Following the Osama bin Laden Courier Links

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Tue May 03, 2011 at 12:36:14 PM EST
Tags: Osama bin Laden (all tags)

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If you'd like to follow the trail to Sheikh Abu Ahmed, aka Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, the Osama bin Laden courier who made a phone call in 2010 that led to the authorities to focus on the home in Abbottabad where Osama, the courier and his brother were killed, here's a good start:

Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman, Associated Press:

[I]n 2004, top al-Qaida operative Hassan Ghul was captured in Iraq. Ghul told the CIA that al-Kuwaiti was a courier, someone crucial to the terrorist organization. In particular, Ghul said, the courier was close to Faraj al-Libi, who replaced Mohammed as al-Qaida's operational commander. It was a key break in the hunt for in bin Laden's personal courier. "Hassan Ghul was the linchpin," a U.S. official said.

The Telegraph and Wikileaks

The Wikileaks Guantanamo files on Muhammad Mani Ahmad Al Shalan Al Qahtani and Abu Farajal Libi (al-Libi).

Marcy (Empty Wheel) [More...]

This Pro Publica report on Hassan Ghul in 2009 found Ghul, whose whereabouts after his detention in a secret prison were unknown, mentioned in an Office of Legal Counsel memo.

Another detainee who reportedly worked with Ghul: Abdu Ali Sharqawi.

Detainee personally worked with Hassan Ghul, a well-known al-Qaida operative known for providing false passports, IDs, and transportation from Pakistan to Afghanistan. (TD-314/42213-02)

Two quick points: Even after being subjected to waterboarding or other enhanced interrogation techniques, Faraj al-Libi and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed lied about Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, the courier, refusing to give his real name. And Hassan Ghul, the Ghost Air prisoner who seemingly disappeared, was transferred to Pakistani custody, and reportedly surfaced in Romania, may later have been released. Marcy asks why? (Romania had a secret jail where at times, al Libi, KSM, al Nashiri, Ramzi Binalshibh and others were kept.) Question: Was he released or is he dead?

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Following the Osama bin Laden Courier Links | 3 comments (3 topical)

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Stories, theories, and perspectives abound, here's (none / 0) (#1)
by ruffian on Tue May 03, 2011 at 01:23:28 PM EST

another one, h/t Atrios. It seems to account for the timing better than other ideas. Did a Saudi drop a dime on OBL?

The intelligence (none / 0) (#2)
by Mike Pridmore on Tue May 03, 2011 at 02:43:41 PM EST

community, at least the part that believes in torture, is trying to use this as a justification for the torture. Supposedly it was torture that got them the crucial piece of data. The crucial graph from the AP piece:

The revelation that intelligence gleaned from the CIA's so-called black sites helped kill bin Laden was seen as vindication for many intelligence officials who have been repeatedly investigated and criticized for their involvement in a program that involved the harshest interrogation methods in U.S. history.
"We got beat up for it, but those efforts led to this great day," said Marty Martin, a retired CIA officer who for years led the hunt for bin Laden.

There needs to be a thorough examination of this claim to justify torture. I don't see any piece of crucial info that could not have been gained without torture.

: hmm... (none / 0) (#3)
by Mike Pridmore on Tue May 03, 2011 at 02:51:12 PM EST

OK, it appears that BTD slapped this down already. I had missed that somehow.