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Subscribe to RSSThe writings of Osama bin Laden, much in the news the last couple of days, amount to a single notebook of "10 or so pages" in his handwriting, a senior U.S. intelligence official says.
Rather than a "journal" or a "diary," the official described it as an "outline" or a "white paper" on al-Qaida's plans. "It set up an agenda for subsequent discussion and correspondence," he added, some of it with his subordinates and some with affiliated groups. In fact, there is other written and digital material that relates to the 10-page notebook.
The singular impression of analysts, said the official: "He was down in the weeds ... a micromanager."
The U.S. does not yet know if the material was written in one or more sittings, and the official declined to say how recently it was written.
Exploitation of the full cache of material is still under way. At the beginning of the process, 10 days ago, the official said the CIA estimated exploitation would take "a few weeks total if we go around the clock" The explotiation is in fact going 24 hours a day, with updates every morning and a number of regular intelligence reports — "dozens" on some days — distributed throughout the day.
As for additional videos, the official said a lot of them were what we have seen already: unreleased propaganda, outtakes, and news reports that had been recorded. Bin Laden's own messages were recorded at the compound, and it appears that some production and post-production work were done elsewhere by al Shahab, the al-Qaida media arm.
When asked if the material seized is helping the U.S. identify locations of other al-Qaida leaders, the official declined to comment.
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honestly why do care about his writings or "diary" we have bigger issues to worry about than a dead mans diary . china is trying to aquire our technolgy as far as stealth is concerned, i never really believed that the u.s. is deligently pursuing terrorist, how ever job well done...analyze the diary or writings ....but push forward to end the war. and concentrte on domestic issues like hunger crime and gs prices
-marcus bean
Well, I guess it's a pretty good guess that Osama bin Laden's management technique makes very little difference in the grand scheme of things.
Actually, bin Laden's management technique could be very important. Micromanagers generally need to control all aspects of an operation, fearing that their subordinates would only foul things up. They also tend to come down hard on any subordinate whom they feel failed them in any way, and in the case of a man like bin Laden, "hard" is generally fatal. Thus his subordinates are unlikely to have much experience with detailed planning and execution of an operation. A change in management would thus be hindered by that inexperience until and unless a new leader takes over who has those qualities and experience. If our people can catch the organization in its time of weakness, they can do a lot more damage than they could on one that encouraged its people to think and operate even semi-independently. That is why our services can and do clobber those who have modeled themselves on the Soviet Union's military: we encourage our lower-level management people to think and, when necessary, to improvise.
push forward to end the war. and concentrte on domestic issues like hunger crime and gs prices
-agreed
As much as it grieves me to say this, I'm more in agreement with Plato. I believe he stated, many centuries ago, something similar to . . . 'Only the dead have seen the end of war.'
As long as there is profit to be made from it, we will be involved in a war somewhere.
The only murder my boss is guilty of is my spirit.
Hang on there, jj2112! My husband had a boss like that, and now he has a better job and a great boss! Until then, don't let them kill your spirit! I've been in situations like that too. It's tough to face that every day, but they're not worth letting them get to you.
Once had a boss who was a micro-managing freak and usually had a quirky little irritating grin on her face when leaning on subordinates. One of her favorite sayings to staff members was, "Well, you know, if I was not happy at my present job, I'd quit and go elsewhere." As it turned out, I retired two years before she was fired. Apparently her supervisors beat her to the decision that it was time for her to go elsewhere. : )
I am so darn glad that piece of horse crap is dead.
It is good just to hear we have his journal,diary,whatever they want to call it. This gives the experts better perspective of how a terrorist,excuse me the top terrorist thought,and will give insight of their motives,and to what end will it bring them. These writings concern national security,and national security trumps all.
@ Mark; China already has stealth technology,they have for years,they are just starting to successfully test prototypes that use stealth technology.
No one will ever know for certain the extent of activities for which Bin Laden was or was not guilty. Maybe the writings will reflect this. Dunno. Still, much as I might hate my boss for micro management, I don't intend to put a contract out on him.
Who cares? Next you'll tell us he masturbated to blond women's pictures found on his hard drive....
Oh, like who doesn't?
OBL had more management skills in his little toe than my boss has in her entire body!
When are they gonna get tired of bin laden...Im sick of his picture and sick of him ..hes dead move on.
Yes, its time to acquire and eliminate the next target, Ayman Al Zawahiri. Look for him; find him; kill him!!!
Can we flippin get his demonic-looking face off the web and TV now? His picture makes me sick everytime I see it. Unless they want to show a photo of his pathetic dead body, I've seen enough since 9-11.
Just paint a little red circle to look like a bullet hole over OBL's left eye and you'll have a photo of him dead.
