Anger at Bin Laden niece's reality TV show

[sabra]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1735738,00.html

Anger at Bin Laden niece's reality TV show
The Guardian


The news that Osama bin Laden's niece is to star in a US reality TV show has provoked fury from families of some of those killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The as yet unnamed series, being offered at auction to US television networks, will follow the California-born Wafah Dufour as she follows her "dream to make it in the music business", according to Regan Media, which is producing it.

Ms Dufour, a 27-year-old graduate of Columbia University law school, was born Wafah bin Ladin, the daughter of Carmen bin Ladin, former wife of the al-Qaida leader's half-brother Yeslam. "I understand that when people hear my last name, they have preconceived notions," Ms Dufour said in a statement. "But I was born in America and I love my country."

She has never met her uncle, she said, but Regan Media made no effort to deny that she owes her fame to the connection. "Her history and her quest for stardom will make a compelling television series: she is a musician, a young woman, and, most important, a human being," said the company's founder, Judith Regan."She is a young woman who falls in love, has her heart broken, worries about her looks, doesn't always listen to her mother, and hasn't spoken to her father in years."

A spokeswoman for the September 11th Families Association called the show "an absolute disgrace ... we urge every TV network and channel planning to run this series to think again. The very idea that the family of a man with so much blood on his hands should profit from some sort of instant celebrity is an outrage."

[Erika]

1. The Bush family had dealings with the Bin Ladens for decades

Or aren't they aware of that?

[LynnTheDem]

6. Was thinking same; when will they show outrage at bush's TV stunt

appearances?

He has far more blood on HIS hands than OBL does, including 2400 dead Americans.

[951-Riverside]

2. Hmmm.... makes me wonder.

If we were really attacked by cave men on sept 11th would we be in iraq, pass a ton of laws that punish our on citizens and to add salt to the wound give Wallafufu Bin Laden a TV show?.

[Copperred]

12. I'm still wondering if we were really attacked by caveman...

[Orangepeel]

3. would she be on TV if she wasn't his niece?

This woman isn't responsible for the sins of her uncle and deserves the opportunity to pursue a career. But, it is a disgrace to exploit her connection to Osama Bin Laden, which seems to be the case for the producers of the show and/or the network that buys it.

[DRoseDARs]

4. F'ing bigots, did ya' ever think that maybe she wants to distance herself

...by being as USAmerican (via brainless "reality" television) as she can be instead of being like her blood-thirsty savage uncle? Who cares if she uses the infamous name or not? What is with this "Sins of the Father" mentality people are having against her? :shrug:

Edit: "F'ing bigots" refering to the article, not anyone here.

[951-Riverside]

26. No

If she really wanted to distance herself she wouldnt be selling the fact that she is related to BIN LADEN but personally I think her "career" is a 'thank you' gift from the Bush family.

[Solon]

35. Why not actually read about her before you spout off nonsense...

She was EXPOSED by the New York POST before all this happened, the reality tv show, etc. She did NOT want to be associated with Osama Bin Laden, she's an American for crying out loud!

[IndianaGreen]

45. Islamophobia rears its ugly head again

Were she an American related to Oklahoma City terrorist Timothy McVeigh, you wouldn't be hearing this bullshit.

[951-Riverside]

53. ...uhhhh "Islamophobia" has nothing to do with it

and I seriously doubt she is a "Islamist" and as for her Uncle Bin Laden he doesnt represent islam so your point is useless and generic, I'm quite sure if Whatshername McVeigh showed her face right after the Oklahoma City bombing people would be pretty heated too.

[Name removed]

54. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GirlinContempt]

96. 'right after'?

It's 2006

[superconnected]

72. her entertainment company admits shes getting famous on the

bin laden name.

That's the problem. She should have stayed dufour if, she didn't plan on getting noticed because she's related to the terrorist, but on her talent.

[bluestateguy]

5. I would support tapping her phones (with a warrant)

The bin Laden family is not to be trusted. Their claims of having disowned Osama are not convincing.

[Erika]

7. but you have no problems with the Bush family ties to the Bin Laden

family? Interesting.

[bluestateguy]

8. Yes, that's exactly what I said. I must be a Bushbot now.

I guess you are a sergeant in the "Soft on Bush" police patrol.

I'm going to bed.

[Erika]

10. A simple explanation might do the job

You have a problem with a Bin Laden neice on TV when the Bush family has had a relationship for years?

[DRoseDARs]

11. Simply not jumping to conclusions might do the job, too...

...leave that to the freepers. That's the only thing they're really good at afterall. Don't want to take that away from them. ;)

[Erika]

13. It is a fact that the Bin Laden family has been doing business

with the Bush family for decades. There are no jumping to conclusions.

The W saw to it that the Bin Ladens were piloted out of the country right after 9/11 in violation of the no fly rules. Do a Google.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DRoseDARs]

25. .

.

[saigon68]

86. adios

[The Straight Story]

65. bush's phone is already tapped

So a moot point.

[bluestateguy]

41. I don't give explanations to people who put words in my mouth

You just up and assumed that I somehow was content with the Bush family relationship with the bin Ladens because I dared to be critical of this bin Laden girl getting a TV show, and didn't say anything about the Bush family/bin Laden collaboration.

It kind of reminds me of the people on DU who will criticize a Palestinian suicide bomber, but because they don't also denounce Israeli foreign policy in the same paragraph they are then attacked as apologists for the Likud Party.

If I'm going to be critical of bin Laden or his family must I also include an obligatory Bush-bashing paragraph in the same post, lest I be accused of going soft on Bush (a mortal sin at DU)? I have over 15,000 posts here, and over 10,000 posts here attacking the Bush family and his administration. I will not permit nitpickers to accuse me of being soft on Bush.

That's not the type of rhetorical game I will play.

[Solon]

49. You dare to critisize someone because of what family...

they are born into. Hence, that's bigotry, by definition.

[superconnected]

76. Gee I thought the people here were criticizing the fact that shes cashing

in on the name, and admits it.

[Solon]

81. Read the rest of the thread before spouting off...

Jesus H. Christ people are stupid, she was exposed by the New York Post, do you understand, she didn't, at first, WANT to be associated with her uncle, and who can blame her? No, she got some unwanted publicity, and decided to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse, so that is what she is doing, what's wrong with that?

[superconnected]

82. caught. True, I didn't read the whole thread or article.

[Solon]

83. At least you admit it...

Too bad Riverside believes in guilt by blood relation.

[Catrina]

90. The NY Post is a rightwing rag owned by Rupert Murdoch ~ it's quite

possible that they got a call from the Bush crowd asking them to 'expose' her ~ she seems to have a fairly remoted connection to Osama anyway. But if her 'career' wasn't going anywhere, and having a persona that was 'patriotic' but unfortunately, and fascinatingly connected to the world's most wanted man, might get her a job, I wouldn't put it past the Post to help out for a family friend of the Bin Ladens. It would be a risk, but then the Bush's were never known for their insight into people. Just like the Dubai Port deal.

They don't get that their hateful rhetoric, once out of the bag, can't be put back in, so when they decide that not all 'Islamists' are equal, they are shocked when their cultists don't go along.

[Solon]

92. That's the most convoluted BS I have ever read...

I mean, even the radio controlled airplanes caused 9/11 crowd makes more sense that what you just spouted. Your insinuations about Ms. Dufour's loyalties just disgust me. Here's a quarter, buy a clue, she is NOT liked by the rest of the family, she's a NATURAL BORN US CITIZEN, and is, for all practical purposes, disowned herself. Her mother is Swiss, she was born in California, her mother has been divorced from Osama's half-brother for over a decade, and she doesn't even LIKE the Bin Laden side of the family, she was supposed to be forced into an arranged marriage, for crying out loud, why the fuck would she want to go through that shit? Besides that, it would seem that if anything, Murdoch and Bush's connections would try to SABOTAGE her career by exposing her as Osama's neice, how many jobs and record deals did that cost her?

