The recent martyrdom videos from the field and as Sahab show young men on their path to death in some cases and in others shoe their last words... this has been one theme in some al Qaida videos for as long as there have been al Qaida videos. Hezbollah does very similar, records the eventual bomber then uses him as a recruit for others. Fame and paradise...
Not saying this is it... but, I wonder if bin Laden would have a "production" ready to go when he martyrs himself -- if that wish of his can ever come true.
Has a leader of an islamist terror group ever martyred himself in any meaningful way? One has to wonder what something like that could do to cement the cause of a growing organization.
I think the image shown (if it's from the film to be released and it may not be) looks touched up -- I resized then smoothed. Not an exact science, but. It's nearly the same as the Oct 04 video, shorter beard and darker (hand done?). We know as Sahab digitally 'enhances' videos.
“Not saying this is it... but, I wonder if bin Laden would have a “production” ready to go when he martyrs himself — if that wish of his can ever come true.”
Would there be any circumstances under which he would shave his beard if that were to be the case (a visual signal/cue for martyrdom)? If so, they would have a reason to mask that so as not to give that away before the video. There was a story back in 2005 that he wanted to do something like that during Ramadan. If he chooses to go out that way, I’m pretty sure it will be something spectacular and not in a car bomb. More like in the “Winds of Martyrs”.
” . . .And most surely this year will I lead my steed and hurl It and my soul, at one of the targets.
So 0 my Lord if my demise has come, then let it not be Upon a bier draped with green mantles.
But let my grave be an eagle’s belly, its resting place In the sky’s atmosphere amongst perched eagles.
And I become a martyr, dwelling amongst a band, Attacked in a level mountain pass of the Earth.
Knights of Qahtaan; devoutness to Allah Has joined them together, they descend when the armies meet.
When they depart from their Worldly life, they depart from the harm And reach the appointment found in the scriptures.”
- - UBL, Feb 2003
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.195136406&par=0
TERRORISM: BIN LADEN TO ENTER IRAQ DURING RAMADAN, SAYS IRANIAN REPORT
Tehran, 8 August (AKI) - US troops in Iraq have seized documents that suggest fugitive al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden is planning to enter Iraq during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, an Iranian news agency reported on Monday. Bin Laden’s visit to Iraq during Ramadan, which this year begins in early October, would be part of an al-Qaeda attempt to further destabilise the war-ravaged country, and to lead a coup attempt against the government in Baghdad, the Mehr news agency said.
Citing a spokesman from the Shiite grouping, the Hezbollah of Iraq, the report said that Americans soldiers found documents, apparently meant for internal use by an Iraqi al-Qaeda linked group, the Mujahadeen of the Land of Rafedin, mentioning the al-Qaeda leaders planned visit.
The documents were seized in a house in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the report said.
Not saying this is it... but, I wonder if bin Laden would have a "production" ready to go when he martyrs himself -- if that wish of his can ever come true. Has a leader of an islamist terror group ever martyred himself in any meaningful way? If the deadened look on his face is any indicator, he may be close to death from natural causes. If that is the case, he may try to finally do the martyrs path as he has promised in the past. The 'death' video analogy is a significant observation. Other associated timing - the pending Petraeous report on the surge, 6 yr anniversary, volatile presidential campaign politics, the start of NFL regular season.
Ian, thanks again for the ping.
In the past, I haven't put much stock in the 9/11 anniversary date, but this one is quite worrisome. Let me see if I can recap all of the news that fits the pattern recently.
- US Gov says this the most dangerous time since 9/11
- German jihadis foiled before major 9/11 anniversary attack against American interests
- Massive put options which will expire around 9/11/07
- Specific warnings about 9/11 on the jihadi websites
- Supposed new OBL video
I think the OBL video will be the key element to this. If this turns out to be another rehash of his old videos, then I'm probably not going to worry too much. But if it does end up being a provably new video, then the pucker factor will be going up at my household for sure. I think that chances are high that OBL is nothing more than some charred bits on a cave floor, but who really knows for sure? I'll be keeping a close eye on this one.