# Bin Laden admits he did it. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 11, 2001, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757 "2001-11-11T14:09:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/1 "2001-11-11T14:09:20Z")
[The mother fucker admits he did it](http://www.portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/11/11/wbin11.xml) Have at him. I’d love to. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/2 "2001-11-11T14:29:53Z")
If substantiated, this, quite frankly, is good news. Now certainly some of his “supporters” will dismiss any evidence against him as being manufactured. I heard a particularly telling interview to this effect from one of the Taliban “schools” in Pakistan. Nonetheless, this could be an excellent piece of propaganda for the U.S. in courting support and sympathy in the wider Muslim world. Quite a few people who have been reluctant to acknowledge the weight of circumstantial evidence against ObL ( at least that which has been available so far via the media ), may finally come around to recognizing al-Quaeda’s truly toxic nature. At least, I am hopeful that will be the case. Coming on the heels of the fall of Mazar-e-Sharif, I have to say that, all-in-all, this has been a decent weekend 🙂 . - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/3 "2001-11-11T14:50:06Z")
I am Jack’s total lack of surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/4 "2001-11-11T14:59:57Z")
Dumb fuck. Asshole could have milked the Mossad rumor (or whatever else shifts the blame away from him) for a long time. Now there’s no denying it. There’s no denying that he asks his troops to die killing thousands of innocents (remember only the pilots knew what was really happening), that won’t help for recruiting. There’s no denying that the US’ primary interest in the war is one of revenge/retaliation/self-defense, and not, as he’s claimed, a war against Islam. Because of security interests it may have been years before iron-clad evidence of his involvemnet reached the public. What a dumb fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/5 "2001-11-11T16:15:57Z")
I dunno. I didn’t read the article. But I did check MSN and Yahoo! and neither have any stories on Bin Laden doing this. So I’ll sit here patiently and wait for confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/6 "2001-11-11T16:26:17Z")
Even if it’s true he admitted it, it won’t make goddam bit of difference. The people supporting him are blinded by their religious fervor, and will feel that Sept 11 was justified. “The unbelievers deserved to die!” Business as usual. ---
**Author:** ![Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/db5fbb/32.png) [@Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/7 "2001-11-11T16:31:09Z")
Maybe I’m stupid, but I don’t see anywhere in that article where Bin Laden admits to being responsible. The supposed confession: > [@](#): > > He freely admits to being behind the attacks: “If avenging the killing of our people is terrorism then history should be a witness that we are terrorists. Yes, we kill their innocents and this is legal religiously and logically.” He doesn’t say anything about the attacks at all. The telegraph has a [history](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=97124) of misrepresenting the facts. It looks to me like he was quoted out of context. ---
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/8 "2001-11-11T17:01:34Z")
I’m with **Grimmy** on this one. It does seem like a remarkably stupid thing for him to do, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/9 "2001-11-11T18:52:31Z")
Even though the “confession” is vague, many of his other comments - his promise of more bloodshed, a threat to other nations to not get involved - seem crystal clear. Further, combining his “cofession” with all the other evidence that we’ve gathered makes him seem all the more guilty. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/10 "2001-11-11T19:18:37Z")
Hell, we’re going to kill him whether he did it or not; and it’s not like anyone actually believes the denials. So why shouldn’t he get a little gratification out of beating his fists on his chest and proclaiming that yes, he is **The Man** who had the plan ? It might even impress a few of his lady friends. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/11 "2001-11-11T19:48:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thegrimspectreofreddeath \* > Maybe I’m stupid, but I don’t see anywhere in that article where Bin Laden admits to being responsible. The supposed confession: > > > [@](#): > > > > He freely admits to being behind the attacks: “If avenging the killing of our people is terrorism then history should be a witness that we are terrorists. Yes, we kill their innocents and this is legal religiously and logically.” > > He doesn’t say anything about the attacks at all. The telegraph has a [history](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=97124) of misrepresenting the facts. > > It looks to me like he was quoted out of context. Let me second that. First, although I can not now find the link, this phrasing does not match what I read elsewhere – that is I recall the first part but not the second sentence as phrased. I wish I could locate my other source, but I have a sensation the translation is neither complete nor exact. Sorry, wish fulfillment time over, but the Brit rag is just playing to the crowd. Otherwise, on the facts, it may very well be true that he has ‘plausible deniability’ insofar as the upper levels may not have directly planned it. Which is why I again repeat my oft stated opinion, treating this as a matter of criminal law, as opposed to warfare, is a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/12 "2001-11-11T23:44:35Z")
