Semi-official confirmation of something everybody new anyway?
Could be, or it could be what someone, somewhere wants the world in general to think happened. Probably what really happened bears little resemblance to this story. This does originate with the New York Slimes after all. You know the folks who made the space for the "General Betray US" ad available to MoveOn.org at a deep, deep discount.
I wouldn't believe them if they said the sky is blue, without going out and verifying it for myself.
To your first point, our speculation, no matter how plausible, does not count as nowing (knowing).
To your tag line; The first group hated free people for our intellectual, ethnic and racial impurities --- the second group hates free people for our religious piety and perceived material waste --- the third group hates free people for our secularism and perceived decadence! What the common denominator? We're always wrong and they're always right. They're brilliant and we are all idiots. If only we read their important books we couldn't or wouldn't be so stupid. Until we do, or if we don't, it's OK to kill us. Here's another common denominator. Elitists usually shut up when they meet and talk to someone who has read their books but have plenty of evidence to refute what they say. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer people listening to each other. Allies are ignoring each other. Allies are ignoring their enemies. Political opponents are pandering for decreasing powers they're diminishing.
The situation (in the Middle East) may get worse before it gets better... never forget though that honesty wins. Nazis, Communist and Islamists are all lying to us, to themselves and to each other. They're not fighting us to the death. They're fighting the truth and killing us to prevent truth from spreading. Maybe they'll take some us with them... but more than likely, we'll outlive their violent absurdities.