[DRoseDARs]

9. I don't believe that's what he said or was implying...

...but either way illegal wiretaps are illegal wiretaps are illegal wiretaps, no matter who they're on. Get a proper warrant first.

[superconnected]

75. I guess I missed the post where he said he didn't mind bushes

ties to the bin laden family.

It must exist, because otherwise it would make your post look like it came from a schitzophrenic.

[IndianaGreen]

44. I am glad you are not Attorney General!

In an Al-Qaeda world, she would be killed for her Western lifestyle.

Don't victimize someone because they have a relative that is a criminal!

[Devlzown]

14. Bad taste. Perfect for American tv.

John Gotti had a bunch of people killed and his family has their own reality show. Then there's that Flavor Flav show where those women threw away their self respect in the hope that they might gain some notoriety. The list goes on and on. I think the Bin Laden show will be par for the course.:puke:

[TreasonousBastard]

15. Methinks they protest too much...

and I'm really starting to get tired of some 9/11 families using the tragedy for their own purposes.

Yeah, she's being exploited because of her miserable uncle, but so what? Isn't that what we do best here?

After Paris HIlton, what could be so bad?

[Erika]

17. How about linking the Bushes with the Bin Ladens?

The public need to know.

[TreasonousBastard]

20. Ask the people bitching about this...

it's public knowledge about the Bush/bin Laden connection, but no one really cares. Nor do I very much.

The bin Ladens were, and I suppose still are, an enormous company that pretty much everyone in the Middle East dealt with at some time or other. They built a lot of stuff over there, and most of the family seems to be more commercial than political.

Unless there's good evidence that the rest of the family supported that murderous black sheep in his insanity, I have a real problem with "sins of the fathers" and assuming guilt by association.

There's enough on Shrub without assuming all bin Ladens are the enemy.

[DRoseDARs]

22. "but no one really cares. Nor do I very much" Oh lord, now you've done it

I agree with Erika that these connections need to be driven home with the US public. To dismiss them as "business as usual" is folly and will only serve to encourage further cronyism et al.

[TreasonousBastard]

24. What connections? The bin Ladens are one of the...

biggest construction companies over there, and everyone doing business there deals with them at some point.

We all know Shrub is a thievin' bastard, and there were all sorts of dirty deals done when his father was President, but that doesn't indict the bin Ladens-- just the Bush family for other things they did.

They dealt with a lot of other Arab companies, too-- are all of them suspect? If the bin Ladens are or were doing something rotten, get it out but pointing fingers at the family simply because they begat Osama is wrong.

Again-- there's enough on Shrub we don't have to grasp at straws like this.

[rpannier]

39. You know. As strange as this may sound

I agree with you 100%. Let's be fair here. The bin Laden family is huge. Osama's father had a really large number of children (I don't remember the exact number off hand). But for people to take the approach that every member of that family is somehow in cahoots with the scrub family is really silly (IMO). And this woman is a granddaughter.
If someone on the left was being painted for some sin of a relative with that broad a brush, we'd be outraged, screaming about how narrow minded the freak republikkans were being and how awful the MSM was.

[DRoseDARs]

19. Paris Hilton was the first person that came to mind as I read the article

What a pair of vapid leaches.

[Solon]

18. Anybody know her history?

No? Then STFU! Jesus H. Christ on a popsicle stick, do any of you have any shame? This woman is a US CITIZEN, not to mention that her mother divorced Osama's Half-Brother over a decade ago and had to FLEE to Europe because of it, with daughters in tow. As far as her relations to her Uncle, she hasn't spoken to him since she was a small child. Is she to pay for the sins of the family, I thought we were better than that.

[tocqueville]

21. good Xians punish people in generations....

:sarcasm:

[Solon]

23. You know what I find funny...

Seeing a picture of her, and yes, I think she's hot, but more than that, she wouldn't be in the good graces of her "conservative" side of the family for anytime in the near future. She's too western thinking, not to mention the half-naked spreads she's been doing for magazines, I don't think Osama wants anything to do with her, nor she him. Also, I believe that she is actually a natural born citizen of the United States, but I could be wrong.

