The Tape?

[Morlock]

I don't know if anyone follows the news, but a tape pf Bin-Laden has just today been released,and it was to long to watch.
Does anyone know the jist of it?

[EMINEM]

It's a smoking gun.

OBL is caught on tape boasting about the WTC and Pentagon destruction and expressing awe at the extent of the damage, which apparently exceeded his own expectations. It won't do much to alter American foreign policy, but it should help to alleviate international concern over the justification of the war in Afghanistan. Muslim fundamentalist will regard it as nothing more than propaganda, however.

[Kayless]

You can find more details here.

[Shadow Sandrock]

O_O I hope they catch that man!

*yells in Relena voice* Heero kill that man!

[fable]

Let me get this straight: bin Ladan makes a tape for no conceivable reason of himself gloating over the September massacre, in front of a camera--after the fact. Then, the tape somehow gets dropped off in a street, in a city. Then, it gets picked up, and brought to Americans, who can't name where they got it from, and find time to subtitle it.

What's wrong with this picture?

[McBane]

@ Fable - Are you suggesting the US government fabricated information???

We ignorant Americans are too clever to be fooled by our government.

[Sojourner]

And for those naysayers:

Go here.

[FudD]

it really doesn't matter if he "did it" or not...he and his friends are going down....eventually, and if you think it's not possible for our government to fabricate sumthing to fit their desires....welp all i can say is you're really ignorant

and if sumone else is guilty...i keep my fingers crossed that sumwhere down the line the get 86ed also....and any other $*&#@% that think its a good thing to kill and destroy in the name of whatever...

[fable]

Originally posted by Sojourner:
<STRONG>And for those naysayers:

Go here.</STRONG>

I'm missing your point. bin Ladan has been giving out interviews to a few select journalists for about a decade, now. One played on the BBC about a month ago; I heard it.

If anything, the extreme security of Al-Quy'dah in terms of recorded interviews only makes the idea of a third party secretly taping bin Ladan even more unlikely. Not to mention the fact that the permitted interviews were with big name journalists who would hardly leave their tapes sitting around on the ground in major cities.

[ 12-14-2001: Message edited by: fable ]

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by fable:
<STRONG>Let me get this straight: bin Ladan makes a tape for no conceivable reason of himself gloating over the September massacre, in front of a camera--after the fact. Then, the tape somehow gets dropped off in a street, in a city. Then, it gets picked up, and brought to Americans, who can't name where they got it from, and find time to subtitle it.

What's wrong with this picture?</STRONG>

Actually, that's what's right with the picture. It's already known that OBL is clever and all that. That was proved in the complexities of 9-11. I wouldn't put it past him to make such a tape and purposely let it end up in the hands of the American government. They would then, of course, immediately start using it to show OBL is, beyond any doubt, the perpetrator. Then, intelligent people like fable(no offense meant here) and others would see the "problems" with this picture. As more and more people see the "problems" with the picture, it spreads more distrust of the government as more people wonder if the government fabricated this tape. As distrust grows between the people and the government, the country starts to become divided, which is exactly what OBL wants because he knows that the only chance he has to win is if America, and the countries allied with the US, become to divided to work effectively. While a bit desperate and very risky, it seems to me exactly the type of thing someone like OBL would do. What do you think?

[fable]

Originally posted by Sailor Saturn:
<STRONG>Actually, that's what's right with the picture. It's already known that OBL is clever and all that. That was proved in the complexities of 9-11. I wouldn't put it past him to make such a tape and purposely let it end up in the hands of the American government. They would then, of course, immediately start using it to show OBL is, beyond any doubt, the perpetrator. Then, intelligent people like fable(no offense meant here) and others would see the "problems" with this picture. As more and more people see the "problems" with the picture, it spreads more distrust of the government as more people wonder if the government fabricated this tape. As distrust grows between the people and the government, the country starts to become divided, which is exactly what OBL wants because he knows that the only chance he has to win is if America, and the countries allied with the US, become to divided to work effectively. While a bit desperate and very risky, it seems to me exactly the type of thing someone like OBL would do. What do you think?</STRONG>

You've got quite a clever idea there, @SS. I'm just not sure that bin Ladan is that devious. Bush isn't making matters any better by insisting (as I've just heard) that anybody who questions the veracity of the tape is "making the best case of a very evil man." Surely Dubbyah is smart enough to realize that the morality of a person has nothing to do with the truth (or otherwise) of that strange tape.

[Sailor Saturn]

Originally posted by fable:
<STRONG>Bush isn't making matters any better by insisting (as I've just heard) that anybody who questions the veracity of the tape is "making the best case of a very evil man." Surely Dubbyah is smart enough to realize that the morality of a person has nothing to do with the truth (or otherwise) of that strange tape.</STRONG>

I'm not sure I understand what it is Bush is saying there. I'm not sure I understand what you're saying either. But, then again, I try to not pay close attention to politics. I'm sure this makes me just another ignorant American, but I've got more than enough problems to worry about.

[Lazarus]

Originally posted by fable:
<STRONG>Let me get this straight: bin Ladan makes a tape for no conceivable reason of himself gloating over the September massacre, in front of a camera--after the fact. Then, the tape somehow gets dropped off in a street, in a city. Then, it gets picked up, and brought to Americans, who can't name where they got it from, and find time to subtitle it.

What's wrong with this picture?</STRONG>

Do you doubt the veracity of the tape?

Do you doubt that bin Laden is a terrorist?

Just curious.

[McBane]

I can't speak for Fable, but I believe he is a terrorist (Bin Laden, not Fable), but am skeptical of the tape. I also believe he was behind the attack.

But, why would he be videotaped? If it was secretly taken, why is it just coming out now? It just seems a little too neat.

Just my opinion.

[Lazarus]

Originally posted by McBane:
<STRONG>I can't speak for Fable, but I believe he is a terrorist (Bin Laden, not Fable), but am skeptical of the tape. I also believe he was behind the attack.

But, why would he be videotaped? If it was secretly taken, why is it just coming out now? It just seems a little too neat.

Just my opinion.</STRONG>

I agree: bin Laden is a terrorist, and was involved in the planning of the 11 September attacks.

Why would he allow himself to be videotaped? Who knows? We can start with: he is completely insane and irrational. That is as good a reason as any, IMO.

But this idea that the US government is making this tape up; well, you have to ask the same question you are asking on behalf of bin Laden: why? GW Bush has shown no great need or desire to garner support or prove guilt (I think more intimidation has occured than anything else to get people "on our side"), and the hunt for bin Laden is coming rapidly to a close - so why should they produce this tape now in an attempt to convince people of bin Laden's guilt?

Call me a dupe, but I have no reason to doubt that tape. I might also add that the tape itself changes my opinion of bin Laden not one whit. He is sick and dangerous, and the world would be a better place without him.