I think OBL is dead

DinoDoc · May 21, 2003, 11:05

Quote:

Top al-Qaeda man urges attacks on the US

Dubai - Qatar's Jazeera television aired on Wednesday what it said was a tape from Osama bin Laden's top aide in which he urged Muslims to intensify their holy war against Americans and Jews.

In the recording, which appears to have been made in the early days of the United States-led war on Iraq, Ayman al-Zawahiri also told Muslims to strike at the missions and commercial interests of the US, Britain, Australia and Norway and "turn the ground beneath their feet into an inferno".

He told the Iraqi people that they were "not alone" in fighting what he called the "American occupation" of their country.

"The crusaders and the Jews only understand the language of murder, bloodshed and of the burning towers," he said referring to New York's World Trade Centre twin towers, levelled by suicide plane hijackers on September 11, 2001.

"Carry arms against your enemies, the Americans and Jews. Attack the missions of the United States, UK, Australia and Norway and their interests, companies and employees," he added.

Considered to be Bin Laden's right-hand man, Egyptian eye doctor Zawahri founded a militant group which tried to topple the Egyptian government in the 1990s.

Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network is blamed for the September 11 attacks as well as the triple suicide bombings in Riyadh last week which claimed the lives of 34 people, mainly foreigners.

Last October, Jazeera broadcast the alleged voice of Zawahri speaking on the anniversary of the US-led war in Afghanistan.

1) Why would you have the number 2 man in your organization do a promotional tape if your biggest draw was still alive and well?

2) What has Norway done?

TheStinger · May 21, 2003, 11:07

Norway( or vikings if you want to be picky) Invaded large swathes of europe about 1000 years ago this beefed up the european fighting man getting him ready to defeat the Islamic onslaught and quite frankly its pay back time

SlowwHand · May 21, 2003, 11:09

Oh, screw them. Bunch of rattle-mouth idiots.

DinoDoc · May 21, 2003, 11:11

Supposedly this tape was heavily edited which is raising doubts about its authenticity.

Seeker · May 21, 2003, 11:11

Norway??

I think they feel the need to remind their target audience that they can kill anyone who looks like they might be western, they don't have to waste valuable killing time by checking if the target is actually American, a Jew etc.

My greatest fear for the evolution of terrorism is shoulder mounted rockets vs commercial airliners. It's not that hard to drive out to where planes fly quite low, and they are real hard to miss even with just an RPG.

But they aren't that together, I think 9/11 was a bit of an aberration. Most of the time terrorist cells seem to operate like the Keystone Kops with a deathwish (achille lauro, many plane hijackings etc).

Traianvs · May 21, 2003, 11:17

Maybe Osama was not able to make this video, could be due to various reasons (disease, danger of being detected by Americans, impossibility to reach Osama, he could be dead too of course)

However that's just a few assumptions and I don't see why you bring up the 1000th thread about Osama being dead as you can't give any solid arguments

Perhaps it is time for Osama to retire, and leaving the top spot to Zawahri.. Osama is not in good health after all

Spiffor · May 21, 2003, 11:18

It is also possible Bin Laden has done face surgery and doesn't want to be recognized. I don't have certitudes one way or another.

And I'm equally confused on the Norway part

Arrian · May 21, 2003, 11:20

Norway?

Look out, Fins! You're next!

Wtf?

-Arrian

Henrik · May 21, 2003, 11:22

Maybe they mixed up norway and denmark?

Even so the Danes haven't done much either (apart from sending a submarine to Afganistan or Iraq, not sure which) to draw their wrath

PLATO · May 21, 2003, 11:22

I wonder if al-Qaeda is subject to the same type power struggles most organizations are. Perhaps there is discussion at the top on how to procede??

Winston · May 21, 2003, 11:29

Norway was included because Al Qaeda now regards cross country skiing as blasphemy and consequently an insult to muslims everywhere.

Japher · May 21, 2003, 11:31

Winston

Cross-country skiing is a bane to all humanity. Its only saving grace is the biathalon, since if you mix anything with firearms aint all that bad

GePap · May 21, 2003, 11:32

Norway sent troops to Afghanistan.

Oh, and why can;t number 2 makes tapes? After all, cheney lets Bush near the cameras every so often....

Sava · May 21, 2003, 11:33

I'm not sure if he's alive or dead... I doubt we'll ever know for sure.

Gangerolf · May 21, 2003, 11:37

norwegian f-16s have dropped bombs in Afghanistan. three or four times IIRC

Spiffor · May 21, 2003, 11:37

Quote:

Originally posted by PLATO1003
I wonder if al-Qaeda is subject to the same type power struggles most organizations are. Perhaps there is discussion at the top on how to procede??

This is very possible. However, OBL is at the very least the PR guy of Al Qaeda, so even if he was in minority in the power structure, he'd still run the TV show if it was possible for him.

Gangerolf · May 21, 2003, 11:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Winston
Norway was included because Al Qaeda now regards cross country skiing as blasphemy and consequently an insult to muslims everywhere.

I can see why. ha ha

Inverse Icarus · May 21, 2003, 12:27

i'm almost positive he's dead.

i just keep seeing special ops unloading several clips into him in an isoloated cave, and not telling anyone about it.

he is worth more missing, than dead, to bush and his cronies.

Urban Ranger · May 21, 2003, 13:04

Quote:

Originally posted by TheStinger
Norway( or vikings if you want to be picky) Invaded large swathes of europe about 1000 years ago this beefed up the european fighting man getting him ready to defeat the Islamic onslaught and quite frankly its pay back time

A thousand years ago? Not bloody likely.