BREAKING HARD: Report: bin Laden Believed Dead

AP | Friday, August 30, 2002

[Neets]

I am sure if one had the time, and were so inclined, one could do a search on FR and find article after article, after article, spanning this entire time-frame from 9/11 until now, and find dozens of articles where the Pakistanni's claim that OBL IS DEAD.

It's like the DNC talking points...say it enough times, and it shall be regarded as truth.

[Tall_Texan]

Our president said it well enough: "If he's alive, we're gonna get him. If he's dead, we got him."

Straight talk like that mortifies the media.

Seriously, I agree that he's probably in a cave dead of a collapsed lung but being alive/dead this way makes for distinct winners and losers:

WINNERS
The U.S.: They have their excuse to continue the War on Terror and expand it to other countries.
Israel: They'll get Saddam taken out of the equation.
Afghanistan: Foreign aid will flow as long as there's a chance the Taliban could return.
Republicans: If they'd only learn to capitalize on it.

LOSERS
Al Qaeda: The "Osama is alive" crap damages any credibility they might still have in some circles.
Pakistan: Troops have excuse to continue the fight across the border.
Democrats: They can't stand watching a popular Bush in a "time of war".
P.L.O.: Arafat shown not to be invincable, just like Osama.
Saddam Hussein: Buh-bye.

[antonz]

The problems start when he claims to have returned from the dead.

Bravo!

[JohnHuang2]

Bump!

[JohnHuang2]

lol

[JohnHuang2]

It's from AOL breaking wire.

[anniegetyourgun]

I got in on that pool - and I still say that I won. He died on 12/18/01....deader than a doornail.

[TC Rider]

Bring me the head of Osama Bin Laden.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yeah, but what about General Franco?

[dhfnc]

For so long the press accused Bush of failure since he did not get Osama. Why is the press now willing to grant this victory to Bush?

So there is NO reason to go into Iraq! The press does not want this to happen, so they are pulling out everything and anything to stop this.

In the end, I don't believe that this will make any difference - OBL Dead or Alive has nothing to do with fighting the terrorist in Iraq - OBL followers are many - so we are not finished until we clean it all up.

[Dog Gone]

It's from AOL breaking wire.

I know, but the AP report is quoting a story on the Financial Times website. I wanted to find the original story.

[JimSEA]

An attempt by the press to declare the war is over..no need to go after Iraq now?

It sounds like it to me as well. IMHO, bin Laden's life or death has little current relevance to the dangers of Islamism or Iraq, either one.

[Diddle E. Squat]

What about these threats?

[BlackbirdSST]

JH2, the only problem I have with the belief UBL is dead or was killed in our bombing campaign is my firm belief that the cowardly/women and children killing/chickensh!t/Islam is peace types, ran for cover as soon as they got wind of us coming. You can't tell me that this scumbag didn't run and hide far from the action ( My bet is China). Further, since we didn't have troops on the ground, there would have been little to prevent him from fleeing. One can hope, color me skeptical. The "elvis is in the room sightings" will continue until there's proof. Just my pennies worth. Blackbird.

[JohnHuang2]

Point well taken, my friend. Sides, it's wiser to operate under the assumption OBL is alive -- just in case.

[JohnHuang2]

I could be wrong, but I believe the FT story has already been posted.

[PJ-Comix]

Maybe all "bin Laden dead" threads read the same.

Maybe these threads should be paired with "Elvis Is Alive!" threads.

[Humidston]

Maybe Bush doesn't want us to know. Maybe the administration informed Musharraf of the possibility that we'd have to move into Pakistan if we don't find him in Afghanistan.

Maybe Musharraf just doesn't want to chance the possibility that U.S. forces just may have to enter his country and clean house...

Maybe.

[Jake0001]

It is possible. Given that the Taliben/al Qaeda forces seem to be tipped off and disappear before US forces can engage them. Bin Laden had plenty of time to set up his hiding places and put a plan in place while the Taliben stonewalled.

We haven't found Omar (leader of the Taliben) yet either.

[harpseal]

Until we are certain that Bin Laden is dead that is we have his rotting corpse in hand, we must continue to act as though he is alive and well anything less places us at too much risk

Stay well - stay safe - Stay armed - yorktown