A Letter from Osama Bin Laden

Time.com ^ | 6/30/02 | Lisa Beyer

[GeneD]

While intelligence officials are not certain whether Osama bin Laden is alive or dead, they have found a tantalizing document that suggests he was living at least as recently as the last days of December. That would mean bin Laden survived last year's American bombardment of Afghanistan, including the assault on Tora Bora. The evidence, according to a source who has seen a French intelligence analysis of it, is a short handwritten letter, bearing bin Laden's signature, to al-Qaeda operations chief Abu Zubaydah. The note, which was among the documents found on Abu Zubaydah when he was seized in a March police raid in Pakistan, exhorts Abu Zubaydah to continue the jihad against the U.S. even if something happens to bin Laden or to his deputy, Egyptian Ayman al-Zawahiri, a reference that suggests al-Zawahiri too was alive at the time.

Other material found in the Faisalabad hideaway of Abu Zubaydah, whom U.S. officials are interrogating at an undisclosed location, is also proving rich. "Abu Zubaydah's papers are saying more than he is," says Roland Jacquard, a terrorism expert close to the office of the French President. Among the documents are plans for attacks on tankers and cruise ships, says Jacquard, as well as evidence that bin Laden's son Saad was also in Faisalabad, though he evaded capture. As for the elder bin Laden, even if he is still alive, evidence of his failing health is mounting. Intelligence experts have long believed that bin Laden suffers from kidney trouble—perhaps brought on by diabetes—that requires him to undergo regular dialysis. Now, according to a source with access to intelligence on the al-Qaeda leader's health, a group of physicians has hypothesized, after analyzing bin Laden's appearance in photographs over time, that he also suffers from the related problem of secondary osteoporosis. This condition can produce crippling back pain, and it makes for brittle.

[GeneD]

Posted by Drudge.

[GeneD]

I will not attempt to surmise that incomplete last sentence; I presume Lisa Beyer meant to write "brittle bones."

Also I meant to say Drudge posted it on his site, of course.

[honway]

In my opinion,Osama bin Laden is likely in Communist China,if he is still alive.
My 2 cents.

[jwfiv]

Peanut brittle?

[Free the USA]

Bump

[jraven]

LETTER FROM OSAMA:

Dear Santa Clause:
I have been a naughty boy this year, but for Christmas can you give me one little gift? Can you let me and my friends know the whereabouts of you and your reindeer? I'd like to send some of my friends to murd...I mean, MEET you.
Love,
Osami

[Chi-townChief]

Maybe Osama is alive and well and living in Argentina.

[zarf]

I had a dream that Osama is living in Nashville and will attempt to crash an ultralight into the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

[M. Thatcher]

according to a source who has seen a French intelligence analysis of it

Oh, that's reliable.

Sheesh.

[cubreporter]

"Return to Sender."

[Schatze]

French intelligence?

I believe that's a contradiction in terms.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

A Letter from the cave of Osama Bin Laden

Dear Hillary, Al and all at the DNC,

Thank you for all you welcome support in this hard time keep up the good work.

I love you all.

Osama

PS send my love to all your friends in the media.

[ex-Texan]

I agree .... The Chicoms have better medical care to treat his kidney ailment than do anyone in the M.E. He may even have undergone a kidney transplant. In my personal view, the Chinese were behind the 911 attack.

[VOA]

. Intelligence experts have long believed that bin Laden suffers from kidney trouble—perhaps
brought on by diabetes—that requires him to undergo regular dialysis.

John Miller of ABC News (the new side-kick for Barbara Walters) had a special on
Osama three or four months ago.
He reported that the Saudis tried to poison Osama (the Saudi gov. of course, not being
happy with him).
Supposedly, while they failed to kill Osama, they did damage his kidneys.

Who to trust? I don't know.

[stylin_geek]

Actually, I believe French Intelligence is very good. It would be about the only thing they are good at. That, and they manufacture a great thin client for Unix servers known as an Axel Terminal.

[dead]

A Letter from Osama Bin Laden

Dear Dad,

How are you? I'm doing well, considering.
The weather is iffy, and I'm still pissed about that Eminem video, but otherwise, all is OK.
Oh, by the way, I'm gay and I have a little dick.
Send money.

Your boy,
Osama