[TreasonousBastard]

27. Born in California, and her mother is Swiss...

lived in Saudi Arabia for a while until her mother dumped her father, and she's estranged from her father because she won't agree to an arranged marriage or much of the other Arab cultural stuff. Changed her name to her mother's maiden name.

She's trying to break into the music business, and may have an album coming out soon. Told everyone from GQ to Barbara Walters that she has nothing whatsoever to do with her crazy uncle, or much of the rest of the family for that matter.

This is someone to be afraid of? A terrorist sympathizer?

For the tinfoil hat crowd-- she was living in NYC, but on 9/11 she visited her mother in Geneva. Make that into a full-blown conspiracy if you will.

[Solon]

29. Yeah, that sounds like what I heard...

Not to mention that she was keeping a low profile to avoid the notoriaty of being Osama's neice up till the New York Post exposed her, so saying that she is using him to jump start her career is disingenous. Hell, someone in an above post says that she should be wiretapped, with a warrent that apparently can't be issued anyways, being an estranged family member does NOT qualify as probably cause.

[TreasonousBastard]

32. Warrant?

"We don't need no steenking warrant."

[IndianaGreen]

46. Racism is the cornerstone of American culture

and Islamophobia is a component of it.

Some DUers would have gladly put Americans of Japanese descent in concentration camps after Pearl Harbor, but they woujldn't call themselves racists.

[951-Riverside]

59. hey we agree on something

and Islamophobia is a component of it.

It may be but like I said before, I doubt Whatshername Bin Laden is an Islamist and well Osama has nothing to do with Islam either.

Some DUers would have gladly put Americans of Japanese descent in concentration camps after Pearl Harbor, but they woujldn't call themselves racists.

Come on that was over 60 years ago get with the times now we have Gitmo Bay were we kidnap innocent brown people around the world and tourture them for fun :puke: , now go on freerepublic and ask them if they are Racists for supporting this.

We both know the answer.

Edited: to correct tag issue

[IndianaGreen]

61. Her name is Wafah Dufour

or do you see her as a mere object too?

The human rights reports from Guantanamo and from former prisoners is that they were indeed tortured for fun by sadistic guards, and that most people there are innocent.

I guess you also support Bush's gulag...

[951-Riverside]

64. Whathername Darfur Region Bin Laden... I got it

or do you see her as a mere object too?

No I see her as a rich woman riding off the fact she related to Osama Bin laden.

The human rights reports from Guantanamo and from former prisoners is that they were indeed tortured for fun by sadistic guards, and that most people there are innocent.

Whats the point of repeating what I just said?

I guess you also support Bush's gulag...

Show me where you got that idea, I'm waiting.

Provide quotes too.

[Azathoth]

28. The more controversy, the higher the ratings will be

The 9/11 Families Association should really think hard about how much attention they want to draw to this project. Launching a public media campaign against the show might not be the best idea. (Passion Of The Christ anyone?)

[PBass]

30. Isn't Judith Regan the publisher of right wing books?

And Bernard Kerick's booty call for afternoon trysts overlooking the World Trade Center rubble?

[Azathoth]

34. Yup

She's definately a gal who knows how to court controversy.

[raccoon]

48. Not to mention THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.

Remember that? in the late 80's was it?

I might not have gone to see it if there hadn't been so much brouhaha about it.

You're right on the money--it's all about the ratings.

[CJCRANE]

31. Shouldn't they be more angry

that Bushco still haven't caught Osama?

Or that countries from which funds were transferred to the 9/11 hijackers are now Bushco's "allies in the war on terror"?

Or that * ignored dozens of warnings before 9/11?

Or that 9/11 was used as a pretext to attack Iraq?

[saigon68]

36. The families of the stock and bond brokers killed

need to focus on the Chimpanzee.

In this culture of victimization, they have shot their wad.

