October 30, 2004
The Osama bin Laden Halloween Videotape: An All Too Suspicious Timely Appearance
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
Thursday, Oct. 21
John Lehman, a Republican panelist on the 911 Commission, leaks that "The Pentagon knows exactly where Osama bin Laden is hiding in Pakistan, it just can't get to him." Defense spokeswoman Capt. Ronnie Merritt declined to comment on Lehman's remarks, except to say that he normally didn't speak about these issues, and she was surprised he had. The American public was thus prepared for OBL's appearing alive and well on television.
Friday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m.
Bush departs from his now-standard Kerry-bashing stump speech and instead delivers one with many 911 invocations and references. All week a new ad has been playing showing Bush supported by 911 wives and victims.
Friday, Oct. 29, 3:30 p.m.
The "OBL video" surfaces with reports that Al-Jazeera will be airing it in half an hour. Except it turns out the government already has a copy and within a few minutes of it airing says that is has been confirmed to be real. Reports are that at least two networks followed the airing of OBL segments with Bush's "Wolves Ad."
Friday, Oct. 29, circa midnight
The NY Times reported: "For Mr. Bush, who started his day with a speech in which he made his response to the Sept. 11 attacks the central theme of his appeal for another term, the videotape assured that terrorism would dominate the closing days of the campaign."
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A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS