Some news agencies are reporting
October 25, 2001 8:21 PM Subscribe
Some news agencies are reporting that Bin Laden is dead. It's slowly being picked up here but, there are no confirmations yet.
No way, nope, nichts. If insiders did Osama they'd bring his tattered remains out to show the world so the U.S. would stop blowing up their country. Dontcha think?
posted by sacre_bleu at 8:36 PM on October 25, 2001
posted by sacre_bleu at 8:36 PM on October 25, 2001
Um, according to the Yomiuri report (which is attributed to a China Times report, which is in turn attributed to "informed circles in Japan"... hmmm...), bin Laden AND Mullah Omar were shot to death by their cronies ON THE 16TH. Also killed: bin Laden's wife and son, 2 of Omar's sons.
I don't know how good we can expect our information from that part of the world to be... Apparently this happened as they were entering a cave in Kandahar, so perhaps it couldn't be confirmed by satellite images or whathaveyou.
It'd be interesting to see how people justify this war on terror after two of its (only?) clear-cut villains have been eliminated. That is, if this report is a) confirmed, and b) not a ruse.
posted by MonkeyMeat at 8:50 PM on October 25, 2001
I don't know how good we can expect our information from that part of the world to be... Apparently this happened as they were entering a cave in Kandahar, so perhaps it couldn't be confirmed by satellite images or whathaveyou.
It'd be interesting to see how people justify this war on terror after two of its (only?) clear-cut villains have been eliminated. That is, if this report is a) confirmed, and b) not a ruse.
posted by MonkeyMeat at 8:50 PM on October 25, 2001
It'd be interesting to see how people justify this war on terror after two of its (only?) clear-cut villains have been eliminated.
That's kind of what I was thinking, but I didn't want to say it on the front page and make the post too leading.
posted by Dean_Paxton at 8:59 PM on October 25, 2001
That's kind of what I was thinking, but I didn't want to say it on the front page and make the post too leading.
posted by Dean_Paxton at 8:59 PM on October 25, 2001
My brother's neighbor's step-daughter's second-grade teacher's husband's boss heard from a good source that Osama was killed by anthrax in a mosh pit accident.
This is unconfirmed.
It is all speculation from questionable sources, I will believe it when my government tells me it is true.
buy bonds.
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 9:00 PM on October 25, 2001
This is unconfirmed.
It is all speculation from questionable sources, I will believe it when my government tells me it is true.
buy bonds.
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 9:00 PM on October 25, 2001
its (only?) clear-cut villains
Ummm, have you heard of the al-Qa`ida network, that has killed thousands in attacks on several continents? It actually has more than two members.
posted by Zurishaddai at 9:04 PM on October 25, 2001
Ummm, have you heard of the al-Qa`ida network, that has killed thousands in attacks on several continents? It actually has more than two members.
posted by Zurishaddai at 9:04 PM on October 25, 2001
I will believe it when my government tells me it is true.
Famous last words :)
Although come to think of it, if you wanted to be a conspiracy theorist about it (not that I necessarily do), it would make sense for the gov't to suppress coverage of bin Laden's death, since some support for the attacks might be withdrawn if it was thought that bin Laden and Omar were dead...
posted by MonkeyMeat at 9:07 PM on October 25, 2001
Famous last words :)
Although come to think of it, if you wanted to be a conspiracy theorist about it (not that I necessarily do), it would make sense for the gov't to suppress coverage of bin Laden's death, since some support for the attacks might be withdrawn if it was thought that bin Laden and Omar were dead...
posted by MonkeyMeat at 9:07 PM on October 25, 2001
Ummm, have you heard of the al-Qa`ida network... It actually has more than two members.
Yeah, I've heard of them. I don't think any of them has an agent as good as Osama bin Laden's, though. People around here seem to like it when they have a face to put on the enemy.
posted by MonkeyMeat at 9:10 PM on October 25, 2001
Yeah, I've heard of them. I don't think any of them has an agent as good as Osama bin Laden's, though. People around here seem to like it when they have a face to put on the enemy.
posted by MonkeyMeat at 9:10 PM on October 25, 2001
[I don't think any of them has an agent as good as Osama bin Laden's, though.]
Seriously. This guy is everywhere these days. His rep is going to get a big ol' bonus.
Next major pub for Osama: the cover of People.
posted by sacre_bleu at 9:16 PM on October 25, 2001
Seriously. This guy is everywhere these days. His rep is going to get a big ol' bonus.
Next major pub for Osama: the cover of People.
posted by sacre_bleu at 9:16 PM on October 25, 2001
I hope Bert is not in any danger.
posted by sharksandwich at 9:23 PM on October 25, 2001
posted by sharksandwich at 9:23 PM on October 25, 2001
Osama is probably thinking along the lines of Mark Twain. "The reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated."
