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Internet Absurdity: Bin Laden Listed at FOX Headquarters
June 07, 2007 1:05 PM
An Ohio man says he has located Osama bin Laden in the United States and wants to claim the U.S. government's $25 million reward.
Using an online person search built from phone directories and other public records, Thomas Potter of Olmsted Falls, Ohio, turned up three listings for "Usama bin Laden."
The first listing put the al Qaeda leader at the California headquarters of media giant FOX Entertainment Group. The second placed bin Laden in the office of a Bethesda, Md., Internet firm owned by the son of a former Defense Department official. And the third pinpointed bin Laden's secret hideout as an unidentified location in Hermitage, Tenn.
A self-described "househusband" and 9/11 skeptic -- "I am not a 9/11 conspiracy theorist," he says, "I just do not believe a word of the government's 9/11 conspiracy theory" -- Potter made his discovery this Sunday morning, as part of what he calls a years-long research effort to debunk the "official" version of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Now, Potter says the government owes him the massive reward it promises to anyone with information leading to the capture of Osama bin Laden.
"I understand that the FBI is offering $25 million," Potter wrote in an e-mail to the Department of Justice, alerting them to his findings. "I would like to know if the reward is tax free and if I could please receive it in cash."
Calls to FOX and the Bethesda Internet firm failed to turn up America's most wanted terrorist.
"There's no Osama that works here. Obviously, this is some sort of a prank," FOX spokesman Scott Grogan told the Blotter on ABCNews.com.
"Unfortunately, I don't" have Osama bin Laden on the payroll, Phil Schmitz of Bethesda Interactive Solutions told ABCNews.com. "I'm sure you wouldn't be the first person to call me if I did."
Schmitz confirmed his father, Joseph, was the top Pentagon watchdog from 2002 to 2005. Joseph Schmitz then joined the Prince Group, which owns the private security contractor Blackwater USA.
"I promise you this has no relation to that," Schmitz said of his father's activities.
So how did bin Laden come to be associated with the two companies in the massive whitepages.com database? It's something of a mystery.
The site does not allow the public to add or amend entries in its database, although individuals can ask to have their information removed.
In an e-mail statement, the company told ABCNews.com only that their listings "originate from publicly available local telephone records and other public information sources." It declined to disclose any further information.
Shortly after ABCNews.com contacted whitepages.com, a search for "Usama Laden," the term Potter used, on the company's site returned only the Tennessee location for "Usama bin Laden." No phone number accompanies that listing.
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
June 7, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (58)
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biggest hoax of the 21 century. 911. FBI doesn't want him for 911. the gig is up guys. the media helped sell it too BIG time!
Posted by: Amy | Jun 8, 2007 12:38:04 AM
The supposed "Bin Laden" video where he supposedly claims responsibility of 9/11 is a fake. The FBI knows this, and thus he 9/11 is not listed under his crimes. Watch the video, not only does he eat with his right hand (Bin Laden is left-handed), but his nose is fat and short. All you need is 1 picture of the real Bin Laden, to compare, and you will see how obvious of a fake it is. Besides many other Al CIAda videos are proven fakes as well... God Bless our healthy US Propaganda Machine!!
Posted by: Che Tralfala | Jun 8, 2007 3:05:49 AM
"I was not involved in the September 11 attacks in the United States nor did I have knowledge of the attacks. There exists a government within a government within the United States. The United States should try to trace the perpetrators of these attacks within itself; to the people who want to make the present century a century of conflict between Islam and Christianity. That secret government must be asked as to who carried out the attacks. ... The American system is totally in control of the Jews, whose first priority is Israel, not the United States."
that is the comment from obl. its hard but he is right!
Posted by: able | Jun 8, 2007 3:18:44 AM
After sullenly wading through that silly Bin Laden story, I continued to read the comment posted by Bob Owens, June 7, 2007 2:46:49 PM
You've completely run out of things to write about, haven't you?
That made me blurt laughter out of my head hilariously. What a perfect one-liner!!!
Love ya. :-)
Posted by: busybody | Jun 8, 2007 5:02:26 AM
If only the fault lines throughout the canada/us border would give. Canada has been uder US attack for years and now with our elected infiltraters we are preparing to hand you the keys. God damn you americans for allowing the evil powers that be to exist and invade your neighbors and the world out of greed, insecurity and conquest. I see how greatly you are not benefiting from these acts. Its all your and your parents fault. This has been going on for 60 years. enjoy
Posted by: x | Jun 8, 2007 5:04:48 AM
If you believe the official story of 9/11 - then I got news for you:
Crocodiles can fly.
Posted by: Rico | Jun 8, 2007 6:47:16 AM
I can't believe I just read that whole story. What makes it worse is that guy lives ten minutes from where I grew up.
Posted by: Andy | Jun 8, 2007 8:06:59 AM
You've been trolled, not even on the internet, but IRL! Some strange blend of fact and fiction culminating in nonsensical satire.
Your response: "Hmm, maybe I should write a story about it."
I've read more intelligent stories on digg. Come on, you're a member of a news organization. You're supposed to be more professional than them. You're proving you're not.
Posted by: dumb | Jun 8, 2007 9:00:50 AM
Rather amazing how the world's most sophisticated intelligence apparatus is unable to locate a guy in a cave for going on 5+ years. Rather absurd actually, and I don't believe it for a second. I don't believe anything the government has told us about 9/11.
