Has Osama bin Lying?

December 8, 2001 11:36 PM

Has Osama bin Lying? Sound as though the bearded one's been caught on video being aware of the WTC attack and surprised at the extent of the damage. And what about the London Times story early Saturday morning that Omar the tent maker has been put under house arrest? Go figure!
posted by marc-hamilton (14 comments total)

Of course this tape of Bin Laden will still not be enough to sway the truly committed conspiracy whacko. Likely that they will credit Bin Laden with only destroying the top 20 stories of the Trade Center.

The other 100 stories are undoubtedly the nefarious work of the Mossad and the CIA/MI6 international drug cartel. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that the international tulip price fixers from the Hague probably had a hand in it also.
posted by MAYORBOB at 11:50 PM on December 8, 2001

Actually there is a conspiracy theory here, and one which I find quite convincing. From the article: bin Laden said about the attacks: "It is what we instigated, for a while, in self defense."

Self defense? Early on it was suggested in the UK media that the September 11 attacks were pre-emptive strikes. In other words, that bin Laden got wind that, at some point in the next few months or years, America would use military action against him, the Taliban, or Afghanistan. The reasoning for such military action might have something to do with either the previous terrorist attacks that Al Qaeda was responsible for or otherwise the proposed oil pipeline through the region from the Caspian.
posted by skylar at 12:47 AM on December 9, 2001

Obviously, before you start, this doesn't make the September 11th attacks justifiable in any way.
posted by skylar at 12:48 AM on December 9, 2001

If such a tape existed and the U.S. government had seen it, it would have been released or leaked to every media outlet in the world. Sounds like more propaganda.

If this was "more conclusive evidence" then it would be shown to all the doubting countries in the world and shown to their citizens.
posted by fleener at 2:16 AM on December 9, 2001

If such a tape existed and the U.S. government had seen it, it would have been released or leaked to every media outlet in the world.

If the tape was a new discovery it would obviously take time to make sure it wasn't bogus. Eventually the tape will have to come out or I'll agree with you, but to call it propaganda from the outset seems to be jumping the gun quite a bit.
posted by justgary at 2:33 AM on December 9, 2001

Nothing new here. Until this tape is actually released I will maintain a certain degree of "whacko" skepticism.
posted by lagado at 4:11 AM on December 9, 2001

the international tulip price fixers from the Hague probably had a hand in it also
MAYORBOB, don't you remember Mr VanderFloog from Die Hard with a Vengeance?
posted by Zootoon at 5:56 AM on December 9, 2001

It is probably true that Bin Laden did not directly order this attack. He announced a holy war against the U.S. How that holy war is executed? He doesn't care. He probably doesn't order anyone directly. He just makes his wishes known and people around him pretend to read his mind. If you get it wrong, he has you killed, probably by hinting to people he wants you dead and they eventually get around to killing you.

He avoids the hows of it, and therefore thinks he avoids the blame. Bin Laden's trying to get off on a technicality. Charles Manson tried the same thing, and it didn't work for him either.
posted by ZachsMind at 6:42 AM on December 9, 2001

As to Mullah Omar. This could become the Islamic version of "Where is Waldo".

I thought he vowed that the Taliban would "fight to the death". How come he is not room temperature?
posted by MAYORBOB at 6:56 AM on December 9, 2001

This Times story? "Mullah Muhammad Omar was last night apparently being held captive as the Taleban lost control of their spiritual stronghold of Kandahar in a major breakthrough for the American-led coalition."
posted by Carol Anne at 6:57 AM on December 9, 2001

If the tape was a new discovery it would obviously take time to make sure it wasn't bogus.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Whatever will help you believe.
posted by fleener at 9:32 AM on December 9, 2001

If the tape was a new discovery it would obviously take time to make sure it wasn't bogus.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Whatever will help you believe.

Yeah, keep saying that. Whatever will help you believe.
posted by Grum at 9:42 AM on December 9, 2001

Well, I'd like to see them release the tape, if only to see some of kind of evidence that doesn't have to be kept ultra-secret. It's funny how the vacuum of evidence has been filled by the rushing desire for military tribunals that will be secret and could be, uhm, executed, without evidence.
posted by holycola at 11:22 AM on December 9, 2001

Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Whatever will help you believe.

he needs proof? this is america, after all.
posted by mcsweetie at 11:44 AM on December 9, 2001