Obama teams vows to nab bin Laden

WASHINGTON, Calif., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Members of Barack Obama's team vowed the incoming U.S. administration would ramp up the pursuit of fugitive al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

The president-elect's national security adviser told CNN they believe the Bush administration began downplaying the hunt for bin Laden after being unable to track him down.

CNN said Wednesday that Obama wants to revitalize the manhunt after he takes office in January in keeping with campaign statements labeling bin Laden the top U.S. national security priority.

Although the Obama team offered no details, there has been no shortage of advice coming out of Washington and the intelligence community.

Various experts and officials told CNN tracking down bin Laden in the rugged wilds of Pakistan or Afghanistan will require local informants.

A former U.S. commando leader suggested publicly playing up bin Laden's hasty retreat from the battle of Tora Bora in 2001.

"I think it's important to understand that bin Laden had his chance at martyrdom," said the soldier, who uses the pseudonym Dalton Fury. "He was in the mountains of Tora Bora and he ran away. In my opinion, I think we ought to promote that."