Since bin Laden was a micro manager, he may have left a rich trove of details of many projects and operations lying around for the SEALS to pick up after they killed him. There may be names, places, and logistical details in diaries, documents, and computers that will lead to more arrests and special ops attacks in the future.
Stay tuned!
And being a micromanager (and meglomaniac), he deprived others of developing their decision-making skills. He was obcessed with targeting the USA, while his subordinates wanted to target the entire world. So, without him there should be a lessening of threats to the USA and an increase in threats around the world. This is a good reason for the entire world to marshall their forces and coordinate with other nations to defeat global terrorism.
and if they do i hope its the ones who have been constantly putting us down for the way we handle things. not that i really want to see anybody get attackd,just sayin see how they deal with.
Him being a micromanager means we should have plenty of good information then I would guess. If there are subsequent successful raids and disruption of terrorist activity then I will believe the information is valuable. Until then I will hold judgement on the informaiton as should the news media.
I wonder what he really wanted? I mean, just what kind of world would he have found "acceptable"? It's similar to studying Hitler's ideas and objectives. I find no emotional entrenchment in studying this man or his world-view. In fact, I find it fascinating. And, this understanding would undoubtedly lead to making our world a safer place.
The most horrible islamic satan is well gone and sleeping well at the bottom of the ocean!
This animal is one of the worst than all worst in the Human history
Pretty harsh comments. Bin Laden is nothing compared Stalin, Hitler, Mao, in terms of innocent folks killed. Shoot, even a lot of modern US Presidents have more of a "body count" than Bin Laden.
I saw a great e-mail picture of his grave marker today! It was a sandal floating around in the ocean! Nice tombstone towely.
"Towely"
is a somewhat derogatory term. I am fast friends with many of those who dress
in that manner. They are not your enemies or mine.
The next phase is sanction Pakistan in all conceivable aspects! also, it is the time to hunt down other al-qaedas big fishes!
The US should just get as much intel as they can from OBL's documents left behind at his hideout Discussing it further in the news media is a moot point. Draw down on the number of US and allied forces in Iraq and Afgan regions. Use those extra military personnel, those that are not retired out, have them go to the southern border region with Mexico. We need to put a serious end to illegals coming into our country. All illegals from whatever country they come from be it China, Ukraine, Russia, Mexico, central America. Work to amend the 14th amendment to the Constitution to get rid of the anchor baby provision as it presently is written. Then deal with all the other important issues to get America back on her feet stronger than before.
I personally have had enough of the repeat news media reports with a different twist every day. It is getting old and tiring. We have a great many issues to be worked on and a house divided does not stand well. So time to unite, roll of the shelves and get to work on the hard issue facing our Nation.
A retired army veteran from norcal
If copter pilot flying muti-$$$$$$$$$$$ secret aircraft didn't drop the tail on the wall......
Parts would'nt be going to China
We would have had room for all the other info left behind....wouldn't wanna be him!
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the tail ended up on the wall (like in the photos) after it was purposely blown up, not when it landed. Common sense would tell you there would have been extensive injuries if he in fact dropped the tail on the wall when landing. Anyways.
Last Tuesday the White House released video of Osama masturbating to a Britney Spears video. Today, a second video was released showing a similar scene...
If you want to see this debacle just Google "Oops, I did it again'"
so.....he was a man after all, right?
It is hard to believe that people will still believe anything the Pentagon feeds them.
HA!
No, kidding, it is not hard to believe at all !
Teachers in the US don't correct language or spelling errors like people do on-line. And it makes you guys feel like your "above the person". Go figure.
Pakis sold remains of downed chopper to China
Pakis sold remains of downed chopper to China
yea, they are not allies in any sense of the word.
Pakis sold remains of downed chopper to China
Please show proof.
Sailcat, they don't show proof for the rhetoric they speak. They just demand proof when facts don't support their rhetoric.
You have a point, there, Seriously.
obl was no michael scott!
People. Please, stop validating this propaganda. This tale is an embarassment to psy op professionals. Osama was dead many years ago; this is total wag the dog nonsense. The conspiracy kooks turn out to be right: 9/11 was a false flag, the Osama "assasination" of 2011 is a hoax, the technocratic elites are indeed trying to devalue the dollar and restrict U.S. productivity, they are bringing in martial law one step at a time. That much we know -- what the endgame is is anyone's guess. But we must not validate the false reality of this "assasination" hoax. Enough already.
"The conspiracy kooks turn out to be right..."
Did you just call yourself a kook? I think you did!
If Osama Bin Laden was killed years ago, how did they convince his wife and family members to make statements saying that he was killed at the beginning of May 2011? Were his wife and family in on the conspiracy? Take off the aluminum foil hat and stop taking long walks in the sun and consuming large quantities of mind-altering substances.