Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Homeland Security: Creative Leaders from Across Novelty Industry Taking Aim at Bin Laden

Aired October 15, 2001 - 10:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to a much lighter note, from the frontlines to the punchlines, the U.S. war on terrorism finding new allies willing to fight on a new front.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Brooks Jackson now reports, creative leaders from across the novelty industry are now taking aim at Osama bin Laden.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROOKS JACKSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The product line is unusual.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a two-ply, FDA approved, biodegradable toilet paper.

JACKSON: Plus, Bin Laden shooting targets, bin Laden coffee cups, bin Laden T-shirts, all insulting.

"FRANK," MAKEEMPAY.COM: We also have another T-shirt that says "Osama, yo, mama."

JACKSON: The company spokesman won't let us use his real name or show his face -