Bush reportedly wants bin Laden captured before leaving office
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President Bush has reportedly ordered a final attempt to capture Osama bin Laden before he leaves office.
The Times of London reports that the president has enlisted British special forces to help get the job done. Sources in both Washington and London confirm to the newspaper that a renewed hunt is under way. One source says: "If President Bush can say he killed Saddam Hussein and captured bin Laden, he can claim to have left the world a safer place."
British special forces have been participating in U.S. operations to catch the terrorist leader in northern Pakistan, but it's the first time they're crossing into Afghanistan regularly.
Of course, no one knows where Osama bin Laden is. He has eluded capture for almost seven years now. Some experts think he's in the tribal areas of northwest Pakistan. One Pentagon source says that U.S. forces are trying to push al Qaeda in Pakistan toward the Afghan border, where they'd have a better shot at catching him.
But, the increase in U.S. military action is not sitting well with the Pakistanis. Last week, they were outraged about what they claimed was an airstrike on a border post with Afghanistan that killed 11 of its troops. The U.S. says it's still "not exactly clear" what happened.
Here’s my question to you: President Bush wants Osama bin Laden captured before leaving office. How important is it at this point?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Craig from Hiram Rapids, Ohio writes:
Jack, The most important thing at this point is to humor junior so he won’t throw a fit. Have the C.I.A. show him some really cool photographs "taken all the way from space". Gee whiz. Then quietly put him to bed early before he blows something else up. He will have forgotten all about it in the morning.
Will from San Jose, California writes:
Osama is a lot more important then Saddam ever was. Osama has been responsible or at least taken credit for attacks on U.S. embassies in Africa, attacks on U.S. soldiers in Mogadishu, the attack on the USS Cole, and the attacks of 9/11. When was it that Saddam attacked us again?
K. from United Kingdom writes:
Forget capturing or killing bin Laden. George Bush would be able to claim that he left the world a better and safer place by standing down as president of the United States...today!
Tom from Massachusetts writes:
Bin Laden will rot in a cave. If we kill him, hundreds of terrorists behind him will take his place. Focus more on homeland security, the economy, health care and the dozens of other problems our country is facing.
Phil writes:
Of course he does, it’s all in the Republican playbook during an election year: catch bin Laden, Bush's Saudi friends will lower gas costs by putting more on the market, they'll finally put the 9-11 masterminds on trial… all just to boost their candidate for election. Sounds like kindergarten 101.
Dick writes:
Killing bin Laden will bring about an end to the war on terror just like killing Saddam brought peace to Iraq.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Bush has had almost 7 years to catch Bin Laden. His turn is over and Bin Laden doesn't even matter anymore. When he goes, there are thousands of other terrorists waiting to take his place.
Boise, ID
people in hell want ice water....too late bushie you might have had him if you had gone into Afghanistan where it was warranted instead of Iraq where it was not warranted
"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." – G.W. Bush, 3/13/02 Times
Holy Mackerel this guy flip flops!
George should get his butt over there and do some of the lifting he demands of others. Can George be more pompous? With George over there he cannot continue to do harm here. Bon voyage!
now,he wants to catch him?after 5 years of being distracted ,by bush's illegal war in iraq,he should be more concerned with finishing his screw-up ,there,and leave the war on terror to someone with better judgement and leadership.like ,say, barack obama?
Hi Jack,
I think it would be important due to his leadership.
My question to you is, why, after this many years has it
taken on an urgency to Bush? Has never appeared to
be before.
Putting all our strength and energy into Iraq, almost
abandoning Afghanistan doesn't support his
"sincerity".
Jack: "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, never let it fade away." Important, but at this juncture of his Presidency, it is a moot point, of course anything can happen.......this is an election year. Headline reads, "Osama bin Liden is captured; McCain credits his campaign strategy for success."
Which oil-rich country will he attack to accomplish this new objective?
It's important because the 'intelligence' is going to reveal that bin Laden moved into hiding in ... IRAN! Then we're going to be told that not only will Ahmadinejad not let our 'inspectors' in, he has been secretly funding him and OBL's secret war in Iraq. Wait and see! This will be another excuse for Bush's warmongering in the Middle East. He is going to make sure we're quagmired there for the next several decades. But don't worry, I'm sure in another century or two, George W. Bush will be looked back upon as a great president who brought peace to the Middle East through war. Too bad none of us will be around to see it.
Jack,
bin Laden is important but not as important as getting our troops out of Iraq. Iraq was a distraction from the bin Laden situation; if we leave Iraq Binladin needs to be searched.
The smartest thing you can do for a resistance movement is make a martyr out of someone (yea, right). What good can capturing/killing Osama do? Bush wants to justify his war effort by capturing Osama. After watching Bush put Hussein to death, i think we have seen enough of Bush's bullying– at least I have. Leave foreign policy alone Mr. Bush, leave that to the diplomats.
The most important thing GW can do is to ride out the last few months without doing much of anything. He's proven time and again that he's not an able leader. He's lead our country into ruin. If there is anything he should be concentrating on it's his own country and the economic atmosphere that prevails. Putting his cowboy hat and those texas boots on now for bin laden won't save his reputation.
Good. It should have been done 5 years ago. Ben Laden can be put on trial for 9/11 but Bush and his administration still has to answer for the 4100 deaths in Iraq.
Don't you get it Jack, it's about his legacy – his presidency – he caught Bin Laden! What would it change? Nothing at this point.