The sheep only care about Jessica Simpson's marital problems, Beyonce, Natalie Holloway and other blond girls who have disappeared.

This show will be a hit (where is Paris Hilton? She could have a co-starring role)

[Generator]

85. Oh fuck now you did it

By saying the families of the stock and bond brokers-you are implying they were rich and thus deserved to die. And you will say oh I am not-but here we have a thread defending Ms. Relative to Osama (which I actually get-she's not guilty of anything) because she's just who she is. BUT FUCK if that doesn't say everything I do sometimes DESPISE about the LEFT-which is jealousy and PURE HATRED of anyone with money. Like reading posts about how rich Kerry was and THAT's why he's evil. And yes, of course, lots of average people died on that day-not just those hated stock and bond brokers. Waiters. And firemen. And REGULAR humans.

What I see on this thread I saw on threads back in my days on Mom's who Think-which was a mixed board. HATRED of those 9/11 relatives. (mostly because of how much money they were getting-the lower classes always hate each other for that) And now this post and others-yeah they are responsible for IRAQ. NO, their grief was used to fuel the horror that is Iraq. I think that attitude stinks. I despise your sentiment. EAT the rich huh? I hope to hell you are bloody poor and thus if you die you are "innnocent."

[Mythsaje]

33. Give the kid a break...

That can't be light baggage to be hauling around, especially if she sees herself as an American. If she can sing, all the better.

What better way to snub everything her uncle stands for than to be an idol in the land he despises? It has a certain delicious irony.

[bowens43]

37. Unbelievable.... why don't they take their millions and STFU.

These people are not heroes and not any ore important then any other family that has lost a loved one to violence , including the families of the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have been killed by the US.

[PBass]

38. It's just unbelievably crass, that's all...

kind of like a post-murder trial "dating" show starring OJ Simpson... ("Back in the Singles Scene with O.J.")

The bad thing about this news story is that a lot of people think that the Media is Liberal, or Hollywood is Liberal (maybe it is, maybe it isn't, it doesn't matter. That is many peoples' perception though). So this show may appear to be a Liberal slap in the face to common sense.

The good news is that the show sounds like a turkey and hopefully no network will buy it.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

42. Judith Regan is the head of the producing company.

She's a major FOX News neocon, though, surprisingly, she has published Michael Moore as well.

[Generator]

87. Take your millions and shut the fuck up

kinda sounds unbelievably crass to me. (but you had no problem with that lovely comment) But yeah-let's blame the 9/11 families for Iraq, racism, torture and anything else that we can find. This thread as me as disgusted as I've ever been on DU.

[IndianaGreen]

56. She is an innocent American!

Get a fucking grip and go sing GAWD Bless Amerika and shoute praises to Jay-zeus some place else!

Why punish an innocent person? Haven't we killed 100 innocents for every person killed on 9/11? When will our thirst for revenge end?

Just wait when those we have wronged decide to take revenge on us!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

94. The poster was referring to the 9/11 families, not the Bin Ladens.

Not that we should give a damn about what the Bin Ladens think in the first place.

[NoGOP]

40. I won't watch it...........

It just seems like it would be pretty boring.

[IndianaGreen]

43. Get a freeking life, or seek some therapy!

Osama has been the black sheep of the bin Laden family for eons, and to hold a relative responsible for OBL's crimes smacks to me more of racism than anything else.

Get a life!

[zbdent]

47. Gee, you would think that the neocons would be all for

her reality show . . . just in a different format.

Every week, a different method of torture televised, including the "Sweeps month" rapes . . .

I mean, they're happy to torture Iraqis who had nothing to do with anything except the fact that they were available when another Iraqi who wanted a quick buck got a reward . . .

[sakabatou]

50. Who wnats to bet that the show will last only 1 season?

[progressivebydesign]

51. Did they complain about the Gotti family's show???

Or perhaps the Bush family's close ties with the Bin Ladens.

