Osama bin Laden died of typhoid a month ago?

[Tom Swierzbinski]

From CNN -

France investigates bin Laden 'death' leak
POSTED: 1235 GMT (2035 HKT), September 23, 2006

PARIS, France (AP) -- The French defense ministry on Saturday called for an internal investigation of the leak of an intelligence document that raises the possibility that Osama bin Laden may have died of typhoid in Pakistan a month ago, but said the report of the death remained unverified.
"The information defused this morning by the l'Est Republicain newspaper concerning the possible death of Osama bin Laden cannot be confirmed," a Defense Ministry statement said.
The daily newspaper for the Lorraine region in eastern France printed what it described as a confidential document from the French foreign intelligence service DGSE citing an uncorroborated report from Saudi secret services that the leader of the al Qaeda terror network had died.
The contents of the document, dated September 21, or Thursday, were not confirmed by French or other intelligence sources. However, the DGSE transmitted the note to President Jacques Chirac and other officials, the newspaper said.
Chirac, speaking to reporters at a summit in Compiegne, France, with the leaders of Russia and Germany, said he had ordered the Defense Ministry to investigate and that the reports "are not confirmed in any way."
Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie "has demanded an investigation be carried out of this leak," a ministry statement said, adding that transmission of the confidential document could risk punishment.
Defense Ministry spokesman Jean-Francois Bureau, clarifying the statement, said that the DGSE document exists but that its contents -- that bin Laden is allegedly dead -- cannot be confirmed.
The DGSE, or Direction Generale des Services Exterieurs, indicated that its information came from a single source.
"According to a reliable source, Saudi security services are now convinced that Osama bin Laden is dead," said the intelligence report.
There have been periodic reports of bin Laden's illness or death in recent years but none has been proven accurate.
According to this document, Saudi security services were pursuing further details, notably the place of his burial.
"The chief of al-Qaida was a victim of a severe typhoid crisis while in Pakistan on August 23, 2006," the document says. His geographic isolation meant that medical assistance was impossible, the French report said, adding that his lower limbs were allegedly paralyzed. On September 4, Saudi security services had their first information on bin Laden's alleged death, the unconfirmed document reported.
In Pakistan, a senior official of that country's top spy agency, the ISI or Directorate of Inter-Service Intelligence, said he had no information to confirm bin Laden's whereabouts or that he might be dead. The official said he believed the report could be fabricated. The official was not authorized to speak publicly on the topic and spoke on condition of anonymity.
U.S. Embassy officials in Pakistan and Afghanistan also said they could not confirm the French report.

I thought OBL died a long time ago, shortly after the bombings of Tora Bora?

Tom Swierzbinski Reviewed by Tom Swierzbinski on 09-23-2006. Osama bin Laden died of typhoid a month ago? From CNN - France investigates bin Laden 'death' leak POSTED: 1235 GMT (2035 HKT), September 23, 2006 PARIS, France (AP) -- The French defense ministry on Saturday called for an internal investigation of the leak of an intelligence document that raises the possibility that Osama bin Laden may have died of typhoid in Pakistan a month ago, but said the report of the death remained unverified. "The information defused this morning by the l'Est Republicain newspaper concerning the Rating: 5

[Breukelen advocaat]

It would be nice to hear some good news for a change, but these reports of death, as Mark Twain said, have been greatly exaggerated.

[Bong30]

It wold have been better for a fine US soldier to put a 50 cal round in his head.

Allthough it would be cool if he suffered some......

[Breukelen advocaat]

Gee, I am glad I am white and not on your "To Kill" list.

Do you think that wanting bin laden dead is a "racial" issue?

It's a matter of justice.

[orangeman]

I dont believe this, if it's true though then it's good. That man only terrorized America and made me think about how much time I had left to live before he does another attack...

[Hamlet]

Bin Laden wasn't well and his being dead is a strong possibility. It would be unfortunate because this is an area where America needs some closure.

That he would vanish forever leaving us in a hopeless war with the wrong country just adds insult to injury.

[Breukelen advocaat]

I think that it may be better if he dies prematurely of an illness, rather than at the hands of the U.S. military, so that the enemy is denied a martyr.

Either way, if he's still alive, I hope he dies soon.

[eg420ne]

USAma bin dead since 2001 so says the pakistan government................damn its bad when you trust other governments then your own....Nice Job GwBushit

[Myth1184]

USAma bin dead since 2001 so says the pakistan government................damn its bad when you trust other governments then your own....Nice Job GwBushit

Read the article goober, Pakistan denies that Usama is dead...

[Hamlet]

"I think that it may be better if he dies prematurely of an illness, rather than at the hands of the U.S. military, so that the enemy is denied a martyr."

Maybe you're right. I can't imagine how it would really play out. I'm all for seeing his head on a stick, but mishandled and he would be seen as a martyr for the jehod.