That piece that appeared in Yomiuri reads so poorly as to be pathetic. I have to believe that this sort of unpolished disinformation is intended to have the U.S. stop bombing. IMHO, the U.S.'s worst case scenario would be for Osama and the Taliban to be taken out quickly. With all the blather from Cheney et al that this war will not be over in our lifetime they are clearly laying the groundwork for a long, long war.
posted by MAYORBOB at 9:23 PM on October 25, 2001
That piece that appeared in Yomiuri reads so poorly as to be pathetic. I have to believe that this sort of unpolished disinformation is intended to have the U.S. stop bombing. IMHO, the U.S.'s worst case scenario would be for Osama and the Taliban to be taken out quickly. With all the blather from Cheney et al that this war will not be over in our lifetime they are clearly laying the groundwork for a long, long war.
posted by MAYORBOB at 9:23 PM on October 25, 2001
AheadNews, by the way, gained a reputation during the Chandra Levy scandal's peak of reading message boards, writing up speculative posts as news, then returning to the message board to post a link to their "exclusive" attributed to "anonymous sources".
Notice the completely hilarious use of the phrase "EXCLUSIVE MUST CREDIT AHEADNEWS.COM" when the very first words are "Radio sources ...", the rest of the article points to overseas sources, and the top of the page links to the National Review ... yesterday. Just how exclusive is this club, and can I join? I mean, I have a pulse....
And it's completely within the realm of possibility to assume that bin Laden will not in fact exit Afghanistan peacefully or alive. My first expectation would be death in a collapsed cavern; second in a deadly firefight with coalition special forces come to snatch him. It would also be cute justice if some of Gen. Massoud's compatriots pulled something like this off, though I would caution Americans not to get complacent, because these folks lump us in with them as one big happy coalition of infidels.
That said, I'm with Mayor Bob that this is likely some sort of disinformation. I wouldn't expect the Taliban to remain cohesive for long after Omar dies -- that bit about four successors is telling.
posted by dhartung at 9:34 PM on October 25, 2001
Notice the completely hilarious use of the phrase "EXCLUSIVE MUST CREDIT AHEADNEWS.COM" when the very first words are "Radio sources ...", the rest of the article points to overseas sources, and the top of the page links to the National Review ... yesterday. Just how exclusive is this club, and can I join? I mean, I have a pulse....
And it's completely within the realm of possibility to assume that bin Laden will not in fact exit Afghanistan peacefully or alive. My first expectation would be death in a collapsed cavern; second in a deadly firefight with coalition special forces come to snatch him. It would also be cute justice if some of Gen. Massoud's compatriots pulled something like this off, though I would caution Americans not to get complacent, because these folks lump us in with them as one big happy coalition of infidels.
That said, I'm with Mayor Bob that this is likely some sort of disinformation. I wouldn't expect the Taliban to remain cohesive for long after Omar dies -- that bit about four successors is telling.
posted by dhartung at 9:34 PM on October 25, 2001
Looks to me like he's still alive.
And looks like isosamabinladendeadyet.com is still available.
posted by youthbc1 at 10:11 PM on October 25, 2001
And looks like isosamabinladendeadyet.com is still available.
posted by youthbc1 at 10:11 PM on October 25, 2001
I heard he was hit in the head with a U.N. Food Ration... An Unnamed source told me through my Official U.S.- Dropped Transistor Radio....
posted by danger at 10:11 PM on October 25, 2001
posted by danger at 10:11 PM on October 25, 2001
"God is dead." -- Nietzsche
"Nietzsche is dead." -- God
posted by gazingus at 10:16 PM on October 25, 2001
"Nietzsche is dead." -- God
posted by gazingus at 10:16 PM on October 25, 2001
Well, if you are asking what I think you are, Nietzche said "God is dead" on page 90 of the Modern Library edition (trans. Walter Kaufmann, as usual).
God said "Nietzche is dead" at a totally rockin' heavan party the other weekend, but to tell you the truth, between that comment and Jesus puttin' the moves on Raguel, he who takes vengeance on the world of the luminaries, I don't remember much. At first all we had was water, but then...
posted by j.edwards at 11:49 PM on October 25, 2001
God said "Nietzche is dead" at a totally rockin' heavan party the other weekend, but to tell you the truth, between that comment and Jesus puttin' the moves on Raguel, he who takes vengeance on the world of the luminaries, I don't remember much. At first all we had was water, but then...
posted by j.edwards at 11:49 PM on October 25, 2001
...heh, the book, of course, is Also Sprach Zarathustra...
posted by j.edwards at 11:49 PM on October 25, 2001
posted by j.edwards at 11:49 PM on October 25, 2001
Some people go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. Me, I go Nietzsche for nachos.
posted by youhas at 1:09 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by youhas at 1:09 AM on October 26, 2001
p1 - God is Love.
p2 - Love is blind.
p3 - Ray Charles is blind.
.: Ray Charles is God.
ObTopic: Even though this might be a false alarm, it's pretty much the scenario I bet we'll ultimately see. Nobody wants to capture Bin Laden alive. I can easily envision a power struggle within the Taliban that could culminate in Bin Laden accidentally falling off his camel and shooting himself in the back 60 times. And, yes -- I suspect that will take urgency out of the situation and Governor Bush will have a difficult time keeping he momentum going. A bit unsettling, since from much of my reading, I get the distinct impression that his lieutenant, Muhammad Atef, might have a bigger hand in the WTC planning than is generally acknowledged. Regardless, he seems capable of taking over Al-Quaeda without missing a beat.
posted by RavinDave at 1:29 AM on October 26, 2001
p2 - Love is blind.
p3 - Ray Charles is blind.
