNER AND...Do you know why there is fighting in Swat?.Let us give dialogue a chance and the worl will be a better place rather than thumping our chest and waging war that will bore no fruits. and Osama is watching,can we invite him to speak out and the world will stop worrying.
Posted by: JOSHUA KIPKEMOI BOITT | May 11, 2009 6:44:20 AM
Wasn't Bush going to parade him out just before the last election? I'm sure I read some blogger comments to that effect.
Posted by: LongT | May 11, 2009 10:23:02 AM
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