Posted on 07/15/2007 2:39:25 PM PDT by LSUfan
Edited on 07/15/2007 2:45:15 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Osama bin Laden made a big splash today in the media by appearing in his first video in over a year. He looks sprightlier than ever -- but that's because he took off a few years through recycling:
Osama bin Laden stresses the importance of martyrdom for Muslim causes in a videotape that purportedly contains a 50-second message from the al Qaeda leader. ...
The videotape was made in the last four weeks, but the clips appear to be old, said Octavia Nasr, CNN's senior editor for Arab affairs. There is no indication of where it was shot, and CNN cannot verify its authenticity. ...
Bin Laden was one of several men appearing and speaking on the tape. They include Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq who was killed in a U.S. airstrike June 7, 2006.
Jihadist websites have been pushing rumors of a new message containing "good news from Osama bin Laden," but if this was it, it fails to impress. Clearly the tape is old; Zarqawi reached thermal equilibrium over a year ago. The backdrops used in the tape resemble those from messages created just before the 9/11 attacks. Unless this is K-Tel's Osama' Greatest Hits package, it's nothing we haven't seen before now.
That doesn't necessarily mean it isn't significant for others, even if Osama appears to have been silenced. The appearance could signal sleeper cells to activate here in the US and around the West. Intel sources have warned that the chatter levels have hit new highs in recent weeks, which may indicate some logistical efforts to stage a new series of attacks. It's certainly something that will get a long look by the CIA and MI-6.
However, one could conclude that Osama has gone on to his 72 virgins. Zawahiri has no trouble making public statements, but Osama has not issued any recordings in over a year -- and this looks like a poor substitute. If that's the best AQ can do, it's suggestive that Osama has joined Zarqawi for whatever reward will come to both terrorists.
He became little particles when they bombed him.
Ayman al-Zawahiri
I get these muzzies mixed up.
Regardless - They still would have known at some point - In failing to honor his passing would be seen as a great insult. Furthermore AQ is not set-up as an organization of allegiance to just anyone - If UBL had passed (without some type of farewell orders via audio/video) it is very likely you'd see infighting of sorts within AQ elements. This has not been the case to date.
Second, the benefit of martyrdom might very well be outweighed if Bin Laden had died at the hands of the Great Satan...
Again, it is much easier to spin the truth then to hide a lie -
AQ could easily spin the truth of UBL death as a victory of sorts.....that he had died of natural causes...."Our great commander was kept hidden and protected by the hand of Allah and passed peacefully....All the while the infidel American's were futile in their attempts to kill him. The infidels filled our skys with aircraft and our lands with soldiers and yet they were still shown to be no match for Allah who while protecting our Sheik stains our sacred ground with their own blood daily...And so now we announce that our Sheik has passed....He lived as long as Allah decreed, for no other way is possible....no matter of the infidels futile efforts."
I believe emphatically that Osama Bin Laden is dead and has been since 2002.
From your lips to Gods ear.
LOL!!
Despite ‘conventional wisdom’ I think he has been dead for a long time now. We have not seen a video of him of anything remotely current since long before we went into Iraq, and there are just too many things for this guy to crow about in the past 12-24 months.
Have him spotted somewhere in Waziristan, and then use the entire area as an above and below ground Nuclear Weapons Test Zone!
That would serve a dual purpose. The muzzies would be given the object lesson they so justly deserve, and the world would be rid of the vermin that live there.
Only the inhabitants of mecca and medina are worse. ... / rant .................... FRegards
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