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Osama bin Laden documents to be released Osama bin Laden documents to be released
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Dozens of documents taken by US special forces from Osama bin Laden's compound during the raid in which the al-Qaida leader was killed are to be released by American authorities.Dozens of documents taken by US special forces from Osama bin Laden's compound during the raid in which the al-Qaida leader was killed are to be released by American authorities.
Though tens of thousands of documents, videos and computer discs were seized, only a handful are to be made public on Thursday, in the original Arabic and in English translation along with a commentary from experts at the Combating Terrorism Centre at the US Military Academy at West Point.Though tens of thousands of documents, videos and computer discs were seized, only a handful are to be made public on Thursday, in the original Arabic and in English translation along with a commentary from experts at the Combating Terrorism Centre at the US Military Academy at West Point.
Elements of many of the documents have already been revealed by an administration eager to show that Bin Laden and the organisation he founded were suffering serious problems even before the raid on 2 May last year.Elements of many of the documents have already been revealed by an administration eager to show that Bin Laden and the organisation he founded were suffering serious problems even before the raid on 2 May last year.
The latest documents are expected to show that Bin Laden, confined with his family to a three-storey house in the northern Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, was increasingly out of touch with the challenges facing his group and its day-to-day administration. The papers are likely to include those showing that he was deeply concerned by falling support within the Islamic world, and even considered changing the name of al-Qaida a few months before his death as part of a major rebranding exercise.The latest documents are expected to show that Bin Laden, confined with his family to a three-storey house in the northern Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, was increasingly out of touch with the challenges facing his group and its day-to-day administration. The papers are likely to include those showing that he was deeply concerned by falling support within the Islamic world, and even considered changing the name of al-Qaida a few months before his death as part of a major rebranding exercise.
Bin Laden, who moved into the compound in 2005 after more than four years on the run, continued to issue broad strategic directives to his organisation and does not appear to have deviated from his desire to execute attacks within the US. Communications show the Saudi-born militant, who was 54 when he died, pushing subordinates to find potential candidates to assassinate President Barack Obama and senior US officials. He also hoped to launch a concerted campaign of violence to bolster the insurgency in Afghanistan.Bin Laden, who moved into the compound in 2005 after more than four years on the run, continued to issue broad strategic directives to his organisation and does not appear to have deviated from his desire to execute attacks within the US. Communications show the Saudi-born militant, who was 54 when he died, pushing subordinates to find potential candidates to assassinate President Barack Obama and senior US officials. He also hoped to launch a concerted campaign of violence to bolster the insurgency in Afghanistan.
According to the author Peter Bergen, the documents show that Bin Laden was so concerned about the damage done to the al-Qaida brand that he wrote to Mukhtar Abu al-Zubair, the leader of the al-Shabaab group in Somalia, telling him not to profess allegiance to al-Qaida as an open declaration of loyalty would be counter-productive. According to the author Peter Bergen, the documents show Bin Laden was so concerned about the damage done to the al-Qaida brand that he wrote to Mukhtar Abu al-Zubair, the leader of the al-Shabaab group in Somalia, telling him not to profess allegiance to al-Qaida as an open declaration of loyalty would be counter-productive.
The leader sent associates his thoughts about how to exploit media coverage of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, suggesting potential interviewers.The leader sent associates his thoughts about how to exploit media coverage of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, suggesting potential interviewers.
Commanders of allied, if not always organisationally linked, groups were chided about their tendency to cause civilian casualties. Leaders of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Yemen, were told to learn from the mistakes of al-Qaida in Iraq, which had alienated local communities through indiscriminate violence.Commanders of allied, if not always organisationally linked, groups were chided about their tendency to cause civilian casualties. Leaders of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Yemen, were told to learn from the mistakes of al-Qaida in Iraq, which had alienated local communities through indiscriminate violence.
Directives were also sent to Pakistani Taliban groups suggesting guidelines for dealing with kidnapping.Directives were also sent to Pakistani Taliban groups suggesting guidelines for dealing with kidnapping.
The documents have been carefully vetted to avoid any breaches of security. They have been selected to avoid causing embarrassment to allies, even fractious friends such as Pakistan, or problems for ongoing attempts to negotiate a peace settlement in Afghanistan.The documents have been carefully vetted to avoid any breaches of security. They have been selected to avoid causing embarrassment to allies, even fractious friends such as Pakistan, or problems for ongoing attempts to negotiate a peace settlement in Afghanistan.
Among the documents seized in Abbottabad is correspondence between Bin Laden, his successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Mullah Mohammed Omar, the leader of the Taliban, which reveals close ideological ties between the three men.Among the documents seized in Abbottabad is correspondence between Bin Laden, his successor, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Mullah Mohammed Omar, the leader of the Taliban, which reveals close ideological ties between the three men.