Bin Laden Family Business Seeks to Improve Image

November 27, 2001 11:50 PM

Bin Laden Family Business Seeks to Improve Image Bin Laden Group, the business empire owned by relatives of the world's most wanted man, is seeking advice from British public relations firms on how to distance itself from the black sheep of the family. What advice would you give them?
posted by Rastafari (19 comments total)

A possible slogan... "Bin there. Didn't do that."
posted by shinybeast at 1:50 AM on November 28, 2001

In saying this, I'm not stating that the Bin Laden family should be held financially responsible for the errors of Osama Bin Laden. However, if they wanna improve their image, this is the ideal way to do it.

Undo what he has done. If they're already doing this kinda stuff, they should also spend money to advertise and publicize these actions so the world is aware of it. They should devote all of their financial backing to making everything he's done null and void. Pay the entire cost of damage and cleanup for both the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. Build scholarships for every child left orphaned. Build and finance anti-terrorist groups to hunt him down and take him out.

They shouldn't have just disowned them. They should have stopped him. If they really disowned him years ago, they should start acting like it. If his Dad were still alive, he coulda taken a page from Bill Cosby and said, "I brought you in this world I'll take you out and make no difference to me cuz I'll make another one look just like you." Since he's dead, Muhammad bin Laden's legacy should have what it takes to at least try.

The sacrifice would be greater than any they've already suffered, but it'd be worth it if they want to clear their family name. What's hurting them more than anything is the old adage, "the apple don't fall far from the tree." People will forever question whether or not Osama's just doing what the others from his family deep down wish they could.
posted by ZachsMind at 2:05 AM on November 28, 2001

Change your name. :)
posted by pooldemon at 2:21 AM on November 28, 2001

They shouldn't have just disowned them. They should have stopped him.

Please, it's not as if he is a five year old kid who can be grounded... Family members should in no way be held responsible, or feel a need to mend the errors of 'one of theirs'.
posted by twistedonion at 2:25 AM on November 28, 2001

It's not a "feel a need to mend the errors of 'one of theirs'", but rather a business decision.

When it comes down to it, when people see the "Bin Laden Group" or "Bin Laden Construction" they are going to think of Osama Bin Laden. And you don't want to associate your business with a terrorist.
posted by benjh at 5:06 AM on November 28, 2001

Shinybeast: I've bin robbed of my post. Good one!
posted by ParisParamus at 5:47 AM on November 28, 2001

The best thing they could do to improve their image was to get out of business with Bush's.
posted by lagado at 6:04 AM on November 28, 2001

The best thing they could do for their image would be to match the $25 million reward for Osama.
posted by pjdoland at 6:14 AM on November 28, 2001

benjh has an excellent point, if I need something built or rebuilt it is doubtful that I would even think about doing business with a company whose name reminds me of the destruction of two of the largest buildings in the world.

That would be a bit like flying with a fictitious "Hezbollah Airlines". Not gonna happen. Sure it's a big thing stepping away from the family name; life sucks, tell NYC about it. However if Andersen consulting can turn into Accenture then SBLG can easily turn into something completely different.
posted by clevershark at 6:27 AM on November 28, 2001

i would definately chnge their name. that seems like an obvious move.
posted by Satapher at 6:42 AM on November 28, 2001

twistedonion: "it's not as if he is a five year old kid who can be grounded..."

After hearing what people in Afghanistan have done to poor Marjan I feel the entire nation should get a spanking. The place is overrun with juvenile immature, grown-up delinquents.

"Family members should in no way be held responsible.."

I said IN my previous post that I was not insinuating families should be held responsible, but if they want to clear their family name, helping to undo what their "black sheep" has done is precisely what they should do. Benjh hit the nail on the head. It would be good business - and good PR - to do what they could to nullify Osama's actions.

Changing their name would be seen as running away from the problem. Their family name has been tarnished, and just disowning the bonehead does not wash their hands of him.

ValuJet tried changing their name to AirTran, but people still remember.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:14 AM on November 28, 2001

They could always take the route of Karl Mengele & Sons, manufacturers of heavy farm equipment, and keep the name despite the negative connotations.
posted by thewittyname at 7:27 AM on November 28, 2001

Change your name. :)

Like these guys? Or these? Or these?
posted by rory at 7:37 AM on November 28, 2001

In other news, the Mansons, the McVeighs, the Gacys and OJ's dad have issued public statements of support for the bin Ladens, and are considering pooling their PR budget for a huge blowout campaign of distancing themselves from their errent sons and evil in general.
posted by UncleFes at 8:21 AM on November 28, 2001

"It is a big family. There is a black sheep in every big family," Osama's sibling Abdullah Mohammed bin Laden told The Boston Globe newspaper last month.

...

July 19th: "PRESIDENT Bush will renew his acquaintance today with the Queen, who once asked him whether he was the black sheep of his family. According to one biography of Mr Bush, his response to Her Majesty's question was: 'I guess that might be true.' "
posted by holgate at 10:49 AM on November 28, 2001

George Bush is a black sheep in the most Chris Farleyian sense of the word, Holgate: Hilariously confused and destructive.

However, I have to wonder who the 'good son' is. Jeb?
posted by Hildago at 12:11 PM on November 28, 2001

I thought this was the best commentary so far.
posted by Neale at 1:20 PM on November 28, 2001

Change your name.

Ditto. It's so obvious.
posted by swift at 2:51 PM on November 28, 2001

batman bin robin.
posted by kliuless at 5:27 PM on November 28, 2001