# Osama Bin Laden-Dead or Alive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 31, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-dead-or-alive/151768 "2003-01-31T01:11:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-dead-or-alive/151768/21 "2003-01-31T23:12:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Leaper \* > **Hmm. I’m more interested in what the government thinks. How much effort is still being put into finding him, compared to the effort being put into the Iraq war effort? If the Osama effort is lower than it used to be (and my uninformed eye has the feeling that it is), does that mean that they think he’s dead, or that Iraq is more of a priority, or what? (Of course, the picture totally changes if you replace “Osama” with “al Quaeda (sic),” which I think is another debate entirely.)** My opinion/guess would be this: If the gov’t didn’t know either way, or believed he was alive, then the effort to locate him has not diminished. A victory over OBL the man, would be an instant popularity boost to the current administrion. There would be more gained as a whole in finding OBL and bringing about justice. More so than any desire to keep the public guessing. If, OTOH, they have credible evidence/intel that he’s dead, I would think the effort has diminished, but not against A Q. I’m sure the covert part of this war is still in full gear. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Tars Tarkas_ > **Declaring him dead because he can’t go to Radio Shack in Pakistan and get a new video camera is foolhardy.** I wouldn’t think that a man of his following and resources would have any trouble finding a video camera. I also think he’s dead based on the obvious health failure he was suffering. The second to last video appearance showed much weight loss, almost entirely grey and an overall sickly appearance. This was in contrast to all previous tapes. The following taped appearance showed an amazing recovery. Too amazing IMO. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by ElvisL1ves_ > **Alive until proven otherwise. That’s the only responsible basis for action.** Agreed. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Estilicon_ > \*\*Who cares? Not the media, apparently not the american public opinion and certainly not your president. \*\* Cite? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by mrblue92_ > \*\*Wait. You weren’t talking about Elvis, were you? \*\* The King is gone, man. Let him go… 😃 > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by vibrotronica_ > \*\*I say alive and beside himself with glee. His big idea was to mount a huge attack on the US that would draw us into a big war in the Middle East which would then become a “war of civilizations.” So far, everything seems to be going according to plan. > > But, on an even MORE cynical note, I don’t think it matters whether he’s alive or dead because neither side would ever admit it if he’s dead. Al Q needs him as a semi-mythical leader-figure (L. Ron Hubbard, anyone?) and the Bushista needs him as an all-purpose boogyman to scare the populace into giving what they want, or at least keeping quiet while they take it. \*\* Do you have a cite for the first paragraph? I don’t ever recall hearing as to whether or not he explained why he did it. I’m not saying he didn’t, I just don’t recall it. As for the boogey man factor, that may be true in the absence of proof. However, I would venture to say that if we knew him to be dead, and could prove it, that victory would be more valuable than anything, and we would most definitely hear about it. But I’ve been wrong before. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-dead-or-alive/151768/22 "2003-02-01T04:25:34Z")
After this long, who knows? But if I planned an attack to take out thousands of citizens of the most powerful country in the world in the span of two hours, I’d make damn sure I’d have a plan for when they came to visit. ---
**Author:** ![BeatenMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ab097/32.png) [@BeatenMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeatenMan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-dead-or-alive/151768/23 "2003-02-01T04:39:03Z")
I think Bin Laden is alive. He is playing dead so people won’t look for him. Bin Laden is very patient. He is a religious nut, not a public relations professional. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Fescue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/49beb7/32.png) [@Hank\_Fescue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Fescue)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-dead-or-alive/151768/24 "2003-02-01T05:07:27Z")
Dead. Dead and no one will tell you about it. If a press release had come out last year saying that OBL was killed in the bombing that would not help the case for continued action in the war on terror. With OBL dead there is less concern and less support from the public. Yeah he’s dead. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osama-bin-laden-dead-or-alive/151768.md?page=1)