Ripping The "Wanted" Poster Off The Wall....

Past words are fair game -- particularly if the opiner has a less than stellar record on Iraq, holds himself out as worth listening to on Iran, and has a habit of citing anonymous "trusted" sources:

Osama bin Laden is dead. The news first came from sources in Afghanistan and Pakistan almost six months ago: the fugitive died in December and was buried in the mountains of southeast Afghanistan.

Amir Taheri 7/11/02


And, according to Iranians I trust, Osama bin Laden finally departed this world in mid-December. The al Qaeda leader died of kidney failure and was buried in Iran, where he had spent most of his time since the destruction of al Qaeda in Afghanistan.

Michael Ledeen 1/9/06


As mentioned, there's an Osama cameo floating around. It seems to be from a video shot in 2001 or 2002. If that is correct, then I would draw two conclusions: first, that it is additional confirmation that he is dead. (If he were alive, they could do a new one, right?)

Michael Ledeen 7/15/07


Yet even as his story triggers more and more questions, (Curt) Weldon is making explosive new allegations. He says a high-level source has told him that terrorist leader Osama bin Laden has died in Iran, where he has been in hiding.

The Philadephia Inquirer 3/15/06


"I think now, frankly, he is dead for the reason he is a kidney patient."

Pervez Musharraf 1/18/02


An Australian terrorism expert says he has been given evidence, which could show Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is either seriously ill or dead. Professor Clive Williams from Macquarie University says he has been provided with evidence, by an Indian colleague, to support the theory that bin Laden died of massive organ failure in April last year.

ABC News 1/16/06


"Is he alive or is he dead? I am not really sure of the answer. I personally think he is probably not with us anymore but I have no evidence to support that."

Dale Watson, FBI counterterrorism head, 7/17/02


The recording was dismissed by the Bush administration yesterday as sick propaganda possibly designed to mask the fact the al-Qa'eda leader was already dead.

The Telegraph 12/27/01


"Osama bin Laden is dead in my opinion, and probably has been dead for more than a year."

Christopher Hitchens 12/10/03


Personally, I think this is evidence that Osama is dead, and that the CIA is supplying these tapes for purposes of its own.

Glenn Reynolds 2/11/03


So I'm ripping the "Wanted" poster off the wall. Don't call the gravediggers. Disposing of Osama bin Laden's earthly remains is a job for starving sharks, if remains exist. Most likely he's dust among bomb fragments.

Austin Bay 9/12/02


Maybe bin Laden will never turn up. There has been no confirmed new video of him since December 26, 2001, leading many including me to believe he is dead.

James Robbins 10/18/04


"I heard today that he may have died in the earthquake that they had in Pakistan, seriously. I'm not sure he is alive anymore. I think perhaps the earthquake took him down."

Sen. Harry Reid 11/25/05