He's grasping at straws now – do you think he's finally getting it – he's a total screw-up, and the worst President in our history? Do you think maybe?? I mean with this guy you never know. I swear his brain is fried.........and we all know its isn't from over thinking things.......
If he wants Bin Laden so badly why did he essentially let him go during Operation Anaconda? Ask people who were on the ground and they'll tell you they got some really questionable orders during that operation-especially when they thought were close to him (Bin Laden).
The fact is Bush needed Bin Laden to be " a threat" in order to complete his agenda in Iraq and elsewhere. A free Bin Laden is good for Neo-Conservitism so if they do suddenly catch I will be of the opinion that they knew where he was the whole time-they just waited until is what politically expediant to get him.
Jack, it would be great to get Bin Laden but President Bush's statement reminds me of a famous 40's big band classic, "I Can Dream Can't I."
Kevin
Warren, MI
Capturing and/or killing Bin Laden still won't change the fact that George W Bush has been a Failure as President!
Richard from Canfield,Ohio
W shoulda thought about this a looong time ago instead of tilting at wind mills,,,,,,,
OT – If the Bushman is concerned about what a legacy looks like, I hope he caught the weekend's Tim Russert coverage. There's a man that made a difference.....
Jack,
Truth be known, I do not think it ever was a priority I hate to admit after thinking about this very same question for years now. Allowing the entire bin Laden family to leave the United States of America is a great indicator of this immediately after 9-11 happened.
The sad part about this whole stinking thing is, if bin Laden were to be captured before Bush leaves office, there are about 1,000 + militant, extremist already in position to replace him.
So, to answer your question, it really doesn't matter to this point.
James Michael Collins
Colorado Springs, CO
Jack,
If he wanted Bin Laden that bad he shouldn't have taken his eye off the ball and left us Canadians in there finishing the fight he started so he could go off on the adventure in Iraq. At this point the guy could be partying in Hawaii and nobody would know it, and frankly after the disgrace of abandoning the mission in Afghanistan and then the debacle in Iraq there would be a certain ironic justice to it if he were.
Jack. Yes, that would be nice since that was supposed to be the game plan after 9/11. Is he really serious? How would this make up for lives lost in Iraq of Americans and innocent civilians? Bin Laden's capture cannot erase the harm to world peace caused by his administration's disastrous foreign policy.
Doing so may be the only positive aspect of his legacy; which otherwise will go down in history as a bad sit-com. George W. is the fourth stooge.
Jack
We cant put gas in the car, we cant afford to put food on the table, we cant pay our mortgage, we are losing American lives almost everyday in Georges war and he wants to find Osama Bin Laden. I have to go now and take two Tylenol and lay down you have given me a headache.
He has been such a lousy president now he wants this done before he leaves office, as Dick Cheney would say "SO". Send Dick Cheney to capture or shoot Bin laden in the face with buck shot! It is too late to try and make a great exit, JUST EXIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bin Laden has been on the run for almost 7 years and now he want to find him. He already know where Bin Laden is at because he's been hiding him out. Give me a break.
Jack
Yeah, and he wants to be remembered in history as a good president and a decent human being, too. He's going 0 for 3.
Pablo in Tejas
Bush has put up millions of dollars as reward for the capture of Osama bin Laden dead or alive and he still hasn't been found. Maybe Bush, being the hunter, is feeling "the hunter is being hunted", I would.
It's if he was doing something about it.He's obsessed with iraq,and has 7 mons remaining in his term,the time is too short for anything like this to happen,unless osama turns himself in.The man is free,and keeps producing video tapes of himself somewhere in afghanistan.Bush doesn't care about it,and i don't why he would care about it now that he's almost leaving office.
If he catches Bin Laden in the next few months, I can only assume that Bush knew where he was all along and wants to go out with a Bang!
Yes my friends, another well calculated political stategy John McCain would profit from... courtesy of the Bush administration.
I have always had this little thought in the back of my mind that
we know where Bin Laden is and just maybe waiting for the right
time to capture him, like just before the election.
Oh silly me!
Jack, Don't you get it? Election day is getting closer, gas is over $4.5 a gallon, unemployment rate is record high, food prices are out of control. What else do you expect from a Republican president at this time? These fear mongering stunts are the only thing he is good at. I remember getting sick of watching movies and documentaries (about WMDs) on all the national TV channels before Bush invaded Iraq. These tactics have worked for him over and over, and won him re-election.
Mosin Ali.
Seattle, WA.
Catch him – they can't find him? 7 Years of frutility! This war was the biggest sham! 4000+ Fighting women and men killed for what – nothing! President Bush you are on your last legs and they are not pretty!
I imagine it's extremely important to Bush – it's one of a few remaining feathers he could put in his cap (a cap that currently has no feathers). It wouldn't mean much beyond that though.
Bin Laden will rot in a cave. If we kill him, hundreds of terrorists behind him will take his place. Focus more on homeland security ,the economy, health care and the dozens more problems our country is facing.
Funny how he is really pushing to get him now. The man is only wanting to go down in the history books as the president who brought down the Taliban. Ain't going to happen.
Of course it would be a good thing. It would be even better if the rest of his gang were captured. If bin Laden is dead, there will still be an army
of his fellow terrorists all over the world. Bush made the mistake of going after Saddam Hussein instead of the bin Laden folks.
