WASHINGTON - The Bush Administration has concluded that Osama bin Laden was at Tora Bora when United States aircraft began bombing on November 30.
But the terrorist mastermind escaped because US ground troops were not sent to pursue the al Qaeda leader, the Washington Post reported.
Intelligence officials have what they consider to be decisive evidence, gleaned from interrogations and intercepted communications, that bin Laden was inside the Tora Bora complex along Afghanistan's mountainous eastern border when the battle began, but escaped in the first 10 days of December.
In other developments yesterday:
* Royal marines were believed to be in control of several strategic Taleban and al Qaeda cave complexes in the Afghan mountains yesterday, in their first major combat operation since the Falklands War.
* International peace-keepers declared yesterday that the Afghan capital was safe for the return of the former King Mohammad Zahir Shah after 29 years exile in Rome.
* US President George W. Bush prepared to give Americans an update today on his plans for the war on terrorism.
The Post reported that captured al Qaeda fighters, interviewed separately, gave consistent accounts describing an address by bin Laden around December 3 to fighters dug into the caves and tunnels of Tora Bora.
"I don't think you can ever say with certainty, but we did conclude he was there, and that conclusion has strengthened with time," an unidentified official said.
"We have high confidence that he was there, and also high confidence, but not as high, that he got out. We have several accounts from people who are in detention, al Qaeda people who were free at the time and are not free now."
Citing civilian and military officials with first-hand knowledge, the report said after-action reviews, conducted privately inside and outside the military chain of command, described bin Laden's escape as a significant defeat for the US.
A common view among those interviewed outside the US Central Command is that Army General Tommy Franks, the war commander, misjudged the interests of Afghan allies who did not live up to their promises and let pass the best chance to capture or kill bin Laden.
"We messed up by not getting into Tora Bora sooner and letting the Afghans do all the work," a senior official with direct responsibilities in counter-terrorism told the Post.
"Clearly a decision point came when we started bombing Tora Bora and we decided just to bomb, because that's when he escaped ... We didn't put US forces on the ground, despite all the brave talk, and that is what we have had to change since then."
Franks chief spokesman, Rear Admiral Craig Quigley, acknowledged the dominant view among those interviewed but dissents. "We have never seen anything that was convincing to us at all that Osama bin Laden was present at any stage of Tora Bora - before, during or after."
In Afghanistan, the first full-scale mission in the war by British regular forces began above the snowlines in the northeast of the country on Monday and is expected to continue until today.
About 300 marines are operating in the rugged terrain and punishing altitude of 2743m against enemy positions. There were no reports of casualties among the allied forces by yesterday.
The operation, codenamed Ptarmigan, is aimed primarily as a mission to test the strength of the remnants of the Taleban and al Qaeda, gather intelligence and occupy vantage points for future action.
Further operations, involving intense action, are expected to begin next week with special forces carrying out search and destroy missions and the marines providing protection.
In Kabul, security precautions will be elaborate for the arrival of Afghanistan's exiled King this week. Zahir Shah will be protected by Italian police, ISAF troops and specially trained Afghan guards.
Italy will protect the former King for some three months after he returns home to a two-storey house surrounded by barbed wire in Kabul.
- REUTERS, INDEPENDENT
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Osama 'slipped Tora Bora net'
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