# Six Degrees of Osama bin Laden **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599 "2003-02-07T23:44:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/1 "2003-02-07T23:44:15Z")
What with rumors of a new law allowing American citizens to be deported …“expatriated”…who have ties to Al Queda, and given the generous flexibility displayed by the Bushistas in the definition of “ties to Al-Queda”, I offer this fun new game. Shall we say less than 6 degrees of seperation is grounds for whatever Mr. Ashcroft decides to do to the subject? Game is of course played along the same rules as a similar game centered around that move star guy, Kevin Bacon. It is, of course, a given that all “radical islamacists” are directly under the command of Osama bin Laden, since Al Queda is the Comintern for all such movements. Hence, Saddam Hussein is one degree, since that guy had his leg cut off in Baghdad, which is Iraq’s capital, hence one degree. OK, two. Donald Rumsfeld, who shook hands with Saddam Hussein some years back, is a three. Get his airplane ticket, he’s gone. Pope John II was shot by Achmed Ahmet, who is an islamic radical, hence the Pope is a two. Nanook of the North is an Eskimo, which is a native American subset. Some indians of northern NY are implicated in a plot to sell cigarettes to support Hamas, which is Islamist radical, so Nanook is a four. All lesbians are a four, because Dick Cheney’s daughter is a lesbian, Dick Cheney knows Donald Rumsfeld, who shook hands with Saddam, who is in cahoots with Osama bin Laden. Challenge: who is a five or more? Anybody? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/2 "2003-02-07T23:49:26Z")
I think you’re missing the boat (and better get on it quickly too, ya damn liberal), since we’ve established that anyone the administration feels is a danger to our nations security can be held w/o constitutional or other legal protections, I doubt that they’ll need to _actually_ demonstrate (that is to anyone’s eyes but their own) **any** degree of connection. ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/3 "2003-02-07T23:52:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Challenge: who is a five or more? Anybody? Everyone who voted for Cheney? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/4 "2003-02-08T00:24:26Z")
Five or more means _less_ connected than Nanook of the North. Get with the program, guy. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/5 "2003-02-08T00:40:57Z")
Everyone who voted for Nanook of the North? ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/6 "2003-02-08T01:05:06Z")
I can’t seem to find a proposition to be debated here, so I’ll just assume this is elucidator’s traditional Friday night Bash-the-Bushistas-with-mindless-venom thread. I’d hoped yesterday’s stimulating Colin-Powell-might-be-an-asshole debate would suffice, but no. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/7 "2003-02-08T01:07:55Z")
Of course, you wouldn’t have, ya know, a cite about American _citizens_ being deported, would you? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/8 "2003-02-08T01:39:07Z")
Alas. **milroyj** , you’ve found me out. Thus far, my only remotely credible source is that scoundrel, Bill Moyers. You can read his vile screed here, if it shall not stain your eyes. [http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/02/07\_DOJ.html](http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/02/07_DOJ.html) You can probably watch him spew his hateful propaganda on PBS this evening. **Scylla** , I do you a kindness. Without a regular opportunity to vent your bile, you would surely burst. And then were should we be, without your Proust like musings and the gentle good humor of your, ah, wit. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/9 "2003-02-08T01:52:42Z")
Good Lord **'luci** , could you be a little more pompous and condescending? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/10 "2003-02-08T02:05:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Pope John II was shot by Achmed Ahmet, who is an islamic radical, hence the Pope is a two. \*\* Actually, John Paul II was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca. (John II died in bed in the 6th century) ---
**Author:** ![ScoobyTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/11 "2003-02-08T02:23:31Z")
from **luci** ’s citation: > [@](#): > > The draft bill was provided exclusively to NOW by the Center for Public Integrity, [[www.publicintegrity.org](http://www.publicintegrity.org)], which obtained it from a confidential government source. Excuse me if I don’t take this too seriously yet. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/12 "2003-02-08T02:23:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Alas. **milroyj** , you’ve found me out. Thus far, my only remotely credible source is that scoundrel, Bill Moyers. You can read his vile screed here, if it shall not stain your eyes. > [http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/02/07\_DOJ.html](http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/02/07_DOJ.html) Hmm, nothing at all in your “cite” indicates a plan to deport citizens. More sound and fury, signifying nothing. As usual. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/13 "2003-02-08T02:27:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*Good Lord **'luci** , could you be a little more pompous and condescending? \*\* I’m not at all sure, **Mike**. If I were, would you feel challenged to be more obnoxious? ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/14 "2003-02-08T02:33:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Captain Amazing \* > \*\*Actually, John Paul II was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca. (John II died in bed in the 6th century) \*\* Now, **Captain Amazing** , that’s not fair, trying to confuse **Elucidator** with the facts. He’s not equipped to handle them. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/15 "2003-02-08T14:14:34Z")
OK, let’s see. Until about the day after 9/11/01, members of Osama bin Laden’s family lived at a condominium complex in Charlestown (Massachusetts). The management office there is one of my company’s clients. Hopefully they have internet access at Guantanamo Bay so I can keep you all posted. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/16 "2003-02-08T14:29:51Z")
Thanks, waterj2. Still no evidence of a single solitary American _citizen_ being deported. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/17 "2003-02-08T14:34:57Z")
Well, no, not _yet_. They haven’t passed the bloody thing _yet_. However, if you’re really curious, theres a GD thread outlining the facts of the matter and, yes indeed, that’s precisely what they’re up to. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/18 "2003-02-08T15:32:56Z")
In case you’re interested, your “facts” do not agree. No where does it say that American citizens would be deported. Which would be pretty silly, anyway. Where would one deport American citizens to? Des Moines? ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/19 "2003-02-08T15:37:24Z")
Cool! I work with a guy… …who used to work with Saddam’s son… …who is the son of Saddam… …who **ALLEGEDLY! ALLEGEDLY! ALLEGEDLY!** has links to Al Q Not sure if that makes me a three or a four or a five, but I’m in the running! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599/20 "2003-02-08T16:17:40Z")
Well, that makes you a two, actually. But since you’re already in Dubai, I guess you go to Guantanamo. Ask for a laptop, keep in touch. **milroyj** is it the word “expatriated” that confuses you? 'Cause that means “deported”. Kicked out. Sent elsewhere. Adios, muchacho. Glad to help. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-degrees-of-osama-bin-laden/153599.md?page=2)