Lots of luck!
The capture of Osama bin Laden has always been important to us, and to insinuate that it's a newsworthy item that President Bush would like to see him captured before he leaves office is lame. Your emailers continue to criticize Bush because it's the popular thing to do, and a sure way to get their email in your blog. They are like the sportsfans at the World Series game...they rant and rave, boo and carry on but don't have the skills to play the game.
We had Bin Laden cornered during operation Anaconda in the Tora Bora mtns. Could have nailed him then, but Bush let him go, and we went into Iraq instaed. Smart move hey Jack ? Guarenteed his reelection and 5 more years of an illegal war. The word treason just seems to fit more and more lately.
gwb and his cronies already know where bin laden is. If they wanted to catch him they would have. It was never about him and fortunately americans know that now. The repubs are the axis of evil and have proven that over and over again.
My guess is BinLaden wants Bush captured before leaving office too. My question to you is, which guy do you think is smarter?
Well Jack, Catching Bin Laden is very important to our country as a whole. He admitted he was behind 9-11 within 24 hrs of it happening and we (as a nation) swore to get him. Whether or not Bush does it is unimportant. After all, how can you hope to do business with the family again after Jan. 2009 when you're the one who killed their son?
Of course he does, its all in the republican playbook during an election year; catch bin laden, Bush's saudi friends will finally lower gas by putting more on the market, finally they'll put the 9-11 masterminds on trial; Just to boost their candidate for election. Sounds like kindergarden 101...
Bin Laden's capture would only benefit the world's safety...if he is captured soon, however, I would question why the motivation of Bush's legacy made zeroing in on him so much easier....
It is of vital importance. If he leaves without Bin Laden being captured, his approval ratings will still be at a record low. He will continually be seen as one of the worst presidents in history, and may have trouble landing lucrative speaking engagements because of his unpopularity.
Delbert of Huntington, WV
Capturing Bin Laden was never his priority – getting the riches from Iraq was his priority. Now that it looks like the Dems will take over, the Republicans want to try to stress capture of Bin Laden, fiscal responsibility, excesses in earmarks and all kinds of restrictions they would like to keep the ruling Dems from doing that they got away with. They are such a joke.
For what we've spent in Iraq and trying to capture Bin-Laden, we probably could have put every child in the Middle East through college in the U.S. That might have done some good. Like the war in Iraq, though, capturing Bin-Laden at this point is just another way to irritate more people in the Middle East, rack up more U.S. debt and maybe even start another war. Great. . . how much more damage can this idiot do?
Of course he does Jack!
There is no sense in leaving him out there now!
Preident Bush doesn't need a boogieman to justify his action's anymore, he can't run again! So why not capture or kill him?
Maybe the country woul'd look at him like some sort of hero.
P.S. By the way he can't let President Obama capture him!
I always wanted a pony. I'm 57 now. My pony and Osama Bin Laden are both at the same level of importance for me.
Why now? After 7 years of "do nothing" by Bush, now he wants to get Osama? Is this so that his job rating will get back above 27%?
Fool me once!
Fool me twice!
You can't change my mind on how you performed as a President.
You suck! You are the worst President in the History of the United States.
Change is comming though! And it's spelled O B A M A !!!!!!
Now he's saying this? Too late to capture him when he had all this time in office to capture him instead of going to an unnecessary war in Iraq, What's he going to say next, "I will help lower gas prices by the time I leave office"?
Not important at all. Bush will only create more problems for the US in an unstable Pakistan. It is too late for Bush to save his legacy. He is leaving this country a mess. Please, don't cause us any more problems before your out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
It is very important! But it won't happen . osama lama is safely tucked away in Pakistan. A Country that the U.S. can't bully because they have nukes. Just more of bush's drivel.
It sure as hell isn't important enough to risk starting WW3
Its nice to know he has not completely forgotten about Bin Laden.
President Bush must think being concerned about Bin Laden now serves a political purpose. Just what I don't know. This is just one more absurdity connected with the Administration. He is totally disconnected with reality as far as the American people are concerned. He is irrelevant but don't count an Oct. or Nov. surprise generated by President Bush. Out with the old and In with the new, I say.
Jack, Are you serious? Well I want a million dollars before Christmas and I'm just $999,999.00 short. He should have thought about that prior to going into Iraq. That should have been the goal years ago. I guess he thinks that if that happens, he will save face and try to save his already tarnished legacy. I don't think it will happen.
It's important for national security, but it is shameful that it is being focused on now, nearing the end of Bush's presidency as a last ditch attempt at altering his story in the history books. Good for national security, shameful to be motivated to do so as a PR move.
It would be a great thing to get Bin Laden at any time, but this president is unreal. Bush removed the task force assigned to get Bin Laden some four years ago, now because he is concerned with his legacy he want the political capital of him being captured or killed on his watch, what a clown. The only thing missing with Bush is the red bulbous nose and the pancake shoes.
It's 7 years and one unnecessary and damaging war too late.
Dear Jack,
You don't believe George W, Bush's sudden interest in capturing Usama Bin Laden would have anything to do with John McCain being behind in the polls would you? No way! I can't believe Sherrif W. would have any political motivations to finally settle his score with his biggest adversary. That would never happen.
