Bin Laden's eldest son 'takes over al-Qaeda'
July 30, 2002 2:52 PM Subscribe
Bin Laden's eldest son 'takes over al-Qaeda' Does this add to the speculation that Osama is dead, or could it be just another ruse?
i wouldn't put it past bin laden to use his son as a visible target, while he goes about his "business" under the cover of being presumed dead.
Nefarious and bold!
Yet the same strategy seems to be working for Bush, Sr.
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 3:13 PM on July 30, 2002
Nefarious and bold!
Yet the same strategy seems to be working for Bush, Sr.
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 3:13 PM on July 30, 2002
Is it AQ day at MeFi or something?
posted by donkeyschlong at 3:14 PM on July 30, 2002
posted by donkeyschlong at 3:14 PM on July 30, 2002
Senior U.S. officials "dismissed speculation he has assumed his father's command of the terrorist network."
They can dismiss it all they want...but does that make it true?
posted by jacobw at 3:25 PM on July 30, 2002
They can dismiss it all they want...but does that make it true?
posted by jacobw at 3:25 PM on July 30, 2002
Guardian, Sept. 23, 2001:
"Bin Laden's son is now emerging as a key figure. Though reputed to be shy and contemplative, he is being groomed by his father, who is now 44 and suffers from back and kidney problems, as a successor. By the age of 17 he had been entrusted with ensuring his father's security as he slept."
Looks like the latest non-news story from the War on Some Terror. Let's see...what are they trying to distract us from this time...perhaps this?
posted by mediareport at 3:31 PM on July 30, 2002
"Bin Laden's son is now emerging as a key figure. Though reputed to be shy and contemplative, he is being groomed by his father, who is now 44 and suffers from back and kidney problems, as a successor. By the age of 17 he had been entrusted with ensuring his father's security as he slept."
Looks like the latest non-news story from the War on Some Terror. Let's see...what are they trying to distract us from this time...perhaps this?
posted by mediareport at 3:31 PM on July 30, 2002
Is bin Laden's son his successor? Saadly, we can never be sure.
It really doesn't seem like the al Qaeda style to treat a 20-year-old whippersnapper as their leader; in many ways bin Laden never was the kind of commander he's often portrayed as by the media. Especially after the "merger" with al-Zawahiri's Egyptian Ikhwan group, it became more of a cooperative venture. If Saad has a major role, it's probably in the sense of a board member representing his father's interests. If anyone is "running" it, it's Zawahiri -- the Brains Behind bin Laden as some put it; or perhaps operational leader Mohammad Atef.
And I'm totally impressed by the shocking news that a disgruntled weapons inspector doesn't think the weapons inspections should represent the interests of the security council. Just how many of them are there out there, anyway? And who the heck do they think they're working for?
posted by dhartung at 4:14 PM on July 30, 2002
It really doesn't seem like the al Qaeda style to treat a 20-year-old whippersnapper as their leader; in many ways bin Laden never was the kind of commander he's often portrayed as by the media. Especially after the "merger" with al-Zawahiri's Egyptian Ikhwan group, it became more of a cooperative venture. If Saad has a major role, it's probably in the sense of a board member representing his father's interests. If anyone is "running" it, it's Zawahiri -- the Brains Behind bin Laden as some put it; or perhaps operational leader Mohammad Atef.
And I'm totally impressed by the shocking news that a disgruntled weapons inspector doesn't think the weapons inspections should represent the interests of the security council. Just how many of them are there out there, anyway? And who the heck do they think they're working for?
posted by dhartung at 4:14 PM on July 30, 2002
that's the thing with the al qaeda terror network...nepotism.
posted by birdherder at 4:33 PM on July 30, 2002
posted by birdherder at 4:33 PM on July 30, 2002
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn't exist...."
