It hasn't been confirmed, but French newspaper L'Est Republicain is reporting that Osama bin Laden died of typhoid in late August.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government is unable to confirm a French
newspaper report that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is believed to have died
last month in Pakistan, a U.S. counterterrorism official said on Saturday.
"We cannot confirm the account," said the official, who declined to be
identified because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the issue.
"It's quite possible (that) there was some talk of this, but in terms of being
able to confirm this, that I can't do."The French regional daily L'Est Republicain reported that, according to a
French secret service report, Saudi Arabia was convinced that bin Laden died of
typhoid in Pakistan in late August. The French government has said it could not
confirm the report and would investigate the intelligence leak.
If this report on the death of the mastermind of 9/11 proves to be true, it means that Bush and the GOP have lost one of their major allies in the campaign of fear that they are currently waging against the American people.
The French government is opening an investigation into the leak of the secret service memo. President Jacques Chirac would not comment.The al Qaeda leader, bin Laden, is a lot things but stupid isn't one of them.
During the 2004 Presidential campaign, bin Laden displayed a skillful knack for
releasing tapes just when the Bush campaign appeared to need them most. He is
well aware of his dark prince-like rock star status here in the United States.
Bin Laden knows the press will never pass up an opportunity to garner market
share by exploiting anything he says or in which he plays the lead role. If he
releases an audio or video tape, he gets airtime just like the President.The President has been in a world of political hurt throughout 2006. In a
fruitless attempt to try and push up his slumping approval ratings, George W.
Bush has embarked upon a number of campaign-like tours across the country.
Somewhere in the midst of each of these campaigns, bin Laden has been certain to
release either an audio or video tape.
President Jacques Chirac has ordered an inquiry into the leak of a French
secret service memo claiming that Osama Bin Laden had died.
Mr Chirac told reporters he was surprised the memo had been leaked, and
refused to comment on the claim itself.
I cannot imagine how horrified Bush must be right now, thinking that there's a possibility that his ace in the hole is about to be lost!
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