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This is a curious story. Why would they announce his death if he is not dead? If he died, and the death were verified, there would certainly be displays of mourning from the tiny minority of extremists worldwide -- and if the media cared or dared to notice these displays, we would get some idea of how tiny that minority really is. ‘Bin laden dead,’ from Ynet News, with thanks to Gabrielle Goldwater:
The London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Friday that the site Minbar Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jama'ah declared, “We now report that the al-Qaeda organization has announced the death of Osama Bin Laden.”One of the writers on the site, working under the pseudonym “The Mujahiddin’s Pen,” added: “Osama Bin Laden is dead... Where are the mourners? Where those who sent themselves into the towers and tall buildings?”...
Well, sir, they're, um, dead. But anyway, I thought Mossad and the CIA pulled off that particular caper. It is getting so hard to keep all this straight.
Omar Bakri, a radical Islamic leader in London, told the newspaper that the style of the announcement seemed authentic. However, he thought it was a forgery designed to cause tumult.Dr. Hani al-Sibai, head of the al-Maqrizi Center for Historical Studies, said, “If Bin laden was really dead, the name of his replacement, Ayman al-Zawahari, would have been announced.”
The Egyptian Islamist Yaser a-Sari told the newspaper that Bin Laden is alive and will soon put out a new videotape. A-Sari said the purpose of the report was designed to prepare followers psychologically for the al-Qaeda leader's death – something that could happen at any moment.
UPDATE: See also this from Reuters: "No evidence bin Laden 'dead'" (thanks to Jeffrey Imm for the link).
Posted by Robert at April 29, 2005 6:39 AM
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'...the report was designed to prepare followers psychologically for the al-Qaeda leader's death – something that could happen at any moment.
So...make the announcement already. It'll be interesting to see how the media covers the reaction of the predominate 'moderate Muslim' population.
Will Chirac and Kofi order flags to be lowered? {the suspense mounts, as tensions build...}
Posted by: Eg![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at April 29, 2005 7:09 AM
You know OBL is only 47 years old. It is easy to forget that with all the photos of him looking old and drawn. I never forget because I am 46 years old, and it is deeply troubling that someone from my generation would be the leader of such evil.
I know he has had his illnesses, and I know many people do die young. But lets come back to the fact that he is only 47 years old.
Unless he is gunned down or beheaded with his corpse on display, I wouldn't expect the world at large to believe anything about an OBL death any time soon.
Posted by: jeffreyimm
at April 29, 2005 8:33 AM
Anyone think this might just be inspired a tad by all the attention drawn by John Paul II's death?
'Where are the mourners? Where those who sent themselves into the towers and tall buildings?”...'
'Well, sir, they're, um, dead. But anyway, I thought Mossad and the CIA pulled off that particular caper. It is getting so hard to keep all this straight.'
Hope I'm not preempting Catherine, but Gold Star for Robert, but really sad that we are faced with an epidemic of magical thinking combined with such a murderous, malign bent.
Posted by: waterdragon52 at April 29, 2005 8:43 AM
This is why we cannot find OBL...
http://www.asianjoke.com/pix/osama_hiding_place.htm
Posted by: Bar at April 29, 2005 11:15 AM
Bar, run your anti-spyware after that site. My Spyware Dr. wouldn't let me access it.
Posted by: Carolyn2 at April 29, 2005 11:47 AM
Thanks Carolyn2 for the heads up...
The site contained a picture of Osama bin Laden’s head protruding out of the south end of
a north bound camel, with the caption reading “they will never find me in here”.
I believe that Osama bin Laden is perfectly capable of such a cunning idea.
at April 29, 2005 9:24 PM
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