OBL is dead. It was reported about 2-years ago. That is why we never see him in any new videos.

This video is a fake. Old footage (that is why his beard is dark) with spliced in new audio files.

Osama Bin Laden's widely reported video address to the American people has a peculiarity that casts serious doubt on its authenticity: the video freezes at about 1 minute and 36 seconds, and motion only resumes again at 12:30. The video then freezes again at 14:02 remains frozen until the end. All references to current events, such as the 62nd anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Japan, and Sarkozy and Brown being the leaders of France and the UK, respectively, occur when the video is frozen! The words spoken when the video is in motion contain no references to contemporary events and could have been (and likely were) made before the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

The audio track does appear to be in the voice of a single speaker. What I suspect was done is that an older, unreleased video was dubbed over for this release, with the video frozen when the audio track departed from that of the original video.

Posted by: FW_Guy at September 14, 2007 09:42 AM

On that fine day, I will buy you a drink, broham.

I don't think the thing's his work alone (assuming it's him). That POS is the work of a team.

Posted by: demophilus at September 11, 2007 12:57 AM

I think he referenced Scheuer by name for 2 reasons- first, he wants the US intel community to know that he is connected enough to read translated books about him by an expert that knows him best, the former head of Alec Station.
Second, he probably generally agrees with some of the observations in Through Our Enemy's Eyes/Imperial Hubris- i.e., that our leaders have failed to tell Americans the true reasons why Bin Ladin is attacking us and that the wars in Afghanistan/Iraq were a 'gifts' to AQ.
His diatribe reveals new levels of narcissism previously hidden, as well as reveals his general ignorance of America.Pretty amazing stuff, if this was truly his authorship.
He needs his couriers to expand his book list beyond Scheuer and Chomsky, return his Micheal Moore video rental, unsubscribe from Moveon.org's mailing list, then step outside for some fresh air.
With any luck, we'll have a predator loitering nearby.

Posted by: j house at September 10, 2007 10:42 PM

"More incredibly, his arguments dovetail those of the 'progressive left' and other American 'dissidents' like Noam Chomsky....clearly, this mass murderer is a fan. On Iraq, his criticisms of the WH sounded like Harry Reid at a press conference. Obviously, he has been reading up on critical voices of the present administration, as well as the American left's revisionism of American history."

It would be incredible if UBL's "arguments" in fact "dovetailed" those of the "progressive left" (whatever that is), but I don't recall anyone in American (or for that matter, France) calling for a worldwide Islamic caliphate.

As far as UBL's mindf*ck rant citing Chomsky, or anyone else, assuming the pose of a moderate or intellectual is Propaganda 101. If "the Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose", how could it be a surprise that UBL can quote Chomsky?

And how can the "endorsement" of a pathological, murderous egomaniacal liar be taken at face value, and not as a possible attempt to discredit the text "blessed"?

Sowing dissension in enemy ranks is an essential goal of propaganda. How could an Islamofascist not seek to exploit our free speech, and diversity of opinion, and seek to turn them against us?

The real beaut here is him citing Michael Scheuer -- reported to be the former head of CIA's AQ unit, which would make Scheuer the guy tasked with finding, if not killing him. Saying "I read your book" isn't like Oprah endorsing Cormac McCarthy; it's more like that scene in PATTON where Old Blood and Guts has read Rommel.

In both cases, "I read your book!" means "F*CK YOU -- I'm kicking your ass!"

And, one more small point: personally, I wouldn't diminish the role Stingers, satellite photos, or SIGINT played in the muj war effort. But, I'm a bit of a chauvinist at times, and a stickler for detail. YMMV.

Posted by: demophilus at September 10, 2007 03:37 PM

Re Jay's comment,

I will say this.There is not one shred of evidence the CIA funded or ran Bin Ladin as an agent, ever. This is an oft-repeated canard in the media, including the NYT, that has zero basis in fact.Where is the proof?
First, Bib Ladin never needed US help, nor asked for it. Second, even if we offered to help him directly, he would have refused. Third, he wasn't even on US intelligence radar screens until long after the war was over.
Anyone that knows the history of Bin Ladin and the Afghan conflict knows he was a minor player in the recruitment of the muj and concentrated his fundraising efforts within Saudi Arabia. There was plenty of money flowing from SA to the war effort in the 80's...they didn't need our help.
US efforts to fund, train and assist in the defeat of the Russians in Afghanistan have long been overstated. US funds and technology helped, but the Afghans and Arab jihadists have to be given credit where credit is due.

