Wednesday, July 13, 2011

CIA's OBL DNA Plot DOA

An interesting story from earlier in the week regarding a failed plot by the CIA to obtain samples of Osama bin Laden's DNA through a phony vaccination program in Abbottabad.  Although Shakil Afridi -- the Pakistani doctor used for the plot -- did gain access to bin Laden's compound claiming he was offering free vaccinations for Hepatitis B, he never saw the terrorist nor obtained the desired samples from his family.  Such samples would have generated greater certainty that bin Laden was at the compound prior to the May 1 raid.

Of course, this being Pakistan, it was subsequently reported that Dr. Afridi has since been arrested by Pakistani authorities.  Granted, it is difficult to imagine the United States being completely sanguine about an American doctor in say, Baltimore, revealed as an agent for a foreign intelligence service.  But Pakistan apparently is either oblivious or completely unconcerned about how such post-hoc actions appear to Americans who believe the Pakistanis were somehow complicit in bin Laden's Abbottabad sanctuary.

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