I’m among those who, before the 2 May 2011 raid that killed him, were convinced that Osama Bin Laden had most likely died several years ago. A purported Bin Laden video released in 2007, in which a freeze-frame image of the Al-Qaeda leader appeared during all references to current events, reinforced this belief.
On Saturday, 7 May 2011, the Pentagon released five video clips of Bin Laden (with the audio removed). Although there is no direct indication of the date of these videos, it can be inferred that one of the videos was recorded on or about 24 January 2010:
At right is a freeze-frame of what Bin Laden is shown watching. The title at the top of the screen reads, “From Osama to Obama” (من آسامة إلى آوباما). This is the title of an audio message from Bin Laden to President Barack Obama that was publicly released on 24 January 2010. Thus, it can be inferred that the video of Bin Laden watching a news story about that audio message was recorded either on or shortly after 24 January 2010. In any event, the video cannot have been recorded earlier than 24 January 2010.
Note also that Bin Laden’s attire in the video–a watch cap with a blanket around his shoulders–is consistent with winter weather in Abbotabad, Pakistan, where in January the average low temperature is 2° C (35° F) and the average high is 12° C (53° F).
UPDATE: Further indication that the “From Osama to Obama” audio release was new at the time Bin Laden is seen watching it is found in the scrolling news banner at the bottom of the television screen (at about 1:09). The headline reads: “New audio recording attributed to Osama Bin Laden in which he claims [responsibility] for the attempt to blow up an American airplane…” (…تسجيل صوتي جديد منسوب لآسامة بن لادن يتبنى فيه محاولة تفجير طائرة امريكية).
5 Comments
You can’t reference time of the video by what is being watched on the TV screen because it could be any time on or after up to several days prior to the raid. You have no way of know whether the TV image is live or recorded.
Abbotabad is in a mountainous region which are notoriously subject to up to 30 -35 degree temperature swings [average? mode, mean or median take your pick]……again you have no way of referencing absolute local time based on video………..you conclusions are very shortsighted.
Kalitor, actually, the video must have been recorded shortly after release of the “From Osama to Obama” audio recording because that recording did not remain headline news for long after it was released.
It’s pretty clear that the TV image was live and not recorded because Bin Laden is seen with a satellite remote control and there is no VCR, DVR, or similar device attached to the television. In fact, the lack of any such recording device is likely the reason why the videotape of the television screen was made in the first place. It provided Bin Laden with a record of media reaction to his audio message.
Moreover, as I’ve noted in an update to this post, a scrolling headline at the bottom of the television screen references a “new” audio recording attributed to Bin Laden in which he claimed responsibility for an attempt to blow up an American airplane–a reference to the Christmas 2009 attempt by “underwear bomber” Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Bin Laden mentioned this incident in his “From Osama to Obama” message.
If he was flipping through channels on satellite tv then what are the odds multiple channels having OBL at the same time? Are you thinking yet? Another faked CIA media? I thought so.
The odds of multiple channels having Bin Laden on just after the release of an audio message to President Obama were 100%.
What is the evidence that that old guy is Emmanuel Goldstein?
And why doesn’t he watch the feed? He keeps selecting the same channel (Al J) like someone who’s just working out what the remote is for. And why no sound?
“Uncle press the red button”
“No no move the pointer across the menu screen”
Some terror mastermind!