Fallout: CIA Faked Vaccination Drive To Get Bin Laden's Family DNA

"The CIA organised a fake vaccination programme in the town where it believed Osama bin Laden was hiding in an elaborate attempt to obtain DNA from the fugitive al-Qaida leader's family, a Guardian investigation has found." The ploy may have damaged the confidence of the Pakistani public in vaccine programs -- at a time when vaccinations against diseases like polio are needed.

----

"The CIA organised a fake vaccination programme in the town where it believed Osama bin Laden was hiding in an elaborate attempt to obtain DNA from the fugitive al-Qaida leader's family, a Guardian investigation has found.

As part of extensive preparations for the raid that killed Bin Laden in May, CIA agents recruited a senior Pakistani doctor to organise the vaccine drive in Abbottabad, even starting the 'project' in a poorer part of town to make it look more authentic, according to Pakistani and US officials and local residents.

The doctor, Shakil Afridi, has since been arrested by the Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) for co-operating with American intelligence agents."

Saeed Shah reports from Abbottabad for the Guardian July 11, 2011.
[2]
SEE ALSO:

"CIA Vaccine Ruse Sparks Fear In Pakistan" (Associated Press)
[3]
Opinion: "The Fallout From The CIA’s Vaccination Ploy in Pakistan" (Washington Post) [4]