Who even believes the USG actually has the expected "purported" Osama bin Laden tape?

[L. Coyote]

What we have is only this: "...one U.S. official who spoke on condition that he not be identified..."

Another Cheney leak? Like we can trust such characters! Is this just a false leak to justify shutting down "all the Islamic militant Web sites" for the week of 9/11? This story begs more questions than it answers anything. Like, "Is it even true?"

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Analysts Studying Purported Bin Laden Tape
By Joby Warrick - September 7, 2007
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/07/AR2007090701445.html

U.S. intelligence analysts are studying what is purported to be a new, videotaped message from al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, U.S. officials confirmed today.

The videotape was obtained a day after a group linked to al-Qaeda announced the imminent release of a new statement from the "Lion Sheik" who masterminded the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington six years ago.

U.S. officials familiar with the analysis said the tape's authenticity had not been verified, and they declined to describe its contents.

"We're doing a thorough analysis to determine if it's old or new stuff, and whether it contains threat information," said one U.S. official who spoke on condition that he not be identified by name, citing the sensitive nature of the analysis. ............

.......

The release of a new videotaped message was announced by al-Qaeda's media production company in advertisements that appeared Thursday on several Islamic Web sites.

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And, who the Sam Hill is this mysterious "Washington" in "Washington announced it had the video..."
Since when does a non-person make announcements. Since Bush? This is so propaganda-esque, it reeks.


U.S. reviewing purported bin Laden video
Video contains no specific threat; Web sites carrying tape shut down
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20640658

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Web sites shut down

Soon after Washington announced it had the video, all the Islamic militant Web sites that usually carry statements from al-Qaida went down and were inaccessible, in an unprecedented shutdown.

..........

Another possibility is that the U.S. government shut down the sites, but that was unlikely, he said.

"I don't think they would have the legal or technical capability to do so, to collectively shut all these sites at the same time. Also, I don't think the U.S. government is necessarily interested in shutting these sites down, unless there is something so provocative and dangerous in what bin Laden is saying."

"It's pretty remote that the content of his speech is so incendiary that they would shut down all the sites. The idea that they (U.S. government) could totally prevent this from coming out on the Internet is ludicrous," he said.

........