Rumors are flying that filmmaker Morgan Spurlock of "Super Size Me" fame may have done what the United States government has failed to do for the last six years — find Osama bin Laden.
The speculation first began at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, where Spurlock showed a select group of potential buyers 15 minutes of footage from his new documentary, "Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?" The film follows Spurlock through the Middle East in his search for the elusive leader of al-Qaida. According to Slashfilm.com, The Weinstein Co. quickly snapped up the picture after seeing the clips.
Adding to the belief, Daniel Marracino, the film's director of photography, is quoted in Variety, saying of the movie, "We've definitely got the Holy Grail."
Whether this is just a genius publicity ploy or if Spurlock actually found bin Laden has yet to be revealed, but the answer should come next year, when the documentary is slated to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
I call likely publicity ploy. Apart from the obvious of 'how did he find him?' and 'how did he dodge the intel services when going to A-Stan/Pak/wherever?' think about:
1) Would Osama agree to be interviewed by a white American non-Muslim with no apparent ideological sympathies (that I'm aware of)? My first reaction would be, 'oh, shit, it's a trap'.
2) Would Morgan Spurlock want the stigma of "I knew where this man was and didn't report him"?
3) Would Morgan Spurlock be able to operate with film crew and equipment in whatever dangerous shithole without some sort of official protection (thus leading them to Osama)?
"Show me a commie pilot with some initiative, and I'll show you a Foxbat in Japan."
Osama may have done this via satellite phone or via recorded-and-mailed responses to questions. The guy isn't impossible to get ahold of, I just wouldn't expect to see him face to face.
DavidEC wrote:Would there be a rock-solid legal case against him? (I'm genuinely ignorant of the law here.)
Treason involves providing "Aid and comfort" to the enemy. If two witnesses could be found, charges could be pressed on the grounds he was effectively acting as OBL's propaganda mouthpiece.
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The Duchess of Zeon wrote:Treason involves providing "Aid and comfort" to the enemy. If two witnesses could be found, charges could be pressed on the grounds he was effectively acting as OBL's propaganda mouthpiece.
Depending on what he says and does, witnesses would be unnecessary. A confesion is acceptable evidence.
