It seems like a long time ago that Osama bin Laden was captured and killed, doesn't it? So much has changed in the world since then--the Boston Red Sox have surged from a disappointing 12-15 record then to an American League-best 55-35 now; the Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup; and the NFL lockout is... still going on. None of those things have anything to do with Osama or global politics, of course--I just didn't really have much else to say. Where was I again?
Oh... right. Quote of the Week. In the 10 weeks since bin Laden's death, a number of details have come out about the mission that led to his capture--from heroic dogs to a behind-the-scenes look at Seal Team Six training programs. But this one jumped out at me as a particularly eye-opening example of just how far we apparently went to find and capture Osama. Without further ado...
This week's QUOTE OF THE WEEK
The CIA reportedly staged an elaborate fake vaccination program in Pakistan as part of its quest to pinpoint the location of Osama Bin Laden in the weeks before Navy SEALs killed the al-Qaida leader... The plan, according to the report, was to use the staged Hepatitis B vaccination program in the town to obtain DNA from one of Bin Laden’s children to provide evidence that the family was nearby. (The samples were to be compared to DNA obtained from Bin Laden’s sister, who died in Boston last year.)
- Josh Voorhees, Slate journalist
Wow. Interestingly enough, the Pakistani doctor who helped organize the vaccination ploy has been arrested by Pakistani officials for cooperating with the CIA--a fact that should speak volumes about the state of our relationship with Pakistan.
Of course, for all the conspiracy theorists out there who think the government is out to get them and that the CIA is reading their e-mails, this type of story will probably lend some credence to their craziness. At times, it's both amazing and frightening the lengths that the government will go to in pursuit of what they think is right. And if anyone in the CIA happens to be reading this, hey guys, great job! Keep up the good work! You're the best!
[Slate]
- Josh Voorhees, Slate journalist
Wow. Interestingly enough, the Pakistani doctor who helped organize the vaccination ploy has been arrested by Pakistani officials for cooperating with the CIA--a fact that should speak volumes about the state of our relationship with Pakistan.
Of course, for all the conspiracy theorists out there who think the government is out to get them and that the CIA is reading their e-mails, this type of story will probably lend some credence to their craziness. At times, it's both amazing and frightening the lengths that the government will go to in pursuit of what they think is right. And if anyone in the CIA happens to be reading this, hey guys, great job! Keep up the good work! You're the best!
[Slate]
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