Expert says Bin Laden could not have been ‘Off the Grid’
May 4th, 2011 - 5:10 pm ICT by ANIWashington, May 4 (ANI): An expert and an author on software technology has claimed that it was not possible for Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden to have remained “off the grid” — electronically and digitally invisible, without phone or Internet connection.
Fox News quoted Michael Bunker, the author of the book “Surviving Off Off Grid”, as saying: “I would put it at about zero percent probability that he was able to stay off-grid and not be captured without some major aid.”
Reports suggest that the only way U.S. military analysts were able to see through bin Laden’s anonymous, unplugged existence was a single cell phone call from his courier — who reportedly turned off his phone and removed the battery after hanging up just to stay off grid.
“Computers can be fooled,” he noted, explaining that it is possible to evade detection.
“With the amount and number of communications that were coming from bin Laden and his camp for over 10 years, I would say he was sitting high and dry in the womb of some very engaged and important people in the field of intelligence and counter-insurgency,” Bunker said.
“If you believe that bin Laden was not receiving massive governmental aid in staying hidden … you would have to conclude that he was very, very careful about avoiding all signals and electronic communications,” Bunker said.
It’s possible that the master terrorist wasn’t using a computer connected to the Internet or making phone calls, of course. But that still makes it very hard to believe, he added. (ANI)
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Tags: 10 years, al qaeda, cell phone, counter insurgency, electronic communications, existence, fox news, intelligence, internet connection, michael bunker, military analysts, osama bin laden, phone call, phone calls, probability, signals, software technology, womb