In the tape, bin Laden’s first videotaped comments in three years, he lacks any of his usual trappings of warfare, including camouflage clothing, a dagger or a rifle, according to a U.S. officials familiar with the entire tape.
These experts say bin Laden appears to be intensifying his campaign to “re-brand” himself in the minds of Muslims worldwide, and become known more as a political voice than a global terrorist.
B.S.!!
ONCE A GLOBAL TERRORIST, ALWAYS A GLOBAL TERRORIST!
“In some ways the tone of the message is as intriguing, and alarming, as the timing,” said a U.S. official familiar with the tape, and the U.S. intelligence community’s analysis of it. “The absence of an explicit threat does represent a different point of emphasis for this guy.
”Is he still an enemy? Absolutely. Is he still focused on terrorism? Yes,“ continued the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the tape. ”But the tone of this is something we’re looking at very closely to see where this guy is placing his emphasis.“
Thing is, he does not see himself as a global terrorist. In many ways (outside psychological terrorism) he is not a terrorist per se. The men who carried out the attacks on 9/11 or the ones who blow themselves up on a bus are the true terrorists.
bin Laden sees himself as leading a global insurgency against the apostate regimes of the Middle East and the equally 'evil' west. In many ways, his goals are the same as the goals of other insurgent leaders. He sees himself as righteous and honest in his cause.
I think he was not in military garb because he is now relatively safe. If you watch this video he looks to be in relatively good shape. People wanted to have him dead or on his death bed over the past year or two. He was clearly not a gravely-ill man on this tape.
I suspect that he is in fairly good (for him) company in Pakistan. I know that there have been many stories that he is in a bind and nearly captured. I think the fact that this video was aired should prove those hopes to be off base. A caged man is not able to send messages out to the world.
Tell that to that little thug Arafat. I know he's not so global (ahem) but look at what's happening now. Next thing you know the American people will be encouraged to send him warm fuzzy get well soon messages.
many experts are saying things today that this is so NOT UBL and his rhetoric, even one called him 'whiney' in the missing 15 min...
Right now FNC talking about 'breakthrough' in their capturing UBL, big surprise
No ring either.