I honestly don't care who catches this guy or why--he's a self-professed murderer and the world is a better and safer place without him in it. Jenn, Cape Cod, MA
It is obvious that Osama is dead. The videos alleged to be of him have all been proven fakes. Benezir Bhutto told David Frost that Osama had been murdered by Omar Shiek. Fox news had reported on12-26-2001 that Osama had died. That would explain why he can't be foun or seen in any video. Only the spector of Osama is out there. It is believed that that spector was created to keep the war alive. Only the arms contractor can say for sure about their motivation for keeping this going.
He won't,but Obama will!
Jesse
Duluth
Not until this year did Bush do anything about Bin Laden, Global Warming, Mideast Peace and more. He's trying to save his disastrous reputation as president by scoring one point on one issue. I hope you media guys aren't buying this. Glenn in NJ
Jack,
For the war on terror, remember that one(?), the capture of Bin Laden may actually be very important. But for Bush's legacy, the capture of Bin Laden does not redeem him for the invasion of Iraq which is responsible for most of the lives lost during his administration, notwithstanding our forces in Afghanistan, location of the real war on terror. Bush apparently said today that invading Iraq was the right thing to do and 25 million Iraqis would agree with him. Frankly, I know one Saudi who would definitely agree with him: Osama Bin Laden.
They know exactly where he's at, he's in Pakistan in the tribal regions. If they really wanted to capture him, he would have been captured.
Incidentally... capture is the ONLY option in regards to Bin Laden. Killing him just lends credence to the incredible; both Bush's claim to the presidency by fair means, and that Osama bin Laden is a martyr.
Leave it alone Bush. Leave it alone.
Legacy is all.....
Bush couldn't shoot the broad side of a barn... better get Cheney to do it.
forget capturing/killing Bin Laden, George Bush would be able to claim that he left the world a better and safer place by standing down as President of the United States...today!!
Very important, if you're McCain. Bush had no intentions of ever capturing this man and if so, he wouldn't wait 5 months before the most important election in History.
He is clearly trying to help McCain by making the people think this war was about anything other than oil, which he and his friends have profitted from, but he can catch Bin Laden, the people responsible for the disappearance of Hoffa, those who killed Kenny, I don't care, that still won't make me vote for his understudy in Nov.
Its taken George Bush almost 7 years to get his act together and order the capture/death of Osama Bin Laden!!!
Where has this sense of urgency been all these years while he and his cohorts have been planning and executing other operations around the world.
Just another example of desperation from a lame-duck President in the last throes of his pathetic administration trying to justify its existence for the past 7+ years amid the waste of money on this so-called "War on Terroism"
I can't wait for January when the ship of fools is finally out of office without anything done from this do-nothing Congress.
Jack,
To little to late and much ado about nothing.
Judie
St. Augustine, Fl
Bush is not going to be able to go to war with Iran, the uproar would be outrageous if he tried. I wouldn't be surprised if he knows exactly where Bin Laden is but is afraid of Al Quida backlash. So he turned a blind eye to Osama and went after Iraq instead because he believed he "couldn't lose"...Is that a cynical position? Absolutely and sadly I could totally see it. How is it possible that with satellites, the CIA and all the intelligence that the US has that they can't find this guy? yeah right
It's not important to us at all not, Jack. That "village idiot" squandered 7 years that he could've used to get Bin Laden, and then proudly hung the newspaper clippings on his wall; but chose NOT to instead. That bi-pedal, carbon-based unit had every opportunity to "do the right thing", NOW is simply too late. Congress needs to strap an ankle alarm to him & his partner(s) incrime & lock them the WH basement until January 21st! End of story...
Capturing and putting Osama Bin Laden to public trial is tremendously important for the People of the US, but is also several years past due and not vindicative for Pres. Bush's disastrous term.
They have had all these yrs to get that done and everyone was to involved in Iraq. It is like That mission was forgotten by the politicians and the media. To bad that everyone lost their focus point and what the prioritis should have been. I'll believe his capture when I see it and I doubt I'll live long enough,
This is something he should have thought of before he took us into Iraq. This idiot seems to have his priorities in the wrong order or perhaps he just does not understand.
Well Jack,
He has been running for the past 7 year lets humor him to do it this last year. Whats the worst that happen? Our country can't get much worse.
Perhaps he should have thought that the person who was responsible for the attacks of 911 was more important than invading a country to establish a democracy. Neither has worked out very well for Bush
Why did he wait so long to do this? Was it a miscalculation on how difficult it would be to capture Osama 7 years ago? Bush had an objective in mind but it failed to materialize. That sound eerily familiar.....Hmmm
Yeah right! He has been trying so hard...BooHoo!
Marjorie
NY
I really don't think theres anything that bush can do that could justify his presidency. It would be nice if bin laden were too be caught, bush will still be known as the worst president that this country has ever had! sometimes I think this is the legacy he is trying to leave, lets face it he will be remembered for a long long time although not favorably.
If he were to actually capture bin Laden it would simply highlight how little effort had been put into the search for the last 7 years. So, important in the sense that it will let the public see his 'war on terrorism' for the farce it has been.
Gee, why is it important now. He has had lots of time to find him, but it's more important, to make money in Iraq, and waste tax-payers money
Where's Waldo, I mean, Where's Bin Laden? Bush has a better chance of finding Waldo than Bin Laden.
Since it was one of the first priorities in 2001 and little else of value seems to have been accomplished by this inept administration I am moving it up on my list of things I would like to see done.
