Subject:
|
Re: Conspiracy theories
|
Newsgroups:
|
lugnet.off-topic.debate
|
Date:
|
Wed, 21 Nov 2001 20:41:01 GMT
|
Viewed:
|
249 times
|
| |
|
|
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> Sometimes I find the strangest links in the strangest places...
>
> http://www.copvcia.com/stories/nov_2001/lucy.html
>
> This link was in someone's sig on a www.megatokyo.com discussion forum. I'm
> dubious at best about the veracity of this particular theory.
This bit in particular:
> FTW, November 2, 2001 – 1200 PST -- On October 31, the French daily Le Figaro
> dropped a bombshell. While in a Dubai hospital receiving treatment for a
> chronic kidney infection last July, Osama bin Laden met with a top CIA
> official - presumably the Chief of Station. The meeting, held in bin Laden’s
> private suite, took place at the American hospital in Dubai at a time when he
> was a wanted fugitive for the bombings of two U.S. embassies and this year’s
> attack on the U.S.S. Cole. Bin Laden was eligible for execution according to
> a 2000 intelligence finding issued by President Bill Clinton before leaving
> office in January. Yet on July 14th he was allowed to leave Dubai on a
> private jet and there were no Navy fighters waiting to force him down.
Seems, for the conspiracy-minded, too good to be false. However, another
website at http://www.snopes2.com/rumors/rumors.htm offers a nicely
straightforward counter viewpoint:
> A persistent rumor asserts bin Laden received treatment for his ailing
> kidneys at the American Hospital in Dubai in 2001, arriving on July 4 and
> leaving on July 14. Among those with him, it is thought, was Dr. Ayman
> Zawahiri, who as well as being his personal physician is al-Qaeda's second-in-
> command. In an extension of this particular rumor, a CIA agent purportedly
> met with the terrorist at that hospital during bin Laden's ten-day course of
> treatment.
>
> The CIA has flatly denied the report. Its spokeswoman, Anya Guelsher, said
> that it was "complete nonsense." Bernard Koval, the director of the hospital,
> also denied the terrorist had been a patient there, saying "Osama bin Laden
> has never been here. He's never been a patient and he's never been treated
> here. We have no idea of his medical condition. This is too small a hospital
> for someone to be snuck through the backdoor."
I know, I know. "Of course they're going to deny it--that's how you know
it's true." But www.snopes2.com has a good track record for debunking
rumors and maintaining a sense of critical thought in the face of
sensationalism.
Dave!
|
|
Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Conspiracy theories
|
| (...) You're right that such thinking is predicated on a logical fallacy, but that doesn't make assertions on either side true or false on that basis alone. And I found your "snopes" site to be no more reliable (plenty of asserted *truth* there, (...) (23 years ago, 21-Nov-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
|
Message is in Reply To:
| | Conspiracy theories
|
| Sometimes I find the strangest links in the strangest places... (URL) link was in someone's sig on a www.megatokyo.com discussion forum. I'm dubious at best about the veracity of this particular theory. (23 years ago, 21-Nov-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
|
12 Messages in This Thread:
 
 
- Entire Thread on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
This Message and its Replies on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
|
|
|
|
