[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"In desperation, AQ is forced into the corner of showing that UBL is dead (and making a martyr of him) or showing that he's alive with audiotapes. They have determined that the latter is best for them. So have we, apparently, since it is our side that provides the authentication. We could easily do otherwise."

AQ is not in desperation to prove anything about UBL. If he is dead, they do not want that out because it would be even harder to get money and more suicide bombers. If he is alive they do not want to verify that to those who are hunting for UBL. The only thing in AQ's interest is to prove nothing at all, hence we get half-measures of audio only tapes that tell no one anything, but put doubt in the minds of those wanting proof.

[Tricorn]

"The only thing in AQ's interest is to prove nothing at all"

Least of all their effectiveness, apparently.

We're getting lots of AQ-as-Superman ideas around here. It looks to me that we're assigning them spot-on plans and motives after the fact. Basically, we're drawing targets around their misfired arrows.

The problem with your theory is that we'll continue hunting for UBL until we have his DNA on a Q-Tip. They must know this.