Global Security Newswire
Daily News on Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Weapons, Terrorism and Related Issues
Report: Bin Laden Plotted to Kill Obama
WASHINGTON -- 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 reports (see GSN, Feb. 28).
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.
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