The Hindu Business Line : Bin Laden is being isolated: CIA

WASHINGTON: Osama bin Laden appears to be “largely isolated'' from al-Qaeda's day-to-day operations and is putting “a lot of energy'' into his own survival, CIA Director Michael Hayden has said.

“He is putting a lot of energy into his own survival -- a lot of energy into his own security,'' Hayden said in a speech at the Atlantic Council here. “In fact, he appears to be largely isolated from the day-to-day operations of the organisation he nomi nally heads,'' he said.

Vowing to track down bin Laden, Hayden said that capturing or killing him would be a huge blow to al-Qaeda, which still remains a threat. “Al-Qaeda has suffered serious setbacks (in the US-led war against terrorism), but it remains a determined, adaptiv e enemy unlike any our nation has ever faced,'' Hayden said.

“The war is far from over.'' The terrorist network, he said, has never been through a change at the top. “For 20 years, bin Laden has been the visionary, the inspiration or harmonising force behind al- Qaeda,'' he was quoted as saying by CNN.

“The truth is, we simply don't know what would happen if bin Laden is killed or captured. But I'm willing to bet that whatever happens, it would work in our favour,'' Hayden said. – PTI

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