Antaletriangle
03-27-2009, 03:34 AM
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Osama-Bin-Laden-Plotting-Attack-Against-US-And-Its-Allies-From-Base-In-Pakistan-Says-US-Official/Article/200903415250097?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15250097_Osama_Bin_Laden_Plotting_Atta ck_Against_US_And_Its_Allies_From_Base_In_Pakistan %2C_Says_US_Official
3:18am UK, Friday March 27, 2009
Osama bin Laden is plotting an attack against the US and its allies from his secret base in Pakistan, say reports.
Bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders are believed to be hiding in Pakistan
Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed senior US official as giving the warning, but gave no further details.
The news came shortly after President Obama announced plans to send an extra 4,000 US troops to train Afghan security forces.
Mr Obama is due to reveal more details of his new war strategy later today.
But the source said the new plan would focus on destroying safe havens in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan where Bin Laden is believed to be hiding.
He added: "For the first time, we are approaching this problem as two countries - Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"But as one challenge and one theatre for our diplomacy and our reconstruction efforts to work in. We see this as an integrated problem."
He said Mr Obama had briefed Afghan and Pakistani officials on the new strategy - but told them there would be "no blank checks" for aid.
The source also said the US plans to dispatch thousands more troops to Afghanistan by the autumn, and there would be no immediate timetable for their withdrawal.
He said the plan would be built around benchmarks that will allow Congress to check whether the extra deployment and increased aid is working.
The strategy would see the cost of US operations in Afghanistan rise from $2bn to $3bn a month.
Meanwhile, Britain may be preparing to send thousands more troops to the country, according to a report in The Times.
General Richard Dannatt, the chief of the general staff, told the paper that elements of 12 Mechanised Brigade had been "earmarked for Afghanistan".
3:18am UK, Friday March 27, 2009
Osama bin Laden is plotting an attack against the US and its allies from his secret base in Pakistan, say reports.
Bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders are believed to be hiding in Pakistan
Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed senior US official as giving the warning, but gave no further details.
The news came shortly after President Obama announced plans to send an extra 4,000 US troops to train Afghan security forces.
Mr Obama is due to reveal more details of his new war strategy later today.
But the source said the new plan would focus on destroying safe havens in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan where Bin Laden is believed to be hiding.
He added: "For the first time, we are approaching this problem as two countries - Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"But as one challenge and one theatre for our diplomacy and our reconstruction efforts to work in. We see this as an integrated problem."
He said Mr Obama had briefed Afghan and Pakistani officials on the new strategy - but told them there would be "no blank checks" for aid.
The source also said the US plans to dispatch thousands more troops to Afghanistan by the autumn, and there would be no immediate timetable for their withdrawal.
He said the plan would be built around benchmarks that will allow Congress to check whether the extra deployment and increased aid is working.
The strategy would see the cost of US operations in Afghanistan rise from $2bn to $3bn a month.
Meanwhile, Britain may be preparing to send thousands more troops to the country, according to a report in The Times.
General Richard Dannatt, the chief of the general staff, told the paper that elements of 12 Mechanised Brigade had been "earmarked for Afghanistan".