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Bin Laden hunter to be released by Pakistan
AFP/HO/File This handout 1997 booking photo courtesy of the Larimer County Sheriff's Office in Colorado shows
By KRISTEN WYATT, Associated Press Writer Kristen Wyatt, Associated Press Writer 18 mins ago
DENVER The brother of an American on a solo mission to hunt down Osama bin Laden says the Colorado man is being released by the [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]Pakistani [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]government[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] without charges.
Gary Faulkner, of Greeley, was detained June 13 in the woods of northern Pakistan after being found with a pistol, a sword and night-vision equipment. The 50-year-old told officials he was out to kill the al-Qaida leader. Faulkner was then moved to Islamabad, and his brother told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he was being released and planned to return to the U.S. soon.
"He said he couldn't wait to return to the good ol' U.S. of A," Scott Faulkner said.
He said he received a short call Tuesday from his brother, who was using a State Department official's phone. His brother didn't indicate when he would return to the U.S.
Gary Faulkner is an out-of-work construction worker who sold his tools to finance six trips on what relatives have called a Rambo-type mission to kill or capture bin [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]Laden[/COLOR][/COLOR]. He grew his hair and beard long to fit in better.
Scott Faulkner told reporters last week that his brother wasn't crazy, just determined to find the man America's military has failed to capture nearly a decade after the 9/11 [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]attacks [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]in [/COLOR][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]the [/COLOR][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]United [/COLOR][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]States[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR].
"Is it out the norm? Yes it is. But is it crazy? No," Scott Faulkner said. "If he wore a uniform and called himself special ops, would he be crazy?"
Another relative told AP on Tuesday he wasn't sure when Faulkner would return to Denver but that it would be in coming days. The relative said Faulkner, who has kidney problems and needs dialysis, has been treated well by [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]Pakistani [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]authorities[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] and is in good spirits.
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to privacy concerns, said the agency hasn't been told of Faulkner's release and that the family would have the best information, but that Faulker's release is expected soon.
Faulkner, two department officials said, refused to sign a waiver allowing the government to discuss his case publicly.
Faulkner left Colorado in May 30. Scott Faulkner, a physician in the northeastern Colorado town of Fort Morgan, dropped his brother off at the airport and wasn't sure he'd see him again. But he and other relatives have insisted that Gary Faulker left the U.S. unarmed, had a valid visa for [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]Pakistan[/COLOR][/COLOR] and was guilty of no crime while there. Indeed, relatives have said they hope the trip encourages more people to look for bin Laden.
"Now there's going to be hopefully a [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]renewed [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]effort[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] to get this guy he's still wanted, and he's still out there," Scott Faulkner said last week.
AFP/HO/File This handout 1997 booking photo courtesy of the Larimer County Sheriff's Office in Colorado shows
By KRISTEN WYATT, Associated Press Writer Kristen Wyatt, Associated Press Writer 18 mins ago
DENVER The brother of an American on a solo mission to hunt down Osama bin Laden says the Colorado man is being released by the [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]Pakistani [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]government[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] without charges.
Gary Faulkner, of Greeley, was detained June 13 in the woods of northern Pakistan after being found with a pistol, a sword and night-vision equipment. The 50-year-old told officials he was out to kill the al-Qaida leader. Faulkner was then moved to Islamabad, and his brother told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he was being released and planned to return to the U.S. soon.
"He said he couldn't wait to return to the good ol' U.S. of A," Scott Faulkner said.
He said he received a short call Tuesday from his brother, who was using a State Department official's phone. His brother didn't indicate when he would return to the U.S.
Gary Faulkner is an out-of-work construction worker who sold his tools to finance six trips on what relatives have called a Rambo-type mission to kill or capture bin [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]Laden[/COLOR][/COLOR]. He grew his hair and beard long to fit in better.
Scott Faulkner told reporters last week that his brother wasn't crazy, just determined to find the man America's military has failed to capture nearly a decade after the 9/11 [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]attacks [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]in [/COLOR][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]the [/COLOR][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]United [/COLOR][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]States[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR].
"Is it out the norm? Yes it is. But is it crazy? No," Scott Faulkner said. "If he wore a uniform and called himself special ops, would he be crazy?"
Another relative told AP on Tuesday he wasn't sure when Faulkner would return to Denver but that it would be in coming days. The relative said Faulkner, who has kidney problems and needs dialysis, has been treated well by [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]Pakistani [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]authorities[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] and is in good spirits.
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to privacy concerns, said the agency hasn't been told of Faulkner's release and that the family would have the best information, but that Faulker's release is expected soon.
Faulkner, two department officials said, refused to sign a waiver allowing the government to discuss his case publicly.
Faulkner left Colorado in May 30. Scott Faulkner, a physician in the northeastern Colorado town of Fort Morgan, dropped his brother off at the airport and wasn't sure he'd see him again. But he and other relatives have insisted that Gary Faulker left the U.S. unarmed, had a valid visa for [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]Pakistan[/COLOR][/COLOR] and was guilty of no crime while there. Indeed, relatives have said they hope the trip encourages more people to look for bin Laden.
"Now there's going to be hopefully a [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important][COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]renewed [COLOR=#0B5FA8 ! important]effort[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] to get this guy he's still wanted, and he's still out there," Scott Faulkner said last week.
