WASHINGTON, D.C. Maher Osseiran, an independent investigator who has spent close to two years studying the 2001 Osama Bin Laden confession tape and the events surrounding its release, says that his analysis confirms what Jason Burke reported in The London Observer, three days after the tape was released: “The tape, although absolutely genuine, is the result of a sophisticated sting operation run by the CIA through a second intelligence service, possibly Saudi or Pakistani.”

Osseiran goes on to say that his investigation and the timeline he developed shows that the taping was only one part of a two-part sting. The first part was to tape Bin Laden, the second part was to capture or eliminate him.

The failure of the second part, which is attributed to freezing rain, left the Bush administration with the fruits of the first part, the confessional tape.

Osseiran goes on to say: “As a highly sensitive intelligence material and the bi-product of a failed sting operation, by releasing the tape on Dec. 13, 2001, the Bush administration revealed to Bin Laden that he had been the subject of sting, therefore, pushing him more firmly into hiding.”

Bush’s playing the tape to the world “was as good as a de facto pardon,” explains Osseiran.

The investigator used statements by Saudi authorities, a detailed technical analysis of the tape, statements and footage inadvertently inserted or left in the tape, and what was leaked to the media about the tape, to develop a compelling timeline. He says his timeline and findings “contradict each and every statement made by the Pentagon,” the only known U.S. branch of government that had jurisdiction over the tape.

The investigator says that the sting was actually organized prior to 9/11, according to a UPI press report on Aug. 17, 2001, from Pakistan:

“The U.S. government has requested Pakistan to provide active support for an operation inside Afghanistan to catch terrorism-suspect Osama Bin Laden, a report said Friday. The United States has also discussed with Pakistani officials the possibility of ‘using U.S. special forces’ for a sting operation inside Afghanistan.”

Osseiran says that it appears that the objective of the sting operation at that time was the capture of Bin Laden, since taping of a confession would not be applicable prior to the 9/11 attacks.

After 9/11, the sting became “a two-part affair,” said Osseiran. “Part one was the taping of Bin Laden describing the 9/11 attack.”

Part two, to come later, “was to be his capture or elimination,” said Osseiran, “but the capture did not happen, presumably because of an ice storm on the intended date. Had the capture occurred instead of or at the same time as the taping of the confession, there would have been no reason for the U.S. to invade Afghanistan.”

Osseiran questions the veracity of all Pentagon reports starting with the suggestion that the taping took place on Nov. 9, 2001.

“The facts dispute this, based on the extraction of statements made by Saudi authorities and the sheikh in the tape,” noted Osseiran.

“First,” said Osseiran, “the visiting sheikh, Khaled Al-Harbi, to whom Bin Laden confessed, left Saudi Arabia on Sept. 21, 2001. Second, on the tape, Al-Harbi gives us five instances that corroborate the official Saudi date of Sept.