Why does Bin Laden prefer audio-tapes over video-tapes?

[nodramamama]

Once again, we are told that Bin Laden has come up with a new audio-tape.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090114/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_al_qaida_israel

Why is it that every since late 2001, Osama Bin Laden suddenly switched to audio-tapes and stopped video-recording his messages to America and the world. Voice software is capable of faking human voice, but this would be very difficult to do to a video.

On at least one occassion, scientists determined that an audio-tape allegedly by Bin Laden had been faked, that is, it wasn't Bin Laden's voice, with 95% certainty: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2526309.stm

But at the same time, this is what US intelligence agencies said about the same tape (from the BBC link above):

US intelligence officials have said they believe the recording - broadcast on the Arabic al-Jazeera television channel earlier this month - was almost certainly that of Osama Bin Laden.

Can he not afford a video recorder? What's up with that?

[rug]

1. Eczema.

[GodlessBiker]

2. He only has an 8-track?

[Kookaburra]

or Beta

[Kookaburra]

3. Delete -- my pc went haywire for a minute

[Kookaburra]

5. delete

[Kookaburra]

6. delete

[Ikonoklast]

4. Hard to hide all that decomposition on video.

Guy being deader than diseco, and all.

[glitch]

22. Zombie Bin Laden insists on being heard! nt

[PBS Poll-435]

7. Ratings expectations

or fears thereof.

[Cleita]

8. Perhaps because he's dead. n/t

[Autumn]

9. George stoled his

video recorder and sold it and bought Saddam's gun.

[thunder rising]

10. G[-L]BT thinks he's cute and keeps hitting on him.

[Captain Lance Bass]

11. Because everybody knows

that a camera adds 10 lbs to you on screen.... silly goose :-)

[grantcart]

12. because DU doesnt have an audio section and he is afraid to be held up to our blistering attacks

[Kaleko]

13. It's easier for the CIA to fake?

Remember the well-fed Bin Laden with the black beard they trotted out last time?

Not exactly a smashing success in instilling fear among the population.

[liberalmuse]

14. Don't you watch 'Ghosthunters'?

It's easier for the dead to come across via audio.

[Occam Bandage]

15. I assume that he is either dead or isolated and sickly, and that impersonators

are recording messages in his stead. I believe those impersonators have been recruited by al-Qaeda. I believe all of this without evidence.

[Solomon]

36. Au contraire mon ami. We do have evidence. Bin Laden would have

never ever let Al Qaeda call Obama a "House Negro" thereby missing a golden opportunity of putting America in riotous turmoil by simply declaring, "Yes!! We have finally infiltrated the infidels at the highest level with our Muslim brother Obama!"

Had they said that, America would still be rioting. Instead they showed gross ignorance by calling Obama a House Negro. America loves House Negroes.

Osama is dead.

[NYC_SKP]

16. He's got a "Radio Face" eom.

[ddeclue]

17. Security...doesn't want to offer the CIA a clue as to his location...

in the picture...

[joeglow3]

39. EXACLTY

One of the local college professors here in Nebraska was able to identify his location in one of his first video's. Apparently, there was some type of plant in the background that only exists in one or 2 relatively small parts of the world. He noticed this and, as I recall, was able to correctly identify where it was filmed.

[I814U]

43. I'll respectfully disagree

He could stage the shot inside a house with the windows closed-off or a backdrop as simple as non-descript white sheets.

The tapes are provided to keep people who actually believe there was once a man called Osama bin Ladin believing in this fairy tale.

[jimlup]

18. Bin Ladin has been dead for awhile now.

The tapes are a useful diversion so the CIA doesn't release the fact they are faked.

[muntrv]

19. He's low maintenance.

[Agent William]

20. Because if it was video you could see Dick Cheney holding the script.

[karynnj]

21. One exception was the late October 2004 video tape

Where OBL was speaking in front of a table with immaculate perfectly ironed cloth covering it - a feat I have never achieved in a modern NJ house. (Possibly because I never bother to iron them)

[ddeclue]

24. My brother could probably identify the tablecloth manufacturer.

I used to joke that he could do linen forensics for the FBI years ago.

He could look at a picture tell you the product the threadcount and the mfg.

Of course Obama's was probably homeweaved so...

[karynnj]

25. It just seemed to me that everything was too pristine and neat

for the tribal areas - but then again I have, of course, never been there - and that may be quite reasonable.

[cliffordu]

23. Bad hair.

The water in Torah Borah is completely fucked up.

[Monk06]

26. Because he's dead and he's calling from heaven.

[Generator]

27. Cheney won't pay for Botox

[busybl]

28. cuz he's DEAD.

[anigbrowl]

29. Faking a voice with software is very hard

it's actually a lot easier to just have someone imitate it. I've written software in this area and it's quite amazing all the things you can do, but it's also really hard to get it to sound authentic. For the resources it would take it would be way easier to just practice the vocal imitation and record it over and over until it sounded right.

[Occam Bandage]

30. Agreed. Somehow I doubt they're going to be paying a $10,000 licensing fee to AT&T labs TTS. nt

[EFerrari]

31. Even if by some miracle he's not dead, I can't help thinking

after Bush, Bin Laden just isn't very impressive any more.

[ladjf]

32. It's easier to fake audio. n.t.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

33. poor lighting in the cave

[Lucky 13]

34. Because his cave is not equipped with video-editting software?

[GentryDixon]

35. Because it isn't Bin Laden?

[11 Bravo]

37. Because a coffin lining makes a rather uninspiring backdrop for a speech.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

38. The camera adds 10 lbs? nt

[Rosa Luxemburg]

40. 'Tim' lost his video camera

or was it Tom

[Deep13]

41. Two possible reasons come to mind.

1. He doesn't want to leave clues about where he is.

2. He looks like shit.

[foxfeet]

42. Because he looks like Ann Coulter.

That'll make you fail your screen test.