Bin Laden Video Fools AP

Sun, Jul 15, 2007 at 8:00:44 am PDT

I’m more convinced than ever that Osama bin Laden is no longer consuming oxygen, as another videotape is released by the As Sahab freakazoids: Bin Laden praises martyrdom in new video.

CAIRO, Egypt - A new al-Qaida videotape posted Sunday on a militant Web site featured a short, undated clip of a weary-looking Osama bin Laden praising martyrdom.

The bin Laden clip, which lasted less than a minute, was part of a 40-minute video featuring purported al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan paying tribute to fellow militants who have been killed in the country.

Bin Laden glorified those who die in the name of jihad, or holy war, saying even the Prophet Muhammad “had been wishing to be a martyr.”

“The happy (man) is the one that God has chosen him to be a martyr,” added bin Laden, who was shown outdoors wearing army fatigues and looking tired.

The authenticity of the video could not be verified, but it appeared on a Web site commonly used by Islamic militants and carried the logo of as-Sahab, al-Qaida’s media production wing. It was not immediately clear when the video of bin Laden was filmed.

Sorry to contradict Associated Press writer Omar Sinan, but it was immediately clear when the video was filmed—in October 2001.

It would be a huge propaganda blow if Al Qaeda could release a video showing Bin Laden indisputably alive. But repackaging six-year old videos (even if they fool the AP) is strong evidence that he’s Bin Dead. For quite a while.