[951-Riverside]

57. I remember someone did complain I just can't find the story

[PBass]

74. Yep, a lot of people complain about the Gotti show (eom)

[Dragonbreathp9d]

52. The Bin Laden family hates him for the most part

thats why they kicked him out

[951-Riverside]

58. "Look at ME I'm related to Osama Bin Laden but but but....

I hate the guy but but but watch the show because I'm related to BIN LADEN but but but I have nothing to do with Osama Bin Laden!" *sigh*

Quite frankly I'm sick of the Bushes I'm sick of the Bin Ladens they are all rich privileged assholes that don't give a damn what other people think its all about THEM THEM THEM THEM THEM!!!!!!!

[wordpix2]

55. is this Regan related to St. Ronnie's Chief-of-Staff Don Regan?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Regan

[UTUSN]

63. Don't think so, but she has her own hot history with Bernard KERIK & other

A couple of her men:

http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/media/columns/medialife/152/

*********QUOTE********

.... Then Judith and Rupert found each other -- and ReganBooks was born. Not only did their commercial instincts mesh, but Judy's what's-the-world-ever-done-for-me politics were highly compatible with the Murdoch view.

And then the sex part. It's a one-woman show.

I have never heard anyone talk about sex the way Judy does. I have never heard anyone talk about their sexual partners the way Judy does. I have never heard anyone analyze individual motivations, the workings of the marketplace, and politics, too, in such precisely sexual terms. The other day, on her show, she kept interrupting her tempered guests on the subject of why women like Bill Clinton, and, voice rising, saying: "They want to have sex with him -- that's why they like him!"

Early in her career at Simon & Schuster, she published a book called The Rogue Warrior and fought tooth and nail for a full-face cover photo of the author. "Don't they understand?" she stormed to me. "Women will buy this because they want to fuck him!" She got the full face and a best-seller.

http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical/newlow.htm

Regan looked straight into the camera and for almost 10 minutes, delivered a pseudo stream-of-consciousness poetry riff mocking Clinton. Referring to his sad boyhood, she mocked his loneliness, then proclaimed that he built himself up and called himself KING, because "I am rich and I can do what I want!" She likened him to the cast out Socks, and envisioned him an old man meeting up with Socks at 125th street, both holding tin cups. ....

It was incredibly vicious. What was especially appalling was how she took the most painful aspects of Bill's background--his truly grievous childhood--and twisted them, using them to mock him. If this wasn't the "politics of personal destruction" I don't know how else you could describe this horrific display. ....

-----------

And I (the poster) will claim credit for insight. Back when KERIK's book for REGAN was debutting, she hosted him on her Faux interview show. His tale was of his missing mother, who inexplicably abandoned him as a tot. She never showed up for a custody hearing. The premise of the book was that this tough uber-male had this hole in his heart, thereby setting the pants on fire of tough wingnuts of all genders. As she probed him about the book, she and KERIK locked smouldering, HOT gazes. Once the mother-thing was done, she moved on to his heroics (which were what?) on 9-11. She asked WHERE HE WAS when the planes hit. Without missing an eye-lock, he said, "Stepping out of the shower." She swallowed and held a long breath. The image of nekkid KERRIK was plainly etched on the Faux camera lens during the LONG pause. He added, "In my office." Another LONG pause. He added, "After WORKING OUT." There was another swallow. I suspected BACK THEN that something was cooking between publisher and author, and it weren't spaghetti. Only 2 or 3 years later, when KERIK's many other past deeds floated to the surface like dead bodies did it become official that there was indeed WILD WINGNUT HOT LOVE between the two, that the two of them alternated their HOT WINGNUT LOVE sessions with WORKING OUT together, that he had used NYPD to track down what happened to his mother, that he used NYPD to provide security for his personal WILD WINGNUT HOT LOVE, that the LOVENEST was a city-paid apartment near the WTC intended as a rest site for rescue and recovery workers. It was pure musk in the air. Why don't Shrub's handlers hire some of US for intelligence work?

