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.
True, but judging by how 'sensitive' the Islamic world is right now, there should be large public demonstrations if this is true. Granted, the way he died may somewhat subdue the anti-American and anti-Israel sentiments, but these hotheads seem to view anything as an incitement to riot. We should be locking down embassies as a precaution.
That is the detail that allows me to assume a degree of believability also.
Excellent points, MM.
Bin Laden died at Tora Bora.
GWB & his team concealed this fact. They gave OBL the Che Guevara treatment.
Dems are also aware that zeal for the WOT will rapidly diminish as soon as the arch villain has been pronounced dead.
Leftists floated this story.
Our media just said either he is dead or dying of typhoid but nothing is confirmed.
Hmmmmmm
Maybe that's why Bubba is so upset. I wrote on that old funeral thread that :That the funeral photo was eerily similar to the one showing Usama and his entourage as targets during the Clinton Administration.
I think you're spot on, Miss Marple.
"The answer might be that word has reached someone in his family."
Indeed!
I might add that OBL reveled in his role as leader and spokesman. I have always thought it out of character for him to allow others to appear on the tapes in his place.
On other words, I have long thought him dead.