With the new tape of Osama bin Laden surfacing, I began to speculate on his motives and location. I checked on-line and happened to see a side-by-side comparison of the latest video of Osama and the last video of him in 2004.

This time Osama made no overt threats and did not directly call for any attacks. Instead, he spoke to Americans, telling them War in Iraq has failed. He also urges Americans to turn away from capitalism and democracy and convert to Islam.

Upon looking at this comparison I notice several obvious differences:

1. His beard is no longer long and grey, but shorter and much darker. This could be because he was trying to change his appearance because he is allegedly being hunted. One problem with this is that he didn't really change his appearance enough by doing this. Additionally, as I understand it, many clerics do not believe in cutting their beards let alone, using hair dye.

2. Another difference is that his eyes seemed to less "set in" as before. This could be because he is healthier?

3. His eyebrows have now taken on a much rounder look than before.

4. Osama's shoulders have become much narrower than before, changing his silhouette. This could be because he is aging or even just wearing less clothing.

5. Something I cannot explain is the change in his nose. The new video shows an Osama with a narrower nose that has a "ball" end, which hangs down over his mustache a bit. The older video shows a wider nose that is horizontal at the end, (no ball) and does not hang down over his mustache. His nose has definitely changed. It could be that he had cosmetic surgery to change his nose, but then again I don't believe these Muslim Clerics believe in altering the form Allah gave them, and this would have been one-of-a-kind pointless cosmetic change.

Some peculiar things that I noticed were not different:

1. Same exact hat
2. Same exact shirt
3. Same exact robe.
4. Additionally the footage was taken the same distance away from him as before.
5. As well as the same background. I find this peculiar because in four years he changed his eyes, his nose, his beard, his shoulders, his overall health and his message but, not his clothing, hat, camera position or the background he spoke in front of.

(The following taken from the AP Press)

The new video message from Osama bin Laden appeared on militant Islamic Web sites Saturday, a day after it was released by a
U.S.-based terrorist monitoring organization.

Bush made the rare move of speaking about an AL-Queda video. The tape is "a reminder about the dangerous world in which we live, he told reporters on the sidelines of a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Sydney, Australia.

"It's important that we show resolve and determination to protect ourselves, deny Al-Queda safe haven and support young democracies," Bush said.

Bin Laden said there were two solutions to stopping the Iraq war. "One is from our side, and it is to escalate the fighting and killing against you. This is our duty, and our brothers are carrying it out," bin Laden said.

"The second solution is from your side. ... I invite you to embrace Islam," he said. One result of that, bin Laden said, would be an end to the Iraq war. He aid "warmongering owners of the major corporations" would rush to appease voters who showed they are looking for an alternative, "and this alternative is Islam."

Al-Queda annually uses the anniversary of the Sept. 11 suicide attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as a propaganda opportunity, issuing videotapes to rally supporters and mock the United States.

But the appearance of bin Laden this year makes a bigger splash. The AL-Queda leader had not appeared in new video footage since October 2004, and he had not put out an audiotape in more than a year, his longest period without a message.

The video appeared to have been recently made. At one point, bin Laden mentions that "several days ago" Japan marked the 62nd anniversary of the Aug. 6, 1945, atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima. He also refers to the Democratic Party's congressional victory in last fall's
election and to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was elected in May.
___

Associated Press writers Lara Jakes Jordan, Pamela Hess and Matthew Lee in Washington and Sarah DiLorenzo in New York contributed to this report.Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
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Upon consideration of all this evidence I believe that not only is Osama Bin Laden Dead, Videos are being made to portray him as alive by our government. Why would the US Government want to do this?

The War on Terror provides magnanimous opportunity for profit for American Corporations and the military continues to receive excessive funding to fight the war. In this case, it pays to lie, I mean really pays. In addition, Muslim fundamentalists like Al-Queda profit as well from this lie as their leader is "still alive" to fight for. The reasons I believe the US made the latest video is that the US government6 had the video first, and makes no qualms about its authenticity as they usually do, in addition the President spoke immediately and directly about the video, a change in Bush's past behaviors. Also the government went too far to try and simulate Osama by replicating his last known outfit and background, this is a mistake that is often made when trying to make something appear authentic. The US government has used this fear and will continue it seems to fuel the war machine and capitalist growth that has taken control of our country.

Lastly, I am not on the side of Al-Queda, Osama, or Muslim fundamentalists. I am also not on the side of a government who uses lies and fear to promote its policies and decisions. Dissention is the truest form of Patriotism. I love America the land, I love America the country, I Love America the Idea, but I loath the people who have hijacked America's path for their own ends using fear. Fear is the weapon of a dictator, lies are the weapons of evil. Our government is guilty of both to what degree I am afraid to find out. I worked with the federal Government and I know it's capabilities and have seen them demonstrated. This is why I have no doubt that they have made this video and possibly
others. With my inside knowledge I also know that the government is not above underhanded things that result in American deaths, after all who came up with the phrase "collateral damage?" This is why I believe that the US government was directly responsible for the 9/11 attacks, because I know that they are capable and plenty willing to sacrifice 3,000 lives in order to make trillions of dollars. It pays to lie and to deceive. Love America but keep it a country worthy of that love.

Osama is dead, he probably has been dead for a long time now. Although the real killers on 9/11 are still alive and in our country, running it. Untouchable and with all the power.

You might say that Osama bin Laden has become today's "Dread Pirate Roberts" (The Princess Bride)

Geminigma


Some believe we have as a population, gotten Amnesia when it comes to our origin.