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AP: Pakistan Begins Demolition of bin Laden’s Compound

Pakistan Begins Demolition of bin Ladens Compound

(AP) — Pakistan on Saturday began demolishing the three-story compound where Osama bin Laden lived for years and was killed by U.S. commandos last May, eliminating a concrete reminder of the painful and embarrassing chapter in the country’s history.

Pakistan was outraged by the covert American raid because it was not told about it beforehand. The country’s powerful military faced rare domestic criticism because it was not able to stop U.S. troops from infiltrating the country by helicopter from Afghanistan under the cover of darkness. The compound was located next to Pakistan’s equivalent of West Point, the elite U.S. military academy.

Three mechanized backhoes began demolishing the compound in the northwest town of Abbottabad after sunset on Saturday, said two local residents, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were afraid of being harassed by the government.

Authorities set up floodlights so they could work after dark, the residents said.

The demolition team conducted its work under heavy security. A large team of police set up an outer cordon around the compound to keep spectators away, said an Associated Press reporter who managed to get close enough to see the demolition work under way. A ring of army soldiers set up an inner cordon and warmed themselves against the winter chill by lighting a bonfire.

The backhoes broke through tall outer boundary walls that ringed a courtyard where one of the U.S. helicopters crashed during the operation to kill the al-Qaida chief. They then began to tear down the compound itself.

A Pakistani intelligence official confirmed that the demolition was in progress but declined to say why the government chose to do it. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Residents of the normally sleepy town of Abbottabad were divided on what the government should do with the compound in the aftermath of the raid. Some thought it should be destroyed, but others believed it should be turned into a tourist attraction to help the town earn money. There was always the danger, however, that it could also draw al-Qaida supporters.

American officials said they buried bin Laden’s body at sea to avoid giving his followers a burial place that could become a makeshift shrine.

Many U.S. officials expressed disbelief that bin Laden could have lived in Abbottabad for around six years without the Pakistani government knowing. But the U.S. has not found any evidence that senior Pakistani officials knew the al-Qaida chief’s whereabouts.

The U.S. did not give Pakistan advance warning of the raid, which lasted about 40 minutes, because it was worried someone in the country’s military or shadowy intelligence agency would tip off bin Laden.

The operation was a serious blow to the already troubled U.S.-Pakistan relationship. Pakistan responded to the raid by kicking out more than 100 U.S. troops training Pakistanis in counterterrorism operations and reduced the level of intelligence cooperation.

Pakistan Begins Demolition of bin Ladens Compound

Ties between the U.S. and Pakistan have also been strained by American drone strikes targeting Taliban and al-Qaida militants in the country’s northwest tribal region near the Afghan border.

A suspected U.S. drone crashed Saturday in the North Waziristan tribal area, the main sanctuary for militants along the border, said Pakistani intelligence officials and local residents.

The unmanned aircraft went down near Mir Ali, one of the main towns in North Waziristan, said the intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The drone caught fire after it hit the ground and was believed to have crashed because of technical problems, they said.

Local resident Nasir Khan said he saw the burning debris from the roof of his home in the Machi Khel area. It was about 500 yards (meters) from his house.

Pakistani officials often criticize drone strikes as a violation of the country’s sovereignty, but the government is widely believed to have supported the covert CIA-run program in the past. That cooperation has come under strain as the relationship with the U.S. has deteriorated.

The U.S. refuses to speak openly about the program, but officials have said privately that the strikes have killed senior Taliban and al-Qaida commanders.

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Comments (29)

  • SilentReader
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 7:41pm

    Bulldozing the whole country would be advisable. So don’t stop there! And since they’re all living in the Stoneage then maybe reverting them back to the Stoneage would be a great idea as well.

    Chaos begets chaos and they seem to love it. Any excuse to go on the rampage will do. And we have no end to the dhimmis in the West who will grovel to these neanderthals. I suggest they join them!

    Report Post » SilentReader  
  • jschold
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 3:33pm

    It is entirely possible that we might see OBL on a future episode of Sponge Bob Square Pants . You think ?

    Report Post »  
  • BuggiOlleo
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 9:55am

    Did you notice all that gorgeous land surrounding that property?….From what I have seen, read, and heard, I was under the perception of this home being in the middle of some Pakistan city?! Uh uh. What is the problem? Perception not truth; media spin!– Pictures really do say a thousand words without uttering a single sound.

