# What's the deal with Osama???

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-osama/138390>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 23, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-osama/138390 "2002-11-23T21:20:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-osama/138390/21 "2002-11-24T03:34:02Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by SteveEisenberg \* It would be in the interest of Al Quaeda to have it be known he was dead, because they then could coalesce behind a new and effective leader. This is why the whole bin Laden is dead thing was always wishful thinking. There would be a new bin Laden by now.

Think [Swamp Fox](http://library.thinkquest.org/11683/FMarion.html?tqskip1=1&tqtime=1123), [Zorro](http://members.tripod.com/~zorro23/) , or [Che Guevara](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/8702/che.html).  
Bin Laden is rapidly becoming myth. Sometimes that’s better than having a leader.

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**Author:** ![astroKnotx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@astroKnotx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astroKnotx)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2002, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-osama/138390/22 "2002-11-24T14:25:54Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by andros \*  
> \*\*Beg to differ, **Steve**. The nature of the organization is such that it cannot coalesce, nor does it want or need to. OBL, however, is a major figure, known worldwide. I suspect that his death would serve to further fractionalize the organization, rather than unify it. \*\*

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People unite when they are facing a common enemy or threat. The mentality of this organization (and countless others) is that they are fighting the "Great Satan," or "the Infidel" ETC. If bin Laden does die, the organization will believe he died fighting this "Great Satan" and they would have a new source of motivation.
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