[Catrina]

91. *lol* ~ so this whole reality show thing was cooked up by Rupert Murdoch

and Judith Regan ~ probably as a favor for the very wealthy Bin Ladens, whose relative wanted a career, but who really isn't very talented.

They decide to use Murdoch's rightwing rag to 'expose' the poor thing, thereby giving her an 'interesting' although 'tragic' aspect to her life, not to mention instant name recognition.

The whole thing is a set-up imo ~ poor girl, she is blighted by her family name, WHICH she changed because she's an American patriot and was hoping to keep her family name secret, out of shame for being related to the terrorist.

It's too, too suspicious that the 'outing' was by Murdoch's rag, and the promoter is an old friend of Murdoch ~ and the Bin Ladens are friends of Bush et al.

As if we need another 'reality' show!!

[Ex Lion Tamer]

60. I'm angry too.

Yet another "reality" TV show. Pathetic.

[951-Riverside]

62. LOL!

I'm sick of scripted shows with cheap production being passed off as reality tv.

[annofark]

66. super lame

I think it is pathetic that we made this girl...just because of her last name ... psuedo famous enough that she was able to get her own reality show.

She is a big nothing as far as I am concered...since when does anybody seek another out because of their uncles "fame"

[951-Riverside]

67. Ask the Bush family.

[Megahurtz]

68. I agree.

What a joke that a nobody can just go out and get their own Reality TV Show.:puke:

[shrike]

69. Would she have her own reality show if her name were Smith?

No. 'Nuff said.

[IndianaGreen]

70. This is America, anyone can become a TV personality!

or do you deny this blameless young American woman an opportunity simply because of a man she is distantly related to and that she has never met or have any sympathies for? I suppose the fact that her mother divorced her husband doesn't count either to your "compassionate" heart.

What a great humanity you display!

She has never met her uncle, she said, but Regan Media made no effort to deny that she owes her fame to the connection. "Her history and her quest for stardom will make a compelling television series: she is a musician, a young woman, and, most important, a human being," said the company's founder, Judith Regan."She is a young woman who falls in love, has her heart broken, worries about her looks, doesn't always listen to her mother, and hasn't spoken to her father in years."

[superconnected]

73. the "blameless" woman would be a lot less blameless if

she made it a point of making it off her talent, and not because she's a bin laden. - which her entertainment company admits she is doing.

The artical says her last name is dufour. Why can't she stick with that and keep her mouth shut about being a bin laden.

she's trying to CASH IN on bin ladens name, admittedly.

[IndianaGreen]

79. She is not cashing in on the bin Laden name

and you are not G-d to render judgment on someone you apparently have taken little time to know anything about it.

[shrike]

97. Nope. I don't buy it.

She got the show because of the Bin Laden name. Simple as that.

[IndianaGreen]

71. For those cold-hearted DUers that wish this woman ill

Wafah Dufour speaks exclusively with
Barbara Walters on "20/20." (ABC News)

I won't be sorry this time for using Drudge as source, who exhibits the same "compassion" some have in here:

"It is all so tough for me . . . I just cannot be afraid anymore," said Osama bin Laden's niece, tears streaming down her beautiful face. "I am lost. I don't fit anywhere. I am American. I want to live here. This is my home. I was born here. God blessed me with this passport of freedom.

"But because of this last name that I have nothing to do with, the Western world hates me. And because I've chosen American values, the Saudi Arabian world hates me.

"What have I to do with Bin Laden? My mother lived in Saudi Arabia only five years, and for 15 has fought for a divorce. However, a Saudi wife can't be divorced if the husband fights it, and to be sure, she can't marry again — my father won't allow it. I haven't even seen him since I'm 18.

"We are estranged from his entire family since I'm 10. I'm carrying a burden that has nothing to do with me.

