ABC: The Story Behind the OBL Death Story (rumor passed @ party)

[sabra]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/the_story_behin.html

The Story Behind the OBL Death Story

The now-denied reports that Osama bin Laden was dead grew out of a rumor passed at an embassy party in Islamabad by a Saudi diplomat attaché, according to intelligence sources in France and Pakistan.

The sources say Saudi Deputy Chief of Mission in Islamabad, Abdullah Zahani, told a French defense attaché of the rumors. The French attaché reportedly felt duty bound to pass on the rumors, in a cable sent with the lowest possible classification normally used to pass on media reports.

A French newspaper apparently obtained the cable and the report on Saturday touched off an international, day-long media panic over bin Laden’s possible demise.

French and Pakistani officials say the Saudis are spending millions of dollars to obtain information in Pakistan from local clerics, journalists, politicians and militants who either have or claim to have contacts in the Al Qaeda community in Pakistan.

[Quakerfriend]

1. So, it was all just rumor??

[Bluzmann57]

2. Problem is that ABC has zero credibility

at least in my eyes. They are the network which aired that 9/11 movie, docu-drama, whatever one calls it so they can't have much credibility. Anyway, whether bin laden is dead or alive, the fact of the matter is that the bushites didn't bring him to justice and they should be ashamed about that. They should also be booted out of office for that.

[rocktivity]

22. DING DING DING! Bluzmann57, you're our grand prize winner!

Problem is that ABC has zero credibility...

Yeah, funny how only THEY'RE running with this story, isn't it? Combine it with ABC's 9/11 duplicity and the "need" of Bush to "keep" Bin Laden alive, and now I'm supposed to believe it was all based on a rumor. And if it really was a rumor, why did it end up in a classified document, and WHY WASN'T IT IDENTIFED AS A RUMOR?

:headbang:
rocknation

[IndianaGreen]

27. You are right, ABC has the same credibility problems the Pentagon has

The fact remains that this story is still reverberating. Even Saudi security said today that Bin Laden has a water-borne illness. Shall we say TYPHOID? Isn't that what killed OBL according to French intelligence's Saudi source?

[Binka]

3. So Was Mr Zahani Imbibing An Adult Beverage At The Time?

This sounds like the kind of shit people say when they are hammered.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. I thought Muslims weren't allowed to drink

unless of course they are hijackers living in the US.

[Binka]

7. I Lived In The ME For A Couple Of Years And Let Me Tell You

The men PARTY! Especially the upscale western ones. Wanna see some pictures of some drunken Omani guys? I'll dig them up for you! :toast:

[Lochloosa]

14. I agree. My stepmother was in the ME with the State Dept.

The stories she has told me. :toast: :party:

[jobycom]

17. Christians aren't allowed to eat lobster, either. nt.

[JoFerret]

28. Nor covet their neighbors wives

.

[tabasco]

26. Or military officers here in training.

The Saudi officers that came to train with us drank like fish.

One got so hammered he couldn't open his door. Passed out on a walkway and rolled off. 30 feet down.

[Truthiness Inspector]

4. Amazing

Wonder if the next "big news" will be after a game of telephone? :eyes:

[merci_me]

6. OTOH and then again OTOH

maybe he is dead and your last paragraph explains the denials. If the locals in Pakistan are getting millions for their info and Osama isn't alive, the millions will start to fizzle.

OR he's dead, but the WH wanted it quiet for two more weeks, so now we have a round of denials, while they concoct a new story of "why" he's dead. Something so much better for them than typhoid.

[peacetalksforall]

8. My rule for people who benefit the most from planted lies is -

don't believe any of the fist six claims they make.

This WH is not going to get much political capital if he dies for health reasons. They will have to live forever with the truth that they never captured him, even partnering with British and Israeli intelligence. It's a pox on Israel and Britain as well as PNAC. They had:
. the absolute best in technology
. the stated cooperation of the host President
. access to native speakers, most especially from Israel and Britain
. the use of satellites that can read license plates

It will be proved that they protected and used him no matter how he dies.

[Javaman]

9. Ahhh the awesome power of bullshit...

So here is my new rumor, granted I'm not part of the diplomatic corp or have 4 sheets to the wind or a sycophant of moron*, but here it goes, "I have it on great intel that W wears womens panties". There I have said it. It's my rumor. I heard it from some guy named bob who works for a major news mag. He saw W prancing around in tighty whitie womens shear wear singing Carol Channing tunes. Not only that, he was also dry humping the lawn gnomes.

[calimary]

13. Put it the way Pox "news" balloon-head neil cavuto always does -

with a question mark. Don't state it, ASK it.

DOES dubya wear womens' panties? Did it come from some insider photographing laura for "W" - the high-fashion magazine? The irony here is delicious! Hey, I'm JUST ASKING...

[applegrove]

10. Too bad. Bin Laden is no good. But if he has typhoid..would it not

be easier to find him? You just have to look for typhoid break-outs!!!

[Demeter]

11. This Is So Lame, He Must Be Dead!

This is a case of proving with lame excuses.

[uppityperson]

12. Golly thanks ABC! Need another source.

ABC's credibility is pretty poor in my book

[BlueJackal]

15. So we base international news on cocktail party gossip??!? nt

[ProgressiveEconomist]

16. Who would benefit if once again, shortly before an election, bin Laden

pops up and says, "I'm still not dead!"?

To me, this "rumor" sounds like, "Paging Osama bin Laden -- Please report to the white courtesy phone". Consider the TIMING, and the likely plans Karl Rove has for playing the "terra" card for the third national election in a row.

[jobycom]

18. Next rumor: he converted to Scientology and married Rachel Ray.

Who knows whether he's dead or alive. He was hiding in a cave during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. He was hiding in a cave on 9-11. Maybe he's hiding in a mobile home in Flagstaff now.

[NOLADEM]

19. A FUCKING PARTY RUMOR????

What is next, a game of fucking telephone?

Words escape me that could describe the incredulity that pulses in my mind. How can anyone in journalism keep a job with bullshit like this getting ink?

Why are people so willing to give sources who write and re-print such idiotic silliness the second chance over and over again?

Why are Americans so willing to be lied to? It is like an abused spouse making excuses for the bruises.

[progressoid]

20. Doesn't really matter if he's dead or alive - the prezledent doesn't give

a shit about him one way or the other anyway.

[Generator]

21. I feel the same way about Mr. Laden being alive

Prove it. NO, not just the CIA. Really prove it. And prove those last zillion tapes and video (so conveniently before the election of 2004) were really him. Because I doubt trust the CIA any more than I trust ABC news. I guess I just have a problem with acronyms.

[Supersedeas]

23. Election Cycle Party News, ya know -- Corp Media just has to distribute

[TroglodyteScholar]

24. This RUMOR made international news?

Maybe I should start a RUMOR that Bush and his whole misAdministration have resigned in disgrace.

[DemInDistress]

25. abc should do another "fakeumentary" on how bush killed

osama bin laden. bush knew by not hunting for him he'd die sooner or later, seems by rumor it came sooner.


SCREW abc.. I've been with them for decades and now rarely watch it, extreme makeover is all I see. no news no comedy shows, no drama's.

Bet abc feels the pain.