Weaker Osama is still on the run, says Rice (blames Clinton)

[sabra]

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw1139778363746B223

Weaker Osama is still on the run, says Rice


Washington - Terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden may have escaped capture for years, but he's on the run with his al-Qaeda group "significantly weakened", American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday.

Speaking on ABC television, Rice defended the US effort to nab Bin Laden that has drawn fire from Democratic critics, including a potential presidential candidate, Senator Hillary Clinton.

...

"His organisation has been significantly weakened because of the international effort against al-Qaeda in places like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia."

The top US diplomat also took an implicit jab at the previous administration of Bill Clinton for failing to deal with Bin Laden before he launched the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and the Pentagon.