Is Bin Laden dead? Doubts reported from Mother Jones and WaPo.

[icymist]

Unconfirmed reports that he recently died of typhoid in a remote area of Pakistan Washington Post

Mother Jones

Officials Doubt Report Of Bin Laden's Death
French Paper Cites Intelligence Document

By John Ward Anderson
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, September 24, 2006; Page A09

PARIS, Sept. 23 -- French and U.S. officials discounted a report Saturday in a French newspaper indicating that Osama bin Laden had died of typhoid last month in a remote area of Pakistan.

The newspaper, L'Est Republicain, quoted a confidential document from the French secret service as saying that "according to a reliable source, Saudi security services are now convinced that Osama bin Laden is dead."

The newspaper reported that intelligence officials had given the document, dated Sept. 21, to President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and the interior and defense ministers.

A senior French official acknowledged the existence of the document, but Chirac said at a news conference Saturday that there was no confirmation that the leader of the al-Qaeda terror network had died.

Washington Post

[valerief]

1. I wonder if bin Laden is part of Rove's October surprise. I think Usama

would have to still be alive to have the political impact they would want.

[icymist]

3. Indeed. Death from typhoid would be mundane. n/t

[valerief]

5. If he were dead, they wouldn't be able to hold the televised

execution on faux noose.

[NYC]

2. We never know what's true, and what isn't.

Opinions and rumors are published the same as news.

[Bobbieo]

7. His death would have made a huge difference five years ago,

but not any more. So, it really doesn't matter if the story is true or not

[icymist]

8. Then I wonder why the French wanted this secret?

From the WaPo article:
<snip>
"The minister of Defense has ordered an investigation to determine the origin of this leak, which is likely to constitute an offense subject to penal sanctions."

Why are they threatening to send somebody to jail over this?

[Bobbieo]

9. To keep the news from Bush?

[icymist]

11. Someone would have to read it to him.

He says he don't read newspapers!

[niallmac]

4. Does this mean Tora Bora will be competing with Graceland?

Will OBL's demise or not become the stuff of conjecture forever?
Will his visage show up on my morning toast tomorrow?
Will he appear fat as a sausage in a tight sequin outfit in his
next video?
Ladies and gentlemen OBL has left the White House.

I have to say I agree with Bush on this one. I just don't care
about OBL anymore. For one thing I have come around 180
and agree that the whole 911 event really does stink to high
heaven. I finally get it now. That "Building Seven" thing
has me positively convinced something is rotten in ground
zero. I don't buy the towers being rigged to collapse because
I don't see the evidence. "Building Seven?" .......Pulled. So
what's the explanation for that?...or should I just shut up
and buy another support our troops magnet?

[clmbohdem]

6. If anything, it will dampen Rove's Bin Landen October Surprise

unless that is a strike against Iran.

[zonmoy]

10. the cabal is probably merely admitting that he is dead

because they realize that they can no longer use him as a boogieman. I figure he died soon after 9-11 if not before.

[depakid]

12. Thanks for including a credible source

Backing up anything the Post mentions is ALWAYS a good idea.