FRANCE'S Defence Ministry has said a secret service report saying al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has died cannot be confirmed, but it will launch an inquiry into the leak of secret documents.
The Defence Ministry issued the statement after a French regional newspaper, L'Est Republicain, published a report quoting a French secret service report as saying Saudi Arabia is convinced bin Laden died of typhoid in Pakistan last month.
"The information published this morning in the L'Est Republicain newspaper relating to the supposed death of Osama bin Laden cannot be confirmed," the Defence Ministry said.
"The Defence Minister (Michele Alliot-Marie) has asked that an inquiry be carried out to determine the origin of the leak that can be punished by criminal charges."
The newspaper printed what it said was a copy of the report dated September 21 and said it was shown to President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and France's interior and defence ministers on the same day.
"According to a usually reliable source, the Saudi services are now convinced that Osama bin Laden is dead," the document said.
"The information gathered by the Saudis indicates that the head of al Qaeda was a victim while he was in Pakistan on August 23, 2006, of a very serious case of typhoid which led to a partial paralysis of his internal organs."
The report, which was stamped with a "confidential defence" label and the initials of the French secret service, said Saudi Arabia first heard the information on September 4 and that it was waiting for more details before making an official announcement.
A senior official in Pakistan said no foreign government had shared information with Pakistan that would back up the report of bin Laden's death.
Saudi-born bin Laden was based in Afghanistan until the Taliban government there was overthrown by US-backed forces in 2001.
Since then, US and Pakistani officials have regularly said they believe he is hiding somewhere on the rugged border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The last videotaped message released by bin Laden was in late 2004, but there have been several low quality audio tapes released this year.
Wagging his finger is a SURE sign of LYING!! well...that and his lips moved.
Clinton threatened Wallace?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
I saw that clip. It was just like "Now you listen to me... I did not have sex with that woman." Except that it lasted a lot longer.
Nice of him to admit his belief that Republicans shouldn't fight back hard when they are hit with baseless accusations.
According to your own clever words...
"I thought that my virtual obsession (2) with him was well placed and I was full of regret that I didn't get him."
bill clinton Sunday, Sept 3, 2002 Larry King Live
(thanks Mia T)
Right now, Bill and his people are trying to decide whether to say that his behavior had something to do with his medication, or go with the, "he's telling the truth otherwise he wouldn't be so upset" story.
The anti-truth, anti-freedom, anti-man, anti-life liar continues to lie.
I am SOOOO happy this interview went like this. Wallace has really been ticking me off lately, and when he announced last week who would be this weeks guest, I damn near threw my mouse at the tv.
Pretty well sums up Clintons entire Presidency, as well as the entire Democrat platform for the past 80 years. Results don't matter, just tell 'em you care, and say you "tried"
That finger probably got permanently bent that way the first time he pointed it at the Cankled One
"Clinton got in Wallace's face and told Wallace he would not get away with his line of questioning."
Care to expand on that, Bill?
I've put forth more effort sitting on the can.
Ha! Puts the Blame on Bush for Clinton not getting Bin Laden? Methinks that is 'strained' logic...
Besides, lobbing a stupide cruise missle to deflect the media attention from his Oval Office sexcapades is not what I consider "trying".
Clinton was the worst president ever, even worse than Carter (Carter only had 4 years to destroy US interests). No amount of media spinning will change that fact, Slick Willie can threaten all he wants.
It's such classic liberal stuff: Pay no attention to the problem, when it bites you - throw some window dressing response at it. When realists call you on your inaction - lie and point the finger at everyone else. If the lie doesn't work, threaten the 'askers'.
Clinton's legacy is that of Nero, 'fiddling' while the USA burns. Forever.
Reagan: Destroyed the Soviet Menace; Nixon: Opened China to captialism; FDR: Lead the USA through the worst war in it's history.
Clinton: Cigar Boy.
Clinton granted the interview to get attention for the Clinton Global Initiative, his philanthropic effort. "CGI is a nonpartisan event, and so we thought it would be fair to do Fox News Sunday... When Wallace hid behind his viewers and attacked President Clinton's record on terror, President Clinton fought back hard, just like any Democrat should when they are attacked with a baseless attack," said Clinton spokesman Jay Carson.
Clinton expected time to advance his propaganda and legacy re-write I guess.
Yes, Clinton lost it. Interestingly Bush gets tougher question and never does. Probably because those questions aren't based in truth...