is bin laden dead

[KentPaul]

a friend is from pakistan and she is pretty sure he is in pakistan, the border area is just as in accessible as afghanistan, and the government has little power up there, whereas in afghanistan the army can move around more easily so it would be more difficult for him to stay there.

also if he had died it would have leaked out from his inner circle to the other al qaida and then out to the media.

 

[Lemon law]

On one hand Bin Laden is a fairy young---on the other hand its my understanding that he has a rather severe case of diabetes--and can't live forever anyway. But there is no new confirmed evidence that he is still alive---and no evidence that he is dead either---so why speculate with no information?

But I have always felt that Bin Laden was more the front man of Al-Quida---and Al-Quida will be little impacted if Ossama lives or dies---but we still need that boogie man to hate and make a scapegoat of and demonize.

 

[jpeyton]

Bush's GWOT would have a less steam behind it if the head of the snake was cut off. It's in his best interest to keep the boogey-man haunting American minds.

 

[ProfJohn]

If he was alive then he would be making videos.
His right hand man has release how many videos in the past few months? And Osama has not released one with a provable time frame in over a year.

I think that is the best proof we have that he is dead, or incapacitated in a way that prevents him from making videos.

Sadly we could go years without knowing the truth. If he is dead and buried the Islamic movement will most likely try to keep that fact secret so they can continue to use his legend and image.

 

[Lemon law]

Well maybe its true---Al-Quida will always have the larger than life myth of Ossama Bin Laden no matter what the facts are ---the USA can always counter with ELVIS.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If he was alive then he would be making videos.
His right hand man has release how many videos in the past few months? And Osama has not released one with a provable time frame in over a year.

I think that is the best proof we have that he is dead, or incapacitated in a way that prevents him from making videos.

Sadly we could go years without knowing the truth. If he is dead and buried the Islamic movement will most likely try to keep that fact secret so they can continue to use his legend and image.

Or he's smart enough not to make many videos, giving the appearance of death.

 

[imported_Tango]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
Well maybe its true---Al-Quida will always have the larger than life myth of Ossama Bin Laden no matter what the facts are ---the USA can always counter with ELVIS.

Yup, he will of course become a legend. The man who fought a superpower alone and still died in his bed. Quite larger than life indeed.

 

[KentPaul]

if he died they would tell people he is a martyr, he is an inspiration, join the jihad etc etc....

thats why i think he is alive, maybe he looks frail and they dont want to show him as weakened on video.

 

[Corbett]

Osama is too busy deciding which democrat candidate he wants to tell the American people to vote for. I'm sure once he decides which will be the least threat to his cause he will make another video, just like when he endorsed John Kerry.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: KentPaul
if he died they would tell people he is a martyr, he is an inspiration, join the jihad etc etc....

thats why i think he is alive, maybe he looks frail and they dont want to show him as weakened on video.

That does make sense. One way in which he could be alive and not making videos.

I think if he is killed by Americans they won't announce it, but if he dies in his bed then they might try to use that, but I doubt it.
He is worth more alive to them than dead.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If he was alive then he would be making videos.
His right hand man has release how many videos in the past few months? And Osama has not released one with a provable time frame in over a year.

I think that is the best proof we have that he is dead, or incapacitated in a way that prevents him from making videos.

Sadly we could go years without knowing the truth. If he is dead and buried the Islamic movement will most likely try to keep that fact secret so they can continue to use his legend and image.

Apparently he released an audio tape in 2006...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Osama_bin_Laden_tape

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: KentPaul
if he died they would tell people he is a martyr, he is an inspiration, join the jihad etc etc....

thats why i think he is alive, maybe he looks frail and they dont want to show him as weakened on video.

That does make sense. One way in which he could be alive and not making videos.

I think if he is killed by Americans they won't announce it, but if he dies in his bed then they might try to use that, but I doubt it.
He is worth more alive to them than dead.

I disagree. Sure the current admin has some value in OBL being alive, but I think them being able to announce his death, especially due to US military, would help them save face. They have announced the deaths of Saddam, and even al-Zarqawi. I think the world will know when bin Laden is dead.

 

[conehead433]

I don't think there has been a single video of him after 9-11 that would date his being alive past that date. Hmm...