Posted by: John | Jun 8, 2007 9:15:31 AM
Hey Brian, why don't you take the time to investigate something worthwhile regarding 9/11. Perhaps you would like to focus on how it is the greatest hoax this country has ever seen. Do some real investigative journalism instead of being the governments lap dog
Posted by: connor | Jun 8, 2007 9:49:36 AM
Common......it is common knowledge that kids go into corporate web sites and pull pranks on a daily basis.
Just shows how really bad, Microsoft software really is. Of course, we should be expected to use it?
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | Jun 8, 2007 11:06:53 AM
9/11 alternative theories were mentioned freely in this story because Mr. Potter was presented as a nut case (Surely his comments were tongue-in-cheek, come on), facilitating the labeling of the MILLIONS of people questioning the official story as part of a "lunatic fringe."
ABC News, there are many legitimate questions concerning the "official" government-approved conspiracy theory.
Is the government innocent of foreknowledge? Did they simply allow it to happen to facilitate the planned drive for oil in central asia? Was it an inside job? Those are NOT questions for you to decide, nor is it even important that you suggest it.
HOWEVER, it IS your job to ask questions about the many items that fly in the face of fact and logic... and see where those answers lead.
The time has long since passed when you were virtually mandated to wear the little flags on your lapel to show people you weren't traitors. Stop quaking in your shoes. Stop being afraid. The time has come to just do your job and ask questions about the official explanation that make no sense. If the official conspiracy theory is true, then the questions will be answered easily, all will be put to rest, and it will be only the kooks and nuts that believe there's more.
Ask the questions. The American people demand it. What are you afraid of?
Posted by: John | Jun 8, 2007 1:03:04 PM
I thought he was in PAKISTAN....you know i the mountain where his secret layer is...right next to bat man robin. You know his command bunker where he STOOD DOWN all of NORAD on 9/11 and asked them to practice drills of crashing airplanes into buildings. Right after he took down the third hi-rise that day WTC7. See he also has access to teleportation devices that will basically not only transport explosive to a building but also place the charges just right so the building will collapse at free fall speed.
Holly smokes Batman should we go after him....we must posses the technology...ahm Robin he is PAKISTAN remember they have nukes...we can't go there we MUST SEND THEM LOTS OF WORTLESS AMERICA CASH! (4 cents per dollar real value ) I have a better idea ROBIN let's go get SADAM? BUT BATAN why? Ahm he has invisible WMD and we must stop him.
OK Let's get him! That evil doooer him!
Posted by: keith williams | Jun 8, 2007 1:43:48 PM
9/11 alternative theories were mentioned freely in this story because Mr. Potter was presented as a nut case (Surely his comments were tongue-in-cheek, come on), facilitating the labeling of the MILLIONS of people questioning the official story as part of a "lunatic fringe."
ABC News, there are many legitimate questions concerning the "official" government-approved conspiracy theory.
Is the government innocent of foreknowledge? Did they simply allow it to happen to facilitate the planned drive for oil in central asia? Was it an inside job? Those are NOT questions for you to decide, nor is it even important that you suggest it.
HOWEVER, it IS your job to ask questions about the many items that fly in the face of fact and logic... and see where those answers lead.
The time has long since passed when you were virtually mandated to wear the little flags on your lapel to show people you weren't traitors. Stop quaking in your shoes. Stop being afraid. The time has come to just do your job and ask questions about the official explanation that make no sense. If the official conspiracy theory is true, then the questions will be answered easily, all will be put to rest, and it will be only the kooks and nuts that believe there's more.
Ask the questions. The American people demand it. What are you afraid of?
Posted by: John | Jun 8, 2007 1:46:22 PM
The window for objective and unbiased reporting on the many unanswered questions surrounding the 9/11, has now all but closed, and if this is the best you can come up with, then shame on you ABC. Shame on you.
Posted by: Robert Rice | Jun 8, 2007 3:50:29 PM
At what point will ABC News admit they were cowards or worse in their handling of 9/11? Brian Ross should be deeply ashamed to call himself an "investigative reporter". They dont exist anymore in the mainstream media, they only exist online with little to no funding. Mr. Ross, how do you sleep at night knowing that you are a part of the smoke and mirrors that is our pathetic media? You barely scratch the surface and you know it. Investigate 9/11, do your job already.
Posted by: Chris | Jun 8, 2007 4:00:26 PM
Brian Ross:
Writing misdirecting BS as long as he's had a blog.
google: no hard evidence bin laden
The FBI said it themselves.
Posted by: OWN-the-NWO | Jun 8, 2007 4:34:53 PM
Well, I guess that does it then. We the People are now out $25 million for reward money. We can add that to NIST's well spent $20 million project to tell us that, uh, Osama bin Laden brought down the towers with jet fuel and fire.
Posted by: Eloy Gonzalez II | Jun 8, 2007 5:03:01 PM
Common sense would dictate that OBL as the most wanted man on the planet would change his appearance. I would speculate that he has likely shaved his beard and mustache. He now wears business suits. If I were him I would live in a nice city like Paris or in the Bahamas. That is why we have seen no new videos of OBL in the last few years only audio tapes. Why hasn't the media shown what he would look like sans beard and with a business suit? I'll bet he is living the life of luxury with air conditioning, fancy babes and high tech computer equipment, cable news and is laughing at the poor smucks looking for him. He is certaining not in some cold dank cave in Pakistan.
Posted by: Butch | Jun 8, 2007 5:48:52 PM
How ironic that bin Laden's name would be listed under Blackwater Inc. The same company that provides mercenary soldiers. And Fox news database as well. Interesting. Almost to good to believe. By the way, why should he have to pay taxes? There's no law that states that you must pay Federal Income tax.
Posted by: Rudy | Jun 8, 2007 6:04:23 PM
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