President Clinton said his biggest regret was not getting Bin Laden when he had the chance. But getting him now is a little too late. The damage has been done. Unfortunately the failed policies of this administration will be felt for many years to come.
Bush wanted to keep bin Laden free so he could use him as a scare tactic for every election. Now he wants to capture him for his own legacy. Bush has done whatever was in his own interest for the past 7 years and capturing bin Laden by the end of his 2nd term is a continuation of that policy. It's a shame so many people had to die for it.
It's very important that we bring Bin Laden to justice for his crimes against America. It's not going to help Bush's approval rating or people's views on the Iraq war. It may even have a negative impact on our troops if Bin Laden is killed. We don't want to make a martyr out of him just give due process and put him in jail for the rest of his pathetic life. The last thing we need is more sucide bombers trying to even the score if we kill him.
It would be nice for Bush's ego. Too little, too late
Who is Bin Laden?
This is election year politics. As far as history goes, Osama will be just a footnote to the Iraq War Era.
George Bush claims he wants to capture Bin Laden before leaving office but you must remember this is the same man who claimed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, had converted crop-dusters that could be shipped to the U.S. in pieces, re-assembled here and could spray poison gas over our cities, and that Saddam had connections with Al Queda. Looking back over the past 8 years, I sure don't have any faith in anything this man claims. If he claims something, you can bet your last dollar it is false.
Hi Jack,
Love your segment.......................Bin Laden? Give me a break. This
guy is about 7' tall and we haven't caught him yet!!!! Of course, we
really haven't looked for him much now have we? I said he is probably
clean-shaven, sitting on a bench in NYC and laughing as everyone is
walking by. The only clue it is him would be the kidney-dialysis machine he has to move around. On a serious note...........I fear for this country and where we are headed!!!!
Thanks for your time,
Dottie
Bin Laden captured within 6 months??? PLEASE!!!
Bush just wants something positive out of his entire 8 years. We have higher gas prices, higher grocery bills, larger nation debt and families without loved ones for months on end because of him.
His focus should be what color he wants his living room painted at the ranch instead of whether he will catch Bin Laden....I'm sure even Bin Laden himself is having a good laugh at that one!
At this point capturing bin Laden would just be the window dressing of success to hide the failure of the war on terror including Iraq. al Qaeda is stronger and more entrenched than before the war on terror began. bin Laden's role in daily operations is now probably small. The whole Bush legacy is a series of photo-ops covering a horrendous array of mistakes of, both domestic and foreign.
Too little, too late.
He probably thinks it is the only thing that will save his reputation and spare him a place in history as the worst US President to date. It would do neither.
Terrorism was a fact of life before Bin Laden and will be one long after he is dead and forgotten. If Bin Laden is captured or killed, we will be no safer.
Bin Laden was captured long ago, but kept a secret, so that the bush administration could go out on a high note before the gerneral.
Any of you folks seen 'Wag the Dog'?
Important? Only to George W. Bush as he rides his horse out of Washington DC heading to Crawford, Texas.
One word Jack: Pandering.
Bush's war in Iraq has created more terrorists than bin Laden ever recruited. Why doesn't he just do us all a favor and resign.
Now?! Now, he wants to find and kill Osama Bin Laden?! What the hell have we been doing for the last seven years?! If we weren't trying to get Bin Laden all that time then I want my tax money back as well as the lives of our fallen brothers and sisters.
Casey Dayhoff
Orlando, FL
At this point, there is no point. As usual, Bush is too little too late. It would be further waste of American lives and another mess for the next President to clean up. Gail Goodge
Would of been nice if he would of taken care of Bin Laden instead of going into Iraq. His hope to get Bin Laden now is only an effort to justify his presidency and help to get McCain elected. Let's elect a president who won't take his eye off of a real threat, instead of standing by his ideology, the neocons got what they wanted and Bin Laden wasn't it.
It doesn't matter. Bush will continue with his warmongering policies anyway. It won't happen there aren't enough troops in Afghanistan, too many in Iraq.
J from Brooklyn
Jack,
Bush is dreaming. There "ain't" a thing he can do to make his administration look better. Bush is a failure. Jack, you and Wolfe have a better chance of catching brother Osama, ... than Bush does.
From the great state of Oklahoma
In six months? Bush had 7 years to do this job. If we hadn't been distracted by Iraq maybe we would have captured and placed bin Laden on trial by now. Maybe we should capture Bush and place him on trial for his crimes.
PC
Atlanta
Too little too late. I agree that we should go after Bin Laden, but Bush should have done that in the first place instead of going into an unrelated war in Iraq – pushing the United States to poverty. Is this an attempt to try to save his name? Bring home the troops.
Jack, this is stupid. Bin Laden should had been caught years ago. I don't know why we have not capture him, as he is only 7 feet tall. He is far to tall to be hiding in caves. Election year..we will see many promises from President Bush.
Marilyn
I think that the world would be a much safer place if Osama Bin Laden was captured. The world would have been safer if Bill Clinton hadn't called off the capture of Bin Ladenm, twice, leaving him able to plan many terrorist attacks that killed so many innocent lives. I stand behind the President in his attempt.