"My father, Yeslam, is half brother to Osama. I never met Osama. Never even saw him. My father's father had 22 wives. I have 53 uncles and aunts, 300 cousins. It's way over 400 people. Tons I've never even met. The Bin Ladin family is a village."

http://www.drunkreport.com/reports/osamaniece.htm

Her mother didn't get a dime from the bin Laden fortune:

"I am trying to live the American dream. I was educated here. My mother, who has no money because my father won't give her any, paid for my master's in Columbia. Thank God my blessed mother, who's half Swiss, half Persian and is my everything, took her daughters away to Switzerland, or else I, too, would be forced into life under the veil. She left for freedom, which is what America believes in. That's all I want. The freedom to not be scared all the time."

Perhaps some of you won't be satisfied until Wafah Dufour is executed as an heretic by some Islamic radical. Shame!

Singer Sheds Bin Laden Name, Aims for Stardom

The shockwaves from 9/11 reverberated through the entire bin Laden family. Osama's youngest brother, Abdullah bin Ladin, previously spoke with "20/20," telling Walters he barely knew Osama and was living in Boston on Sept. 11, 2001. He returned to Saudi Arabia almost immediately, fearing harassment.

At the time, Wafah bin Ladin, as she was known then, had been living in New York and attending Columbia Law School. But on the day of the terror attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., she was visiting her mother in Switzerland and recalls hearing the news.

"They were starting to say bin Laden did this, bin Laden did that … and I was so numb because I couldn't even believe what was happening in New York," said Dufour. "It was my home."

She said she was both ashamed and concerned about what people would think of her family. "It's such a big family but in the United States or in Europe people don't really realize how big of a family it is, how many relatives there are."

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=814296&page=1

[superconnected]

77. that is an ugly man-woman.

It looked fine till I looked closer at the face.

Then I had to try to figure out if it was a man in drag.

[IndianaGreen]

80. Spare me the sexism and racism!

She looks no different from many Israeli or Jordanian women. Perhaps if she had aryan features like Debra LaFave, the Tampa teacher that had sex with one of her students...


LaFave

[superconnected]

84. sexism, racism?

I'll call it like I see it.

Poor, poor woman.

The make-up could have been done a lot better, to not exemplify the manly features.

I don't think I trust that article. She's making some pretty big english errors for someone born in america and who has embraced america. I'm not saying immigrants don't often have issues with the language. But I work in a place that is very multicultural - most of the people here are second language, and the mistakes she's making when refering to the word "I'm" is too much like she really doesn't use english on any regular basis.

"I haven't even seen him since I'm 18.

"We are estranged from his entire family since I'm 10."

That from a 27 yo Columbia University Law School graduate, who says she's a "young" person seeking instant fame on tv and as a musician. Sure, makes total sense. Now lets see I've worked with a ton of actors and none of them has yet been to be a law school grad. Not saying it couldn't happen...

"God blessed me with this passport of freedom. " - wonder why she said that, maybe it's nothing

"To the Arab community, I am an 'infidel.' My mother worries that some fundamentalist will do away with me. Even here, I am frightened. I'm victimized by association. I stay under the radar, since, because of my name, people here feel I have harmed them. But I can't keep hiding. I can't live this way. I ask nothing but to be accepted in the United States."
- okay she's scared for her life, and living under the radar but outing herself for fame.

"she's hired savvy Richard Valvo, who for six years handled p.r. for Star and the Enquirer" - that's a pretty big pr guy to hire for a "girl" who doesn't have any money.

I'm not so sure this isn't a bush-bin laden pr stunt.

[Solon]

93. self delete n/t

[Starbucks Anarchist]

95. What kind of logic is that?

He thinks one person is not physically attractive, and that makes him a racist?

I think Paris Hilton's ugly (in more ways than one), so does that make me racist against whites?

[entanglement]

89. Wow! So much hate! Another faux "liberal" exposed.

[PBass]

78. Please get a grip on yourself...

"For those cold-hearted DUers that wish this woman ill"

Pardon me? Wish her ill? In another post you said DU was "denying her an opportunity". Get a grip on yourself, I see nothing here except a whole lot of yawning.

[AlCzervik]

88. huh, Judith Regan, doer of Bernard Kerik and former Faux host--who knew?

[maddezmom]

98. locking

Thread has turned into a flamewar and circular arguments.