[CBC News website:](http://www.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/2001/11/11/binladen011111) > [@](#): > > White House officials say bin Laden’s alleged statements on the tape fall short of actually claiming responsibility for the attacks. ---
**Author:** ![fandango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5ac83/32.png) [@fandango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fandango)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/13 "2001-11-12T02:31:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*Even if it’s true he admitted it, it won’t make goddam bit of difference. The people supporting him are blinded by their religious fervor, and will feel that Sept 11 was justified. “The unbelievers deserved to die!” > > Business as usual. \*\* You know what pisses me the fuck off? It’s when that asshole and other numbnuts of the Fucking Al-Qaeda cult think we are anti-Islam. Fer Chrissakes! We protect Muslim Kurds from the Madman in Iraq for free, we Protect Muslim Kosovars from that Mandman in Serbia for free. Someone in the US has got to stop being so damn diplomatic and say, “Hey, you idiots, we’ve been and still are protecting Muslims all around the world without your help, so open your God-damned eyes!” ---
**Author:** ![Hemlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Hemlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hemlock)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/14 "2001-11-12T02:44:50Z")
Basically, he’s implied involvement, no more. The Daily Telegraph is a good site, but like most UK newspapers you need to take bits of it with a pinch of salt. They also say this is part is of a package of documents, interviews, radio and video being assempled to prove - primarily through examples of self-incrimination - that Bin Laden did it. So there might be more. We’ll find out on Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/15 "2001-11-12T02:46:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fandango \* > \*\* > It’s when that asshole and other numbnuts of the Fucking Al-Qaeda cult think we are anti-Islam. Fer Chrissakes! We protect Muslim Kurds from the Madman in Iraq for free, we Protect Muslim Kosovars from that Mandman in Serbia for free. > \*\* Yeah, we protected those Iraqi Kurds so well that they decided to gas themselves in delight! ---
**Author:** ![fandango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5ac83/32.png) [@fandango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fandango)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/16 "2001-11-12T02:52:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eternal \* > \*\*Yeah, we protected those Iraqi Kurds so well that they decided to gas themselves in delight! \*\* That’s the reason we started to protect them. We still do. That’s why there are those bombing raids on northern Iraq. It’s Saddam’s dirty little secret that although his santioned Iraq is a rotten place to live, the norther Kurd portion is quite prosperous. ---
**Author:** ![Jojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecd19e/32.png) [@Jojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jojo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/17 "2001-11-12T03:00:26Z")
I don’t think its an admission of guilt. I think the Telegraph has got it wrong. But the war in Kosovo was all about saving the lives of muslims it cannot be denied. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/18 "2001-11-12T03:16:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fandango \* > \*\*You know what pisses me the fuck off? > > It’s when that asshole and other numbnuts of the Fucking Al-Qaeda cult think we are anti-Islam. Fer Chrissakes! We protect Muslim Kurds from the Madman in Iraq for free, we Protect Muslim Kosovars from that Mandman in Serbia for free.\*\* That also drives me nuts. And the people believe it, because they’ve been hearing it all their lives. I wonder if they even realize that there are a lot of Muslims right here in the US? We aren’t exactly sending these people to internment camps, are we? We live along side them and all sorts of other religions, with no fucking Jihads that I’ve heard of. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/19 "2001-11-12T05:43:07Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fandango \* > I wonder if they even realize that there are a lot of Muslims right here in the US? We aren’t exactly sending these people to internment camps, are we? Not to dispute your general point, but we are holding many Muslims without trial and listening in on their attorney-client conversations, aren’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2001, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757/20 "2001-11-12T05:45:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*Originally posted by fandango \* > I wonder if they even realize that there are a lot of Muslims right here in the US? We aren’t exactly sending these people to internment camps, are we? Perhaps they regard this as a sign of weakness and stupidity on our part. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bin-laden-admits-he-did-it/92757.md?page=2)