It's very important. Capturing Osama Bin Ladin before Bush leaves office is exactly what the Republicans need to defeat Barack Obama. Then they can claim that Bush's so called "war on terror" really works. What better way to launch McCain's campaign, which after all really is just a third Bush term. Judy, Cumberland, Maine
Capturing Bin Laden has always been important, just not to President Bush. The fact that he's making a final push for it in the last months of his final term is way too little, way too late. Even if they do manage to capture Bin Laden, Bush's legacy will still be tainted by all the other atrocities of his time in office. The United States has a long road to recovery from the Bush Administration. That being said, I hope they do find Bin Laden and bring him to justice.
Jack,
If Bush is trying to improve his image by capturing bin Laden at this point, he would better serve us by attending to the screaming needs of the country within our own borders. You know. The basics. He might be able to start tackling one or two before the party ends. And, thank God, the party is ending!
Jack-
While it is important (and would be very satisfying) to capture bin Ladin, doing so by the end of Bush's term is not a priority. This is about justice and not Bush's legacy. As soon as a president starts worrying about his legacy, he will make decisions for the wrong reasons. Only the country is important, not presidents.
Alex Landi
Mt. Shasta, CA
Is it important to get Osama Bin Laden? With out question it is just too bad that the President has waited till now to do something about it. Politics Jack just politics at this point.
It will mean very little to Bush's 'Legacy" just as Hussain's death will.
It made their people worse off just as it did America and it's people.
Bush's legacy will, to me and millions of others, only mean death, destruction and betrayal by him and his 'cohorts' that have ripped off America and it's people by sending them into an unneeded war and ridding most of us of our life's savings.
Would,nt that be something.After all this time they finally find him! That would make me think again how they just happened to find Husane.Hey how did that guy end up in that hole?? Jack . you should ask us if we would be surprised....
Mr. Bush has had many years to capture Bin Lauden, and he has shown no sense of urgency thus far.
It's an insult to the American people for Mr. Bush to all of a sudden race to catch Bin Lauden to try to save what will be a legacy of one of the worst commanders in chief in U.S. History.
Mr. Bush needs to realize that he has damaged our nation so badly even if he was able to offer up Bin Lauden's head on a silver platter, Mr. Bush will still go down in history as an incompitant commander in chief
This man is such an idiot ! I wouldn't be one bit surprised to find out that either the U. S. or England already have Bin Laden, or his body, hidden away somewhere and Bushie wants to spring him in the last couple of months of his term so that he can earn some " brownie points " for his legacy.
Give me a break !
The fight in Afghanistan is one we need to one. We need to find and bring to justice Bin Ladin and is new and ever growing command and control. Just because they haven't attack the U.S. again, doesn't mean the war of terror has ended.
Bin Ladin authorized the taking of the plans, hitting the tower, hitting the Pentagon and in the case of United Flight 83, taking out God know what. We need to put this guy out of business.
Bush needs to focus on helping save our troops lives, bringing them home. Osama is not an issue anymore. Even if he found him someone else will just take his place. Osama should have been his priority before going to Iraq.
To think that the capture of Osama so late after the murder of 3000 Americans is finally a priority is sickening. These people are more important than his legacy. He is a deeply self-involved and massively out of touch. Bush is not a bad man, he is deeply, deeply flawed.
After getting rid of Saddam Hussein for no reason, it would be great for the real war on terrorism to get Bin Laden out of circulation but Bush’s version of the war has been so mismanaged that with seven months to go, his legacy is down the toilet and even getting Bin Laden at this point can’t help it and has become irrelevant. He’s leaving a total disaster for his successor and we Americans to clean up and pay off. And he’s going to retire with a pension. Sick!
Not only does he finally admit he should have been trying to actively capture bin Laden, he has damaged our militarty so badly that he no longer believes in it and has to invite British troops to take part in the hunt.
None of our military leaders should ever trust or support him publically again. He should be regarded and treated by our troops as the unskilled, unlearned, politician's relative relegated to a training slot where he can harm only himself.
Bush is no longer worth covering as a news item. There are times when Michael Moore's film makeing prowess can be put to productive use..."The Bush Years, Shredding the President's Oath".
Jack –
It is about time. Over 4,000 American soldier's lives have been lost because he did not know who attacked us.
In a few months a village in Texas will get its idiot back.
Poor little Bush looking for a legacy and does not know where to find it. Over 4000 Americans dead in Iraq, Iraqis in the 100K plus. To little to late to suddenly make Bin Laden a priority.
Capturing Bin Laden at anytime would have a major impact on the "War Against Terrorism." But where was this emphasis 7 years ago? Putting oneself first by trying to write or re-write history for the sake of one's personal legacy does not seem very sincere.
Is Bin Laden really in a cave in the mountains as he wants us to believe, or is he actually living in luxury in his homelland? He and his followers have mastered the art of manipulating world public opinion to their advantage.
Jack,
Bush should just face the fact that his legacy will be that he will go down as the WORST president this country has ever had. Capturing Bin Laden in the 9th inning won't change that. Besides, I seem to remember him saying that wasn't a priority of his.
How about laying the groundwork for peace with Iran? The Iranian people are scared to death of Bush and McCain. This is our chance to make peace with Iran before we have a chain reaction on our hands. We have messed up several times in U.S.-Iran diplomacy, but they are always willing to sit down with us and work toward peaceful cooperation, all we need to do is say yes.
Hi again Jack:
Forget about Bin Laden, he is already gone. No one will ever see him again.
Why would anyone waste a moment thinking about anything these lying hypocrites say? Please vote Obama!
