Haji

This is coolbert:

"Never let the enemy be aware your weaknesses". - - Haji Sahib.

We all recognize now that the "hunt" to find and kill or capture Osama bin Laden is NOT going to easy. Over seven years now since 9/11 and almost seven years also since THE LAST CONFIRMED SIGHTING OF BIN LADEN! [not even really a sighting. The man was heard in a radio transmission]

Bin Laden, hiding in the border area [so it is assumed] between Afghanistan and Pakistan. What is called the Tribal Areas/Northwest Territory/Waziristan/Swat Valley!

Protected, in part, according to the rigorous and time-honored Pashtun practice of sanctuary. A practice of giving sanctuary to wanted persons NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, FOR NO MATTER WHAT REASON!

The "hunt" by a "western" foreign power for a much-wanted fugitive in this part of the world has a precedent from one hundred years ago? On this particular occasion, the English "hunting" an Islamic agitator, a man on-the-run, as is bin Laden!

Haji Sahib Turangzai.

Here from the National Geographic, December 2004 issue:

"a Pashtun freedom fighter and outlaw, Haji Turangzai, who was sheltered from the British by local tribesmen for nearly 20 years. In the early 20th century, the British mounted 17 operations to grab him and failed every time. The bin Laden of his day, Turangzai died in his sleep at age 81."

"Haji Tarangzai Rahimahullah led a successful Jihad against the British Imperialists from the area presently known as the Mohmand Tribal Area."

The British - - at the time - - exercised ONLY nominal control over the areas along the Afghan border. NO Pakistan at the time, but was part of the British Raj.

17 operations to get this guy in 20 years and the English were unable to apprehend the man! What does that say about the "hunt" for Osama?

It does not bode well!

coolbert.