Bin Laden reportedly plotted to kill Obama
- By Jonathan Miller
- National Journal
- March 16, 2012
- Comments
AP file photo
Before his death, Osama bin Laden ordered al Qaeda to organize special cells in Afghanistan and Pakistan to attack the aircraft of President Obama and Gen. David Petraeus, The Washington Post has reported.
In documents found in bin Laden’s compound and viewed by The Post’s David Ignatius, the former leader of al Qaeda explains to his top lieutenant: “The reason for concentrating on them is that Obama is the head of infidelity and killing him automatically will make (Vice President Joe) Biden take over the presidency.”
Bin Laden added: “Biden is totally unprepared for that post, which will lead the U.S. into a crisis. As for Petraeus, he is the man of the hour … and killing him would alter the war’s path” in Afghanistan.
U.S. officials say the plot was never a serious threat, since al Qaeda apparently lacked weapons to shoot down a U.S. aircraft.
The documents have been declassified and will soon be released to the public, according to The Post.
By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although GovExec.com does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.
The Vast Majority of IRS Employees Aren't Corrupt
GSA Mishandled Executive Bonuses
EIG 2013 as Told by Your Tweets
Infographic: Nominee Limbo
Will You Be Furloughed?
Boldly Go Where No Fed's Gone Before
Sponsored
3 Ways Data is Improving DoD Performance
Need to Know Memo: Big Data
Cutting costs: Inside the effort to improve the efficiency of federal operations
Addressing the 3 Biggest BYOD Security Threats