    Report Post » BuggiOlleo  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 8:12am

    Why stop with just the compound?

    Report Post » Meyvn  
  • myway
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 7:02am

    We could have leveled that for them including the rest of the place.

    Report Post » myway  
  • Seventys America
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 4:36am

    With any luck, they’ll find the missing dialysis machine when they raze the place.

    http://www.facebook.com/seventys.america

    Report Post » Seventys America  
  • Captain Crunch
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 2:12am

    They’re just distressed because the Big-O is fish food. I think I’ll go to my local pet store, buy some containers of fish food and relabel them: Osama Bin Laden Fish Flakes…and resell them on Ebay.

    Report Post »  
  • mike3481
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 12:36am

    So, who exactly owned the property when OBL moved in?

    Did the property change hands while OBL lived there?

    And who owns it now?

    My guess; A retired Pakistani General who lives in Abbottabad owns it, now and then.

    Report Post »  
  • USAMEDIC3008
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 12:15am

    I here 6 Flags is going to build a park there..

    Report Post » USAMEDIC3008  
  • waspanglosaxon
    Posted on February 26, 2012 at 12:09am

    After finally getting their obviously fake stories straight about the ‘raid’ that never happened, they claimed to have buried Osama at sea and are not releasing any photos because they’re “too gruesome” (or ‘too nonexistent’). Anyway, dozing the place will destroy any remaining evidence that could prove that bin Laden probably never even set foot in that place. Whereever he is right now, I’m sure Osama is laughing his head off at the cute trick that Obama played for his re-election campaign.

    Report Post » waspanglosaxon  
  • TheBurningTruth
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 11:55pm

    What you want to bet that this demolition is being done under tight scrutiny to give the Paki’s time to close off the tunnels between the compound and their military base? As for the operation being a “serious blow to the already troubled US-Pakistani relationship” the Paki’s were never an ally of ours. They played the middle ground between their own home-grown terrorists and collecting cash from us.

    Report Post » TheBurningTruth  
  • go2gym
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 11:12pm

    Looks like Janet Reno’s demolition in Waco.

    Report Post »  
  • go2gym
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 11:11pm

    @saveamericafromthestupids………Unless you are in the military, Obama is not your Commander-in-Chief. I am not in the military, so he definitely isn’t mine.

    Report Post »  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:22pm

    After they plant a Date Orchard there it will be like it never happened and they will claim it never did happen.
    “This Data Orchard has been here Mohammad walked the Earth!” And Obama and Hillary will agree.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • Mojoron
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:52pm

    An A-10 will take care of it in about 20 seconds.

    Report Post » Mojoron  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:50pm

    Don’t care.

    Report Post »  
  • stang289
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:41pm

    get rid of all the evidence .

    Report Post » stang289  
    • lajerick
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:39pm

      I was thinking the very same thing!

      Report Post »  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on February 26, 2012 at 10:09pm

      Seems like an exterminator and a 55 gallon of Lysol would kill the lice/fleas and the odor…
      But, he was there quite a while.

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:02pm

    Pakistan; what a joke of a leadership they have. Liars, cheats; completely untrustworthy. But no surprise, of course. When the idiot in our White House; you know the guy who goes out of his way to pronounce the country as ‘pokiston; leaves in January of 2013, maybe we can cut ties with this loser country.

    Report Post »  
    • Santorum_is_a_douchebag
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:28pm

      Almost as big a joke as Santorum.

      Report Post » Santorum_is_a_douchebag  
    • TRONINTHEMORNING
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:34pm

      A very juvenile comment; along with your handle. Sad.

      Report Post »  
    • asybot12
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:13pm

      @tron, agreed but you know it is Saturday night and the kids are allowed to stay up after dark.

      Report Post »  
    • EchoHawk
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:36pm

      Because The Blaze and Blazers comments are so adult. STFU

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:41pm

      @Santorum_is_a_douchebag
      Welcome newbie troll. We are well aware of you and you shouldn’t expect many replies from the decent folks here. Just thought you might like to know. The next thing you will be saying is, “Ron Paul forever!”

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • VicksVaporub
      Posted on February 26, 2012 at 1:34am

      @MONK

      Guess that means you’re not decent.

      Report Post » VicksVaporub  
  • ZeroOff4impact
    Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:01pm

    Awwww that’s so sad , Thank you SEAL Team SIX.

    Report Post » ZeroOff4impact  

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