.: Ray Charles is God.
ObTopic: Even though this might be a false alarm, it's pretty much the scenario I bet we'll ultimately see. Nobody wants to capture Bin Laden alive. I can easily envision a power struggle within the Taliban that could culminate in Bin Laden accidentally falling off his camel and shooting himself in the back 60 times. And, yes -- I suspect that will take urgency out of the situation and Governor Bush will have a difficult time keeping he momentum going. A bit unsettling, since from much of my reading, I get the distinct impression that his lieutenant, Muhammad Atef, might have a bigger hand in the WTC planning than is generally acknowledged. Regardless, he seems capable of taking over Al-Quaeda without missing a beat.
posted by RavinDave at 1:29 AM on October 26, 2001
I only hope that he was struck dead by a carton of C-Ration Western Omeletes...I can't think of a more deserving death
posted by ttrendel at 1:59 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by ttrendel at 1:59 AM on October 26, 2001
God god! I'm starting to think like Rush Limbaugh.
posted by RavinDave at 4:14 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by RavinDave at 4:14 AM on October 26, 2001
It is all speculation from questionable sources, I will believe it when my government tells me it is true.
Wait, I'm confused. So you *are* comfortable with questionable sources?
posted by warhol at 5:03 AM on October 26, 2001
Wait, I'm confused. So you *are* comfortable with questionable sources?
posted by warhol at 5:03 AM on October 26, 2001
As far as I know, Free Republic broke this 'news' in the US on Oct. 24th. About an hour later Fark cited the FR thread.
posted by tamim at 5:13 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by tamim at 5:13 AM on October 26, 2001
Maybe he was reincarnated as elvis.
posted by adampsyche at 5:23 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by adampsyche at 5:23 AM on October 26, 2001
please note: I forgot to wrap "sarcasm" tags around my comments.
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 5:28 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by hotdoughnutsnow at 5:28 AM on October 26, 2001
I think he morphed (ever so slightly) into Cat Stevens.
posted by elvissinatra at 6:52 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by elvissinatra at 6:52 AM on October 26, 2001
If this is true, it's not necessarily good news: A martyr is a useful thing.
posted by alumshubby at 7:36 AM on October 26, 2001
posted by alumshubby at 7:36 AM on October 26, 2001
"God is dead." -- Nietzsche
"Nietzsche is dead." -- God
"Stop stealing my lines" -- Dennis Miller
posted by justgary at 9:25 AM on October 26, 2001
"Nietzsche is dead." -- God
"Stop stealing my lines" -- Dennis Miller
posted by justgary at 9:25 AM on October 26, 2001
Via Bblfsh:
death theory? The Chinese newspaper reporting
< Peking 24 day = Sugiyama 祐 之 > You announced for the Chinese overseas chinese as for news agency " Chinese newspaper " Internet edition on the 24th, as a story of the " Japanese well-informed sources ", " the オマル teacher of the ウサマ * ビンラーディン and the タリバン this month on 16th, shot in the aide and died ". Simply, " this information is not something which still was verified each from direction ", it has done.
According to the same electricity, the occasion where 16 day morning of the Afghan time past o'clock of 11, the オマル teacher and others tries will return to the underground base of the same national Nanbu カンダハル, probably to enter into the cave, the person of the aide fired from back. As for the オマル teacher 1 departure, as for the ビンラーディン it poured the bullet of each 1 shot to the chest and the left shoulder in the chest, died at that place.
Also son and spouse of the ビンラーディン which is together shooting the chest and the waist and the shoulder, et cetera you die. Two men of the オマル teacher received the bullet to the right waist, that place escaped, but you say the next day you died.
"But you say the next day you died." Well, that settles it then.
posted by rschram at 6:35 PM on October 28, 2001
death theory? The Chinese newspaper reporting
< Peking 24 day = Sugiyama 祐 之 > You announced for the Chinese overseas chinese as for news agency " Chinese newspaper " Internet edition on the 24th, as a story of the " Japanese well-informed sources ", " the オマル teacher of the ウサマ * ビンラーディン and the タリバン this month on 16th, shot in the aide and died ". Simply, " this information is not something which still was verified each from direction ", it has done.
According to the same electricity, the occasion where 16 day morning of the Afghan time past o'clock of 11, the オマル teacher and others tries will return to the underground base of the same national Nanbu カンダハル, probably to enter into the cave, the person of the aide fired from back. As for the オマル teacher 1 departure, as for the ビンラーディン it poured the bullet of each 1 shot to the chest and the left shoulder in the chest, died at that place.
Also son and spouse of the ビンラーディン which is together shooting the chest and the waist and the shoulder, et cetera you die. Two men of the オマル teacher received the bullet to the right waist, that place escaped, but you say the next day you died.
"But you say the next day you died." Well, that settles it then.
posted by rschram at 6:35 PM on October 28, 2001
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My guess is that this will end up being phony.
posted by phatboy at 8:30 PM on October 25, 2001