Of course, all that really matters is someone is doing that role. Whether it's his son or him...sheesh. TWAT rumbles on...
posted by boneybaloney at 5:10 PM on July 30, 2002
Of course, all that really matters is someone is doing that role. Whether it's his son or him...sheesh. TWAT rumbles on...
posted by boneybaloney at 5:10 PM on July 30, 2002
Terrorist: So who died and made you head of al Qaeda?
Son: Er.... I'm not really sure...
posted by Neale at 5:20 PM on July 30, 2002
Son: Er.... I'm not really sure...
posted by Neale at 5:20 PM on July 30, 2002
My first thought at this new round of stories was similar to yours, dhartung: What about that evil mastermind Zawahiri who was last year's boogeyman?
I'll disagree on what I think you're saying about the weapons inspectors, though. I know Hussein's a violent prick who needs to be watched, but enough inspectors have weighed in on the U.S.'s bizarre belligerence over the last 10 years to make me suspicious. Add in the political and financial benefits to Cheney & co of an Iraq invasion, and I think we have every right to be skeptical. But I'm willing to discuss it civilly, if you're so inclined.
posted by mediareport at 5:32 PM on July 30, 2002
I'll disagree on what I think you're saying about the weapons inspectors, though. I know Hussein's a violent prick who needs to be watched, but enough inspectors have weighed in on the U.S.'s bizarre belligerence over the last 10 years to make me suspicious. Add in the political and financial benefits to Cheney & co of an Iraq invasion, and I think we have every right to be skeptical. But I'm willing to discuss it civilly, if you're so inclined.
posted by mediareport at 5:32 PM on July 30, 2002
Thanks. I think there are some things that need to be written out. This might be one of them.
posted by BlueTrain at 5:43 PM on July 30, 2002
posted by BlueTrain at 5:43 PM on July 30, 2002
It should be TWAST.
posted by mediareport at 6:09 PM on July 30, 2002
posted by mediareport at 6:09 PM on July 30, 2002
I'm thinking that bin Laden is a whole lot smarter than George Bush, and probably at least as smart as the men around Bush.
Which is really kinda scary.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:41 PM on July 30, 2002
Which is really kinda scary.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:41 PM on July 30, 2002
What about that evil mastermind Zawahiri who was last year's boogeyman
Mediareport, at what point does someone become a genuine threat and not a 'boogeyman' to you? Is there a quota?
Add in the political and financial benefits to Cheney & co of an Iraq invasion
This is really lazy criticism. Anything any politician does that has broad public support provides 'political benefits' - that however doesn't mean it's the wrong thing to do or that the motives are suspicious.
posted by ljromanoff at 6:44 PM on July 30, 2002
Mediareport, at what point does someone become a genuine threat and not a 'boogeyman' to you? Is there a quota?
Add in the political and financial benefits to Cheney & co of an Iraq invasion
This is really lazy criticism. Anything any politician does that has broad public support provides 'political benefits' - that however doesn't mean it's the wrong thing to do or that the motives are suspicious.
posted by ljromanoff at 6:44 PM on July 30, 2002
Mediareport, at what point does someone become a genuine threat and not a 'boogeyman' to you? Is there a quota?
There's no question Zawahiri is a genuine threat -- a threat to my country, yes, and also a direct threat to me, a left-leaning gay Jew. What I'm objecting to is the current administration's willingness to use these threats to distract us from pointed questions aobut their policy choices. We've seen it again and again, and this "news" story smells like yet another iteration.
Anything any politician does that has broad public support provides 'political benefits' - that however doesn't mean it's the wrong thing to do or that the motives are suspicious.
Using war as a domestic political tool -- something Cheney & Co are clearly capable of doing with no qualms -- is disgusting. I guess we'll disagree on that. Cheney's business relationship with Iraq is a crystal clear signal of his slippery motives/morality on this one. Btw, I do appreciate your relatively thoughtful tone here, ljromanoff. It's a nice change. I do think that invading Iraq will only serve to make Americans less safe in the world, but I'm sure we'll be discussing that over the next few days.
posted by mediareport at 6:58 PM on July 30, 2002
There's no question Zawahiri is a genuine threat -- a threat to my country, yes, and also a direct threat to me, a left-leaning gay Jew. What I'm objecting to is the current administration's willingness to use these threats to distract us from pointed questions aobut their policy choices. We've seen it again and again, and this "news" story smells like yet another iteration.
Anything any politician does that has broad public support provides 'political benefits' - that however doesn't mean it's the wrong thing to do or that the motives are suspicious.
Using war as a domestic political tool -- something Cheney & Co are clearly capable of doing with no qualms -- is disgusting. I guess we'll disagree on that. Cheney's business relationship with Iraq is a crystal clear signal of his slippery motives/morality on this one. Btw, I do appreciate your relatively thoughtful tone here, ljromanoff. It's a nice change. I do think that invading Iraq will only serve to make Americans less safe in the world, but I'm sure we'll be discussing that over the next few days.
posted by mediareport at 6:58 PM on July 30, 2002
Using war as a domestic political tool -- something Cheney & Co are clearly capable of doing with no qualms -- is disgusting.
It's disgusting regardless of who does it. As of yet, I have not seen if from GWB and Cheney, but so be it.
Btw, I do appreciate your relatively thoughtful tone here, ljromanoff. It's a nice change.
This is a rather gratuitous attack.
posted by ljromanoff at 7:04 PM on July 30, 2002
It's disgusting regardless of who does it. As of yet, I have not seen if from GWB and Cheney, but so be it.
Btw, I do appreciate your relatively thoughtful tone here, ljromanoff. It's a nice change.
This is a rather gratuitous attack.
posted by ljromanoff at 7:04 PM on July 30, 2002
rather gratuitous attack
You misspelled "gentle justified poke."
Republicans desperately want the Senate back, lj. Cheney and Fleischer *know* an invasion of Iraq before November has a good chance of rallying folks around the sitting president.
Dis. Gus. Ting.
posted by mediareport at 7:29 PM on July 30, 2002
You misspelled "gentle justified poke."
Republicans desperately want the Senate back, lj. Cheney and Fleischer *know* an invasion of Iraq before November has a good chance of rallying folks around the sitting president.
Dis. Gus. Ting.
posted by mediareport at 7:29 PM on July 30, 2002
Cheney and Fleischer *know* an invasion of Iraq before November has a good chance of rallying folks around the sitting president.
All true. But it's not November and the invasion hasn't yet happened. Besides, I'd say the GOP has the Senate locked up anyway.
Dis. Gus. Ting.
Which means this condemnation would really mean a lot more if it were criticizing something that has actually happened, not something you think might happen.
posted by ljromanoff at 7:39 PM on July 30, 2002
All true. But it's not November and the invasion hasn't yet happened. Besides, I'd say the GOP has the Senate locked up anyway.
Dis. Gus. Ting.
Which means this condemnation would really mean a lot more if it were criticizing something that has actually happened, not something you think might happen.
posted by ljromanoff at 7:39 PM on July 30, 2002
pardon me, but, why do we always have to presume anyone out of sight must be incapacitated?
does Mr BL have to keep releasing home movies to reassure you all he's live and kicking?
isn't is quite likely the guy's doing just fine and carrying on about his TERRORIST business as most TERRORISTS do, like, undercover?
posted by slumkidd at 4:12 AM on July 31, 2002
does Mr BL have to keep releasing home movies to reassure you all he's live and kicking?
isn't is quite likely the guy's doing just fine and carrying on about his TERRORIST business as most TERRORISTS do, like, undercover?
posted by slumkidd at 4:12 AM on July 31, 2002
There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Osama bin Laden...
posted by i_cola at 10:06 AM on July 31, 2002
posted by i_cola at 10:06 AM on July 31, 2002
« Older Psssst...He's a Democrat | Newer »
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posted by t r a c y at 3:05 PM on July 30, 2002