From the Grave
Sometimes a scientist must speak up, and that time is here again. Though we often disagreed on politics, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto is a deeply felt tragedy. Whatever men are behind the murder, they are opposed to women having education or influence. They will not win. Today women like Peggy Whitson command space stations and physicists like Angela Merkel lead nations.
Bhutto's last interview with David Frost was aired on November 2. She knew, as this scientist has found, that Osama Bin Laden has been dead 6 years. He was killed approximately December 15, 2001 during the US attack at Tora Bora. His death was hastened by diabetes and kidney failure, compounded by a location far from medical facilities.
As noted here on September 11, the recent OBL videos are transparently fake but the media treats them as real. They are composed of old footage and stills with poorly dubbed voiceover. Their crudeness is a sign of desperation, as someone with proper equipment could make much more convincing video. The image of OBL is maintained by 1) his organisation attempting to control and keep the brand name alive, 2) a news media that uncritically parrots the message, 3) intelligence agencies with a vested interest in maintaining the threat, and 4) those wishing to deny the West and its leaders a victory.
People in New York and elsewhere should be celebrating: Osama is dead! They should do as the British once did with Guy
Fawkes. Every year people could burn paper effigies of Osama. That is a useful way of facing up to fear.
The lesson of all this is to think critically while looking at the raw data. A physics education forces students to parrot data without question. Many physicists have accepted the existence of "dark energy" without examining the assumptions behind it. As with other times, the true history of our age will be written long after. The real theoretical discoveries are made with pencils and paper working in isolation. These are the best of times and the worst of times, truly an exciting time to be alive.
UPDATE: As this is written, a "new" OBL audiotape has appeared. The method used to simulate his voice is the same as Kermit the Frog.
posted by L. Riofrio at 7:58 PM
5 Comments:
Hey Louise,
Her death is/was a tragedy! I was seriously hoping that her presence would reform that country, especially since it has nuclear war heads (although they can only reach their immediate neighbors as far as I'm told).
As far as Osama goes, I have serious doubts about his death (need a body for evidence), as it would deal a severe blow to Al Qaeda (unless they are faking OBL to keep hope alive).
Anyways, to end it on a good note, heres wishing to everyone (except OBL and AQ) a Happy New Year, especially in the realm of space. ;-)
A tragedy indeed. It looks like the elections may be disrupted, which is a shame. As the NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark said, it would honour Benezir Bhutto more if they could make the election happen. Osama may be dead, but there are many like him still alive. As you say, however, they will not win.
Happy 2008 Darnell! You may be right on that they would fake OBL to keep their dark hopes alive.
The show must go on. I hope more people listen to wise NZ women like Helen Clark and Kea.
"The lesson of all this is to think critically while looking at the raw data. A physics education forces students to parrot data without question. Many physicists have accepted the existence of "dark energy" without examining the assumptions behind it. As with other times, the true history of our age will be written long after. The real theoretical discoveries are made with pencils and paper working in isolation. These are the best of times and the worst of times, truly an exciting time to be alive."
Well said, and Happy New Year, Louise!
The British didn't used to burn effigies of Guy Fawkes, they used to burn effigies of the Pope as it was a Catholic attempt to destroy Parliament. Referring to the effigy as Guy Fawkes is a modern variation.
As a British National I don't burn effigies of Anarchists that tried to destroy Parliament, regardless of their religion.
I am curious though, what makes you believe OBL died six years ago ? I agree with your summation of the videos, but I wouldn't call it evidence.
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