Bin Laden no longer exists: Here is why

Arab News (In English) ^ | 5 July 2002 | By Amir Taheri, Arab News Staff

[shrinkermd]

It is hard to imagine that a narcissistic psychopath such as Bin Laden could remain silent and not gloat. This man is either dead or so ill he cannot function.

[small voice in the wilderness]

Wasn't he supposed to be releasing some new tape to taunt us with today??

[Dialup Llama]

Yes, his pretty boy pal allegedly sent in an audio tape to Al Jazz which was verified by someone who knew his voice (of the pretty boy).

[11B3]

Considering the source of this article, it is the best thing I've read in weeks - their attitude has changed dramatically.

[dighton]

This is Arab News, and for the most part they got it right. I am going to lie down.

[Dialup Llama]

It's hard to imagine an article like this being written in Suadi! The author is essentially criticizing a brand of Islam as totalitarian and distorted... the same brand Saudi follows and promotes.

[ctonious]

Agreed. The pathetic attempts at "proving" he's still alive by releasing old video's of him blathering about long-ago battles and campaigns is direct proof of the death of a man who wouldn't be able to keep his ugly mug off CNN, to taunt us that we haven't killed him yet.

[liberalism=failure]

A leaderless army is aimnless. If he still was alive it would be hard to believe he wouldn't be out there trying to give the rest of Al Qaeda hope.

Perhaps he is playing possum for some reason but I doubt it. Ding dong, the witch is (most likely) dead, good riddance.

[ez2muz]

Marked for later read...

[rageaholic]

yeah where's the new Osama music video? I was looking forward to the cheezy Arab attempt to spin a months old video tape as "proof" he's still alive.

Still, he may be alive. Never underestimate an arab's ability to talk tough, then run away from a fight and hide like a little girl's blouse.

[wife-mom]

Very good article. Thanks for posting it. One swallow does not make a summer, however.

When the time comes that one can read several consecutive sane, well thought-out articles written by Arabs, articles without the obvious lies and stupidity that usually fill anything that comes from that part of the world, then perhaps there might be some hope that they will join the human race. Not holding my breath.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

.

[LibWhacker]

. . . their attitude has changed dramatically . . .

Yep, it seems that at least some "Muslim intellectuals" are getting a tad nervous about the chants they're hearing in the American street, "Nuke 'em! Nuke 'em! Nuke 'em!"

[Reaganesque]

The fifth element that made Bin Ladenism possible was the West’s, especially America’s, perceived weakness if not actual cowardice. A joke going round the militant Islamist circles until last year was that the only thing the Americans would do if attacked was to sue the attackers in court.

Ladies and gentlemen, behold the legacy of William Jefferson Clinton.

[Aggie Mama]

Are you sure this wasn't an article by a conservative commentator? I'm a little dumbfounded 1) That someone from the Middle East wrote this and 2) That his editors let him print it. Wow.

[Mike Darancette]

But the truth is that Osama Bin Laden is dead.

This should be especially distressing news to Tom Daschle and Al Gore.

By the way how many times lately has Bush or Rumsfeld actually mentioned Osama by name?

[BlackVeil]

As you say, he is not in the Saudi style. Amir Taheri, (if he is the same one) has also published a book, back in the 1980s, and writes articles on terrorism. He is a sort of Islamic conservative of the Fuard Ajami school. I think he is a Lebanese (not sure.)

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[Billthedrill]

A very impressive find - I hope its author doesn't suffer for having written it. Thanks for the post.

The fifth element that made Bin Ladenism possible was the West’s, especially America’s, perceived weakness if not actual cowardice.

Yep, Hitler thought so too. To the bullies we appear weak and irresolute; to the weak and irresolute - certain media figures come to mind here - we appear to be bullies. If we listen to and act on propaganda we'll be making the same mistake they are.