Capturing Bin Laden is not a priority for the United States. His captured will be an important step towards the defeat of Al Queda, but not the final blow. If President Bush would like to safe his legacy, this government needs to create more jobs and lower our gas prices. That way, we can afford not only our homes but also our jobs.
Frank
Keller, Texas
Yes, I think it's important to capture him, but I do not think it'll do any good now. Bin Laden's influence is so wide spread, capturing him wouldn't be too significant at this point.
Christie
Texas
Bush wants to capture Bin Laden? This is a joke, right?
Jack,
I shall never forget watching live news coverage of people jumping to their deaths rather than endure the agony of being burned alive on the morning of 9/11.
It is infuriating to me that bin-Laden has been able to avoid capture or death for so many years. I cannot help but to wonder why now, at the end of his term does Bush decide to its time to try and catch the bastard…
don't count on Bush accomplising anything. He would need another term. I'd rather have Bin Laden as president
Very important Jack, but those who fail to learn from History are doomed to repeat it.
Aristocrats should govern cities and States, never nations
He let slip the dogs of war not comprehending what he was about to unleash.
Unless you see war up close and personal a person cant possibly understand IM not talking about about high tech. shoot from a distance IM talking about incoming, face to face, hand to hand.
Now he talks about capturing Bin Laden before he leaves office again he doesn't even understand the terrain and the part of the world he's talking about.
They're at high elevations can see you long before you get there mountains straight up straight down your carring approx. ninety pounds.After you go through special nforces what do you have left that's in shape for that terrain.
Do I hear the word Impeachment?
Tampa Fl.
Bush is like a degenerate in Vegas. If I can just get one win that will erase my string of screw ups.... Then my people will love me again.
It's so very sad. He's had how many years for this to be important?
Man I can't wait for Obama to take office. This country needs a fresh start so bad.
Stop believing the lies...
YES WE CAN. Obama '08.
Would it not be a kick in the butt of BUSH if the Brits found bin Laden after our troops have spent years looking for him.Wanted dead or alive HAHA
That'd be great, if Bin Laden just so happens to have about a gazillion barrels of oil and a whole stockpile of WMDs on him when they catch him. Otherwise it may not accomplish much. But you never know Jack, you just never know.
Bin Laden was never more than one man. The press made a big deal of his name because it was the only name they had. Nobody cares about him any more.
The hunt for Bin Laden has resembled OJ's search for the "real killer" to closely for my tastes. This is just hot air. Catching Bin Laden would be excellent but why has it not happened yet?
Of course we need to capture him. We do not forget about murdering terrorists here in the US. It is and always will be necessary.
Z06 Texas
This question is a joke...Right?
This is a PR move. The man has nothing to go out on but a bad economy and a botched invasion of IRAQ. He dropped this ball long ago. It is probably a ploy to give Mc Cain a boost of Bin Laden is captured.
Seven years and counting....+++++++
Osama Bin Laden isn't even real. He was fabricated in order to serve as a scapegoat for Bush's agenda.
I'm sure he will be "captured." Congrats Bush.
Forget Bush. To make this a political issue is a disgrace to the surviving families and friends of that tragic day.
But how important is finding Bin Laden? Try Saddam times 2,752.
It is not as important if you capture Bin Laden but how you capture him. We don't need another martyr. Hopefully we find him in another hole.
I've seen a video excerpt (YouTube, of course) from "The David Frost Show", where David is interviewing Benazir Bhutto a couple of weeks before her assassination. She, in no uncertain terms and very matter-of- factly, stated that in 2003, I think, bin Laden was killed by a double agent of the Pakistani "CIA" whom she named as Omar Sheikh. So, I suppose GWB (great white bozo) is a day late and a dollar short again! And the American public, therefore, has to be duped again. How can anyone with even a questionable 3-digit I.Q. not figure there's something criminal going on?
Lace, W. Palm Beach, Fl.
Jack..... Bin Laden needs to be takin out!!! The problem with we Americans is our memories are too short. Just remember what he did in 2001..... need i say more
Catching Osama Bin Laden is still important, But What President Bush should be more concern about is The War in Iraq, The Troubling Economy, and Campaigning For John McCain! By the way, If Osama gets caught during this few months to the general election, It would be kind of fishy! Get it?
Highly important. It might dispell the notion that the Bush administration worked in concert with Osama Bin Laden to create the circumstances that allowed him to sell a "war on terrorism" to the American people while Vice President Cheyney worked behind the scenes to fatten the pocketbooks of his oil tycoon friends.
Too little too late. After 7yrs, it's a moot point for his joke of an administration. They made the rules as they pleased. Killing Saddam only destabilized the Middle East. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 yet he attacked Iraq anyway.
Can November get here any sooner????
Jack,
It wouldn't serprise me if bil Laden has been working as a cook or a security guard at the White House all of these years.
Keith
Haslet
If you have ever seen the mountains in Afghanistan you could understand how someone could disappear and never be seen again. We need to get our troops out of both countries and secure our borders in this country. Even if Bin Laden is captured, we have given the terrorists all the amunition they will ever need to do more damage to the US. Just think about all the babies and young children who are growing up to hate America. Violence only brings more violence.
Jack,
The only thing Bush knows how to do is start wars. He has been the biggest failure for a president in US history. THAT will be his legacy. It's to late for anything else.
Len S., CA.
