http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/World/pakistan030312_binladen.html
Seeking Bounty Hunters
Pakistani People’s Alliance With Bin Laden Hampers Capture
By David Wright
Q U E T T A, Pakistan, March 12 — A major operation is still under way in southwestern Pakistan as American and Pakistani officials search for Osama bin Laden, but after seeming so close last week, the hunt now looks less promising and the United States is trying a new tactic: bounty hunters.
All along Pakistan's fractious border with Afghanistan, the United States has been trying to recruit bounty hunters, and has been dropping leaflets to make sure everyone knows there is a $25 million price on bin Laden's head.
There is a lot of ground to cover. The search area is more than 900 miles long — roughly the distance between Washington, D.C., and Miami. And much of that terrain is rugged and inaccessible.
It is a lawless region, long favored by drug runners because it offers so many places to hide. Finding bin Laden here would be difficult even if the local population were inclined to help. Increasingly, many here are not.
"If Osama knocked on my door today," said one man in Pashtun, "I'd hide him. I'd give him my property, even my life."
Many here consider bin Laden a hero. His poster is a best seller. And at local video stores, customers gather to watch tapes of his speeches.
"He is a Muslim and a killer of infidels," said another man, who still proudly wears the ostentatious black turban of the Taliban. "The Americans are just trying to get Osama because they hate Islam."
U.S. Seen as Threat to Islam
The local governments in the border areas are run by Islamic fundamentalists, elected last fall as the United States was ramping up its confrontation against Iraq. Government ministers here fly the Taliban flag on their cars.
They didn't like America to begin with. And now they have new reason to resent America. They've led nationwide protests against U.S. policy toward Iraq, which they view as new proof of an American crusade against Islam.
It is a difficult time for the infidels of America to win hearts and minds, especially by offering to buy cooperation. Blood here runs thicker than money.
"I would never turn Osama in," said one man, eyeing with derision one of the reward leaflets dropped by the United States. "Not if you gave me $200 million."
Seeking Bounty Hunters
Pakistani People’s Alliance With Bin Laden Hampers Capture
By David Wright
Q U E T T A, Pakistan, March 12 — A major operation is still under way in southwestern Pakistan as American and Pakistani officials search for Osama bin Laden, but after seeming so close last week, the hunt now looks less promising and the United States is trying a new tactic: bounty hunters.
All along Pakistan's fractious border with Afghanistan, the United States has been trying to recruit bounty hunters, and has been dropping leaflets to make sure everyone knows there is a $25 million price on bin Laden's head.
There is a lot of ground to cover. The search area is more than 900 miles long — roughly the distance between Washington, D.C., and Miami. And much of that terrain is rugged and inaccessible.
It is a lawless region, long favored by drug runners because it offers so many places to hide. Finding bin Laden here would be difficult even if the local population were inclined to help. Increasingly, many here are not.
"If Osama knocked on my door today," said one man in Pashtun, "I'd hide him. I'd give him my property, even my life."
Many here consider bin Laden a hero. His poster is a best seller. And at local video stores, customers gather to watch tapes of his speeches.
"He is a Muslim and a killer of infidels," said another man, who still proudly wears the ostentatious black turban of the Taliban. "The Americans are just trying to get Osama because they hate Islam."
U.S. Seen as Threat to Islam
The local governments in the border areas are run by Islamic fundamentalists, elected last fall as the United States was ramping up its confrontation against Iraq. Government ministers here fly the Taliban flag on their cars.
They didn't like America to begin with. And now they have new reason to resent America. They've led nationwide protests against U.S. policy toward Iraq, which they view as new proof of an American crusade against Islam.
It is a difficult time for the infidels of America to win hearts and minds, especially by offering to buy cooperation. Blood here runs thicker than money.
"I would never turn Osama in," said one man, eyeing with derision one of the reward leaflets dropped by the United States. "Not if you gave me $200 million."
