Documents recovered by U.S. forces that stormed the compound in which Osama Bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan reveal he was the al-Qaida leader until his last day, contrary to suggestions he was incommunicado.
Following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S., Bin Laden became the most wanted man alive, and American forces hunted him all over Afghanistan for 10 years — until they finally caught up with him in a compound in Pakistan. The contents of most of the thousands of documents recovered by the SEALS, who killed Osama Bin Laden , have been kept secret by the U.S. government until now.
The information was revealed as part of the terror trial of Abid Naseer in Brooklyn federal court. Prosecutors introduced eight documents as part of the evidence in the case of the U.S. government against the so-called Manchester bomber.
The Navy SEALS were able to take over one million documents from the safe house in which Osama Bin Laden was ultimately shot dead in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May, 2011, the Weekly Standard reports. The Obama administration released only 17 of those documents a year later. The information revealed during Naseer’s trial has never been seen by the American public.
According to the newly uncovered documents, some of the notions expressed by certain government officials regarding Bin Laden don’t match with the reality. The Obama administration characterized the al-Qaida leader as living in “comfortable retirement,” “sidelined,” or “a lion in winter” prior to his death.
Contrary to assertions from President Obama that al-Qaida was “on the run,” the terror group was very much active. Senior operatives, such as Yunis al Mauritan — who plotted to launch Mumbai-style attacks in Europe and New York — asked for Osama Bin Laden’s permission to move to Iran in a letter as late as June of 2010.
“Sheikh Yunis is ready to move and travel. The destination, in principle, is Iran, and he has with him 6 to 8 brothers that he chose. I told him we are waiting for final complete confirmation from you to move, and agree on this destination (Iran). His plan is: stay around three months in Iran to train the brothers there then start moving them and distributing them in the world for their missions and specialties. He explained those to you in his report and plan.”
Below are some of the documents showing the activities Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaida were planning in the years leading to his death at the hands of U.S. Navy SEALS, courtesy of the New York Post .
Here are the Bin Laden raid documents .
Obama administration detractors are questioning why the documents taken from the Bin Laden safe house have not been released prior to Naseer’s trial. More importantly, the documents seem to confirm suspicions that al-Qaida had ties to Iran at the time, by serving as a safe passage for the terrorist group’s operatives. Not only that, but many believe Iran continues to aid the terrorist group financially.
All this comes in the midst of U.S. efforts to reach a 10 to 15-year deal with Iran concerning their nuclear program and as Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu — a staunch enemy of Iran — is set to address Congress at the invitation of House Speaker, John Boehner.
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