Jack:
If bin Laden can be caught before Bush leaves office, that would be great, but it seems to me Bush is just getting interested now in pursuing him. What's taken him so long? If he had spent as much time and money pursing bin Laden as he did going after Hussein, he might have been caught years ago. Too little, too late as far as I'm concerned...
People should try answering the question. Yes, it is important to catch Bin Laden. And I didn't even mention the president's name...
It is time to step back and asess where we are and what we need to do. Blindly Going into another bad situation does not bode well for the Republican Nominee John McCain and it is a long shot to find him and actualy help the "popular vote" that Bush said this morning he chooses not to follow his principles on (good and bad)
"The roads paved to hell were created with the best intentions"
Jack, capturing one nut in a world full of them isn't going to make much of a difference.
If Bush all of sudden captures Bin Laden right here in his final days as Presdident, then I'd bet all I got that they knew of his where about's all along.
It shouldn’t matter what motivates President Bush at this point. We should all want the men who took part in killing Americans on 9/11 to be captured and punished.
According to McLogic, we'll just out stay him, it doesn't matter how long it takes.
Very Important, as many other issues. We must think of long term solutions of annd not quick fixes that will only create biger issues to tackle in the future.
Many have written that capturing Bin Laden was not our priority, that plundering the riches of Iraq was the actual goal. I say you're part-way there. The riches he plundered were from the people of the United States. The country of Iraq isn't funding anything - WE are. He has bankrupted our nation, taking the wealth of our country and putting in his friends pockets. Think about that the next time a berm fails and our farmlands flood.
Or this time.
Just like Clinton with the Middle East, the last two years of a two-term presidency focuses on the legacy. Bush is trying desperately to salvage something for the history books.
Jack,
Having a couple of family members serve several deployments in Afganistan actively seaching for the elusive Bin Laden, I think that it is very important. Maybe not so much for the legacy of Bush, but for the safety of our country. Although much of what my family has done over there hasn't really been disclosed, the tid-bits that we get is an "active" search for him.
As long as the man is captured and held accountable for all he has done the better we are as a country....
OH and BTW...A
He is probably hiding Crawford Texas behind brush that Bush forgot
to cut .
President Bush got rid of Sadam Hussein, one of the most miserable and sadistic people since Hitler. He doesn't need to find Bin Laden. Bin Laden has killed less than 8,000 people worldwide. Hussein killed and bludgeoned hundreds of thousands and tortured even more. Bin Laden would be icing on Bush's cake. As an American, i'd love to see him captured. Why wouldn't you?
The nerve of this man. Bush is in la la land, and that's where he's been since day one. It's too late for him to do the right thing now.
He's wasted 7 years in office and has brought the country to it's knees. And now he wants to try and leave on a high note. He's dumber than dirt. I wish he'd shut up for the next few months until he's packing his bags and on his way back to Texas. Good Riddance!
Jack,
I would love for him to capture Bin Laden. I would love it if he would have done it after 9/11 and not go to war with Iraq. But alas, he has bigger plans. This is just a ploy tactic to help with McCain and for Bush to "get right" with his morals probably! However, if Bush does kidnap him before the election, then it would be awful suspicious. How come he didn't capture him before? Psha!
Capturing Bin Laden is VERY important. It has been since September 11th 2001. That's why we shouldn't have wasted so many dollars, resources, and most of all, lives in Iraq. I find it humorous that the source to the story said, "if President Bush can say he killed Saddam Hussein and captured bin Laden," President Bush? If he can be credited with killing Hussein, then it's just as logical to say that he killed all those brave American men and women who won't be coming home. My God, January can't come soon enough for me!
He's worried about him now !!!!!! How about the poor folks in Iowa ? Another Katrina which he thinks went just fine. What a shame he won't be impeached, before he leaves office.
What? Do we now have an objective to this war? I thought, naively, that caching him, and obviously his couterparts, was the entire basis of this war. What kind of new agenda is he attempting to push down American's throat before he vacates his office. Sorry Mr. Pres...good by good riddance. Too late to make up for obvious incompetence.
For what Bin Laden has done to America, it was, it is and it should remain top priority to get him and remind to all those who are ready to fill in his shoes, what their destiny would be if they dared. Jack, I don't understand why you thought this is a question.
Watch the 911 "as it happened" footage again. Then watch some of the other documentaries that have been on, showing the stories of people trapped in the towers, or the struggle on flight 93. Then, do you still feel it's not worth the trouble to bring the man behind this attack to justice?
I'm sure we would have caught Bin Laden by now if he had some oil.
binladen died two years ago in egypt. of kidney faiure.
Catching him would be great. We have had a number of setbacks but we have the finest military in the world. Clinton had him and let his slide away! He needs to be caught. You would not want Hitler still running around! It would be a geat moral crush to the terrorist. He will show up somewhere. Put a huge price tag on his head. Dead or alive and one of the greedy terrorist will give him up.
The Bush adminstration claim to fame is that we have not been hit since 9/11. Following that comment you will never hear them say 4,100 US dead soldiers and 25,000 injured seriously and a million dead civlians. What an exchange rate. Unreal. Are their any foreign troops besides the US in Iraq. Bush at this point really needs Bin Laden bad to save his miserable reputation. What a MESS.
Jack, GW couldn't catch Bin Laden if he were living in Crawford and having barbecue with HW and Barbra.
I think Bush has Bin laden already. He is watiing to right before he leaves office before they announce it. That would be a great way to leave office.
Who's Osama Bin Laden?