Peter Bergan (on CNN ~ 11:05am)
Notes on Interview
Host: There have been reports of UBL death in past, this reliable?
Bergan: No… I am highly skeptical of this report, we have a pseudo source in an Intel document that we don’t know the nature of. The number of people would know is limited… number in contact is something like ½ dozen a day. We have had these reports in the past that were total nonsense. He (UBL) some health problems: low blood pressure. Talking about water borne illnesses… they are a dime a dozen in Pakistan. Who wouldn’t be a little unhealthy in his condition (on the run)? Zawahri would treat him in the past for this low blood pressure problem. I am extremely skeptical… why has al Qa’ida not announced it? Particularly if he was killed, it would be. Zawahri announced his wife’s death and the family took out announcement in newspaper. In Islamic tradition, the body needs to be buried in 24 hours after death, so there would have been a funeral. There are lots of things we would know if he was dead.
Host: Would al Qa’ida want to announce if he didn’t die a martyr?
Bergan: They don’t have a clear/strong successor. Zawahri is no bin laden. Yes, if he died natural causes… they might not trump it.
Rumors have been greatly exaggerated before, there is so little here to make this “kosher.” We have been through this many times. The kidney disease story went on for years and years… if that was true he would have died long ago. Until we have more, so far the only confirmation is that al Qa’ida’s leader may have a waterborne disease… 30% in Pakistan probably have one, the water is not good there… it probably doesn’t matter much.
>>>I am highly skeptical of this report.
I'm skeptical as well.
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