According to AP, we are just now learning that Omar al-Farouk was among the escapees involved in the Bagram jail break last July. And the only reason we're learning about it, it seems, is that the US government has to reveal why al-Farouk is unavailable to testify against a US soldier accused of abusing detainees (one of whom later died) at the detention facility.
Leaving aside the obvious issues concerning prisoner abuse (and I question whether or not a senior al-Qaeda lieutenant would be a credible witness in this case), the fact that someone of al-Farouk's caliber was able to escape from a US facility is extremely alarming. While he wasn't among the network's top leadership, he was only a few steps down from them.
For those who don't recall, al-Farouk was the top intermediary between the al-Qaeda leadership in Afghanistan and Jemaah Islamiyah. If bin Laden wanted to send recruits to Southeast Asia for training or carry out attacks or pull JI members for bigger projects, al-Farouk was the man that he relied upon to help make it happen. The fact that he is now free and at large (and has been since July?) means that he has probably resumed some semblance of his former activities if not stepped up to the big leagues. For all we know, this guy could have been one of the people who helped to initiate the recent terrorist attacks in Bali - as far as al-Farouk would be concerned it would just be picking up where he left off before he was captured.
Sorry for the short post, but this absolutely infuriates me. Omar al-Farouk may not be bin Laden or Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, but he's about as close to either of them as we're going to come among the Bagram detainees. The fact that we had him for 3 years and he got away is nothing short of absurd.
Consider that we may have intentionally allowed him to escape.
It is certainly possible.
You don't release one of the enemy's generals back into the wild after he's been in US custody for more than 3 years. If nothing else, we can count on Mr. al-Farouk to give the Bad Guys a nice primer on US interrogation techniques for incorporation into their training manuals.
"Consider that we may have intentionally allowed him to escape."
Sorry, but that's absurd. I was in my hooch when he escaped. Guy might have walked past my door, for all we know. He escaped clean and simple.
The US Military is the best in the world, but we are not infallible.
Definitely a black eye for the good guys.
Another possibility is that he didn't escape at all but is now being held anonymously in detention.
Indonesian officials claim that they were never notified of the escape.
Unfortunately, after the CIA prison camps and outing of Valerie Plame, I will not put anything past these idiots running our country right now. Half the time I'm embarrased by what is being done in my name, and I certainly do not support their actions any more. The cost to liberty and America is way too high.
Plame! Plame! Neocon! Haliburton! Shame! I'm embarrased! Waah!!
I smell a kos kid.
And I smell a Little Green Turdball. Much bigger stink.
Welcome to Winds. Word to the wise. We're going to keep discussion civilized here with you, or without you. Your choice which.
Dan
Check this article out from the marine corps gazette 1989 yeah that is not a typo either 1989. These guys basicly outlined the war we face today pre-World trade 93 this piece below is just a tidbit. I scooped it becuase I have been wondering when the military is going to realize their flank is undefended. But either way thier is alot more good stuff in this peice and especially after what I see in France after their recent joining US in pressuring Iran weapons, Syria out of Lebanon, disarming of Hezbollah and Paleo terrrosist groups in S Lebanon, and now Demanding basicly Syria to gut thier upper leadership Esholens and turn them over for Murder trial. Whoops back to point I think Iran is going to run this very close to what they talk of terrorist 4gen war.
""Psychological operations may become the dominant operational and strategic weapon in the form of media/information intervention. Logic bombs and computer viruses, including latent viruses, may be used to disrupt civilian as well as military operations. Fourth generation adversaries will be adept at manipulating the media to alter domestic and world opinion to the point where skillful use of psychological operations will sometimes preclude the commitment of combat forces. A major target will be the enemy population's support of its government and the war. Television news may become a more powerful operational weapon than armored divisions.""
http://www.d-n-i.net/fcs/4th_gen_war_gazette.htm
After reading this I keep wondering Where are these guys today and how soon can we bring them into our top echolen positions to work on phase two of this article the cures and coutners!