IP: Ollie & Osama

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 00:00:48 -0500
> Subject: Ollie & Osama
> From: Gary Johnston <gj () woz org>
>
>
> Ollie North / Osama bin Laden
>
> You know, it's funny. I remember very vividly the Oliver North hearings, but
> did not recall the name of Osama bin Laden as the terrorist that North was
> threatened by. Has this slimeball been around that long?. It's pretty
> evident, in hindsight that we should have listened to OLLIE!
>
> I was at a UNC lecture the other day where they played a video of Oliver
> North during the Iran-Contra deals during the Reagan administration. I was
> only 14 back then but was surprised by this particular clip.
>
> There was Olie in front of God and Country getting the third degree.
>
> But what he said stunned me. He was being drilled by some senator I didn't
> recognize who asked him;
>
> 'Did you not recently spend close to $60,000 for a home security system?'
>
> Oliver replied, 'Yes I did sir.'
>
> The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience, 'Isn't
> this just a little excessive?'
>
> 'No sir,' continued Oliver.
>
> 'No. And why not?'
>
> 'Because the life of my family and I were threatened.'
>
> 'Threatened? By who.'
>
> 'By a terrorist, sir.'
>
> 'Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?'
>
> 'His name is Osama bin Laden.'
>
> At this point the senator tried to repeat the name, but couldn't pronounce
> it, which most people back then probably couldn't. A couple of people
> laughed at the attempt. Then the senator continued.
>
> 'Why are you so afraid of this man?'
>
> 'Because sir, he is the most evil person alive that I know of.'
>
> 'And what do you recommend we do about him?'
>
> 'If it were me I would recommend an assassin team be formed to eliminate him
> and his men from the face of the earth.'
>
> The senator disagreed with this approach and that was all they showed of the
> clip.
>
> It's scary when you think 15 years ago the government was aware of Osama bin
> Laden and his potential threat to the security of the world. I guess like
> all great tyrants they start small but if left untended spread like the
> virus they truly are.


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