Threat Matrix: Osama bin Blurry

Written by Bill Roggio on October 28, 2009 3:36 PM to Threat Matrix

Available online at: http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2009/10/osama_bin_blurry.php

Is that Osama bin Laden? Photo from Danger Room.

Did Osama bin Laden make a mysterious appearance on a video released by al Qaeda? Danger Room's Adam Rawnsley has the scoop:

This may be something. It may be nothing. But if you check out al-Qaeda’s latest video, there’s a blurry image that bears a striking resemblance to a certain son of a Saudi construction magnate. Either that or I need new glasses.

Last night, al-Qaeda’s media unit, As-Sahab productions, released a video featuring a lengthy sermon from the group’s theological star Abu Yahya al-Libi. Most of it is pretty typical stuff. But towards the end, things get interesting.

The camera blurs and closes in on the assembled crowd hugging and congratulating al-Libi. One of those fuzzy well-wishers, some in the Italian press are saying, bears a striking resemblance to one Osama Bin Laden. Danger Room pulled a few stills from the video so you can judge for yourself.

According to one of my most trusted sources, the blurry image seen on the tape is indeed Osama bin Laden.

One of the reasons that this is convincing is that the blurry image remains in the video. As Sahab, which produces al Qaeda's propaganda, is very selective in the information it releases, and rarely leaves garbage in its videos. As Sahab intentionally leaves in this clip, for reasons unknown. Does al Qaeda want to generate a buzz? Is this a hidden message? Perhaps this is a precursor to a new bin Laden tape?