[roaddog727]

I'll believe it when I see his head mounted on a pike and paraded through the streets of Kabul

[Miss Marple]

I always like to look at both the source of a story and who would have an interest n putting a story like this out. Since this is itself a dubious source involving two countries who aren't high on my list for trustworthiness (France and Saudi Arabia), there is already one mark against it.

Now, assuming the story is NOT true, who would benefit from such a story?

1. Leftists and anti-war people world-wide who want the US to pack up and go home from all foreign ventures.

2. A rival of bin Laden's who wants the #1 position in the terrorist hierarchy. This would be someone who wants to call the shots and control the money.

3. USA, who hopes that such a story would cause bin Laden to pop his head up to deny such a story.

4.Pakistan, who would hope to get the USA to call off the pressure concerning searching the Tribal Territories.

Now, assuming the story IS true, who would benefit? To a certain extent, the same answers with the exception of the CIA. However, the CIA might want to find out WHO would claim bin Laden's place, so there is motivation for them as well.

Now the question is, if the story is true, why is it coming from the Saudis? The answer might be that word has reached someone in his family.

I will be interested to see what further information surfaces in the next few days. One thing that does allow some credence to the story is the mention of typhoid as the cause of death. That's a pretty specific detail to place in a story.