Posted by: j house at September 10, 2007 09:35 AM

This message was primarily for a Muslim audience, not the American people. He felt obligated to explain that, despite his warnings to the contrary, Americans went ahead and elected W again anyway, and having failed to persuade the USG to end the war in Iraq, continue their evil ways by championing freedom and support for US foreign policy and our failure to convert to Islam, we deserve what is coming next.
This latest diatribe makes it harder for those who argue Bin Ladin's objectives are soley based on US foreign policies re Israel and the Muslim world (ala Mike Scheuer, which he even mentions by name in his speech) and not democratic rule per se. He makes it clear he objects to democracy, capitalism and basically our way of life in the West, exactly what the WH has been saying all along.
More incredibly, his arguments dovetail those of the 'progressive left' and other American 'dissidents' like Noam Chomsky....clearly, this mass murderer is a fan. On Iraq, his criticisms of the WH sounded like Harry Reid at a press conference.Obviously, he has been reading up on critical voices of the present administration, as well as the American left's revisionism of American history.
Bin Ladin clearly understands the power of silence, something we have long forgotten in our present culture. The fact that he chose to release this now (not too suprising as we near (9/11 though) is troubling.
When is that B-52 taking off from Barksdale?

Posted by: j house at September 10, 2007 09:23 AM

Wow. Osama is alive, kind of. Does this mean he didn't have that sex change I heard about, move to New York, and become a waitress at Hooters? Or was that the whole Hooters reference? I'm kind of fuzzy there.

Posted by: The Krissy at September 10, 2007 03:06 AM

Assuming it isn't an imposter, and the beard's real, the dye job conveys an austere commitment to jihad. Ordinarily, the Koran forbids a dye job, except to show convey conviction to the unbelievers.

He's not doing the guerilla in a cave thing, with the Krinkov close at hand. Between that, the beard and the podium, and what we're told about AQ's core, I'd say they're repositioning him as a caliph, rather than a tactical commander. That makes him look statesmanlike, rather than an ineffectual loser, on the run.

Telling Americans to convert to Islam is so preposterous it's beyond comical. He can't be that stupid, though he might be insane. More likely, a good piece of this is aimed garnering support in the Muslim world, not at us at all.

AQ's probably lost the ability to hurt us as bad as 9/11, so all they can do is commemmorate the anniversary, and position themselves for a longer war. This has probably got more to do with taking down Pakistan and co-opting Europe, Asia, Islam and the Third World than it has anything to do with us.

That's all about context, a number of assumptions, and a deconstruction of the various psyops ploys I can see in the released transcript. Otherwise, the video is mindf*ck, pure and simple. Propaganda. If you hold to GIGO as an axiom, I wouldn't let this video alone be much grist for any analytical mill.

Tho', if I were in the "community", I'd take a good look at the some of his pointed references (Koran text, books). Like, before Tuesday. Orally coded messages tend to be stilted. All of the rambling may be a way of putting the artifice in "context".

Posted by: demophilus at September 9, 2007 06:14 PM

@txtzen
yes isn't perpetual war just great. seems to benefit both sides. NeoCons and Islamic fundamentalists alike.

unfortunately for the troops and civilians.

at least this new tape looks more real than the original faked one that was released after 9-11.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=x0FVeqCX6z8

but who knows.. maybe they are just getting better with makeup and/or lookalikes.

and are the CIA still hanging out with him?
like 2 months before 9-11 if you are to believe this report.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/waronterror/story/0,1361,584444,00.html

CIA and OBL was certainly best buddies during the Russian occupation of Afghanistan.

Posted by: Jay at September 9, 2007 02:47 AM

Zawahiri was saying how he wanted the US to stay in Iraq so that the Western forces could be killed. And he was happy that the west was in Iraq. That is like the NeoCon arguement, "we need to be in iraq to kill the terrorists, we are happy to be there, we want to be there a long time," and then bin laden comes in and talks about how he hates high taxes... that remind you of any neo cons?

Posted by: txzen at September 8, 2007 11:53 AM

LOL. The Hooters comment gave me a good laugh.

He seems a little different on this tape. Wondering what the focus is. It is almost like he is not talking to the American people but someone else. Maybe some sleepers are starting to like it and he is reminding them why we are the enemy.

Posted by: psece at September 8, 2007 09:37 AM