Osama bin Laden has died, according to the L'Est republicain

AP France ^ | September 23, 2006

[confrico]

PARIS (AP) - The head of terrorist network al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, has died, according to information from the Saudi police, transmitted by the Directorate-General of External Services (DGSE), and reported on the Lorraine daily newspaper L'Est republicain in its Saturday edition.

"According to a commonly reliable source, the Saudi police believes that Osama Bin Laden has died," said a September 21st confidential note from the DGSE classified as "defense." L'Est republicain will publish it in its Saturday edition. The note, specified the daily newspaper, would be re-printed "un-edited."

According to the note to be published by the L'Est republicain, the Saudi police "would try to obtain more details, in particular the location of the burial site, and then announce the news officially." The DGSE specified in the note that no "jihadist Internet site has for the moment been made aware of the death of Osama bin Laden."

According to the note, "the head of al Qaeda may have fallen victim to a strong case of typhoid fever while in Pakistan, on August 23, 2006," and may have died within a matter of days.

The French news organization transmitted this note to the President of France, to the Defense and Prime Minister and the Ministers of the Interior Department on September 21, according to the regional daily newspaper, which added that a prior note transmitted on September 19th to the leaders of France explained why the Saudi police "sought to confirm the death of Osama bin Laden."

[Straight Vermonter]

Bush: 'Finding Osama important, not who gets him'

The Amercans, the Pakistanis, a microbe, as long as he is dead...

[beyond the sea]

To be fair, George on 'Coasts to Coast' said he was not sure if the report was true. He said to await further news. George is cool.

Now, the Slimes is a different story.

;-)

[ET(end tyranny)]

The ugly Americans forced poor Osama into the far reaches where he contacted typhoid.

Doesn't that mean we got him by default?

[mainepatsfan]

Good point. Especially if he was unable to get proper medical care.

[JIM O]

It is Bush's fault he should have eradicated typhoid fever.

[kalee]

The Saudis say it and the French report it, it must be true.
Funny but I doubt the credibility of either of them.

On the other hand, how convenient for ex-pres Clinton, Bush didn't get ubl either, typhoid may have.

[Caipirabob]

I won't be satisfied until I see the body presented a "scrapple" for our inspection next to the ruins at "Ground Zero".

[roaddog727]

I'll believe it when I see his head mounted on a pike and paraded through the streets of Kabul

[Valin]

France to probe bin Laden death report leak
Reuters ^ | 9/23/06

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1706830/posts
Posted on 09/23/2006 5:06:38 AM CDT by Valin


PARIS (Reuters) - France's Defense Ministry said on Saturday a secret service report saying al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had died could not be confirmed but said it would launch an inquiry into the leak of secret documents.

The Defense Ministry issued the statement after a French regional newspaper, L'Est Republicain, published a report quoting a French secret service report as saying Saudi Arabia is convinced al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden died of typhoid in Pakistan last month.

"The information published this morning in the L'Est Republicain newspaper relating to the supposed death of Osama bin Laden cannot be confirmed," the Defense Ministry said.

(snip)

[EBH]

It hasn't been confirmed yet....they are still waiting for confirmation from the Saudis

[Issaquahking]

Carl Rove knew UBL loved spinach...wow, genius at work.

[justa-hairyape]

The Americans, the Pakistanis, a microbe, as long as he is dead...

Reminds me of War of the Worlds. 'In the End the powerful not from this world Martians were killed by earths smallest creatures.'. Either that or a lack of toilet paper.

[beyond the sea]

Doesn't that mean we got him by default?

Almost, I guess. Call it what you wish.

I thought the guy was dead a long time ago.

[Miss Marple]

I always like to look at both the source of a story and who would have an interest n putting a story like this out. Since this is itself a dubious source involving two countries who aren't high on my list for trustworthiness (France and Saudi Arabia), there is already one mark against it.

Now, assuming the story is NOT true, who would benefit from such a story?

1. Leftists and anti-war people world-wide who want the US to pack up and go home from all foreign ventures.

2. A rival of bin Laden's who wants the #1 position in the terrorist hierarchy. This would be someone who wants to call the shots and control the money.

3. USA, who hopes that such a story would cause bin Laden to pop his head up to deny such a story.

4.Pakistan, who would hope to get the USA to call off the pressure concerning searching the Tribal Territories.

Now, assuming the story IS true, who would benefit? To a certain extent, the same answers with the exception of the CIA. However, the CIA might want to find out WHO would claim bin Laden's place, so there is motivation for them as well.

Now the question is, if the story is true, why is it coming from the Saudis? The answer might be that word has reached someone in his family.

I will be interested to see what further information surfaces in the next few days. One thing that does allow some credence to the story is the mention of typhoid as the cause of death. That's a pretty specific detail to place in a story.

[JIM O]

In a related Story:

Sheep throughout Middle East breath sigh of relief.

[justa-hairyape]

True, but judging by how 'sensitive' the Islamic world is right now, there should be large public demonstrations if this is true. Granted, the way he died may somewhat subdue the anti-American and anti-Israel sentiments, but these hotheads seem to view anything as an incitement to riot. We should be locking down embassies as a precaution.

[sure_fine]

that " just by the mere fact that President Bush had OSBL on the run and hiding in those remote places was the cause of his own demise "


Bush didn't allow him to freely seek proper medical attention = Bush Fault

[Beckwith]

Yeah, I'll believe it when I see his head on a pike.

Whether he's alive or dead, it's important to report that he's dead.

If hundreds of newspapers and TV stations start to carry this story, ben Laden will be forced to reveal himself if he's alive.

If he's dead, the repetition of his status will eventually be accepted.

I personally believe this. Ben Laden is too much of an egoist to have not been seen in a couple of years -- not one video.

[beyond the sea]

One thing that does allow some credence to the story is the mention of typhoid as the cause of death.

That is the detail that allows me to assume a degree of believability also.

[1234]

gotta get DNA from multiple sites on corpse-before that, believe nuttin