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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Gates: 'Bin Laden Hunt Like Finding Unabomber'

Defense secretary says finding fugitives a lot harder than it looks

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(Newser) – Finding the bad guys isn't as easy as it looks in the movies, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said yesterday. Gates compared the hunt for Osama bin Laden with federal agents' 17-year search for the Unabomber, and suggested the same time frame may be similar in the quest to locate al-Qaeda hideouts in the Pakistan-Afghanistan borderlands, Reuters reports.

"To a certain extent, I think too many people go to too many movies,” Gates said. “Finding these guys is really hard, and especially if they have some kind of a support network “ Gates denied that the failure to find bin Laden so far meant anything was amiss, and said some serious damage had been done to al-Qaeda in recent months.

Osama bin Laden smiles in Afghanistan in this undated photo. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says finding the terror mastermind could take as long as the 17-year hunt for the Unabomber.
Osama bin Laden smiles in Afghanistan in this undated photo. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says finding the terror mastermind could take as long as the 17-year hunt for the Unabomber.   (AP Photo, File)
The cabin used by Unabomber Ted Kaczynski is on display at the Newseum in Washington.
The cabin used by Unabomber Ted Kaczynski is on display at the Newseum in Washington.   (AP Photo/Newseum, James P. Blair)
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We never did find our hostages in Beirut despite all of the efforts of the American government. So this is a lot harder than it looks. - Defense Secretary Robert Gates

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5 comments
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BackAgain
Mar 19, 09 6:58 AM CDT
I am sure the messiah will use his crystal ball to find him. Reply
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Lula
Mar 19, 09 9:12 AM CDT
I thought ole georgie boy was going to smoke him out. Reply
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Rob
Mar 19, 09 10:54 AM CDT
I think GW tried to and I hope Obama tries too. Someone will eventually get him and I don't care what party they are a member of. Reply
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Chilblain
Mar 19, 09 12:10 PM CDT
When is the last time ACTUAL RECENT FILM FOOTAGE of Bin Laden was released ? 4 or 5 years ? These " recordings" are dubious @ best. Who knows ? He might be dead already........ Reply
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radnip
Mar 20, 09 5:09 AM CDT
It helps to actually be looking for him and to look for him in the right general vicinity. To look for him in a country that wouldn't have let him in...well, that's just making sure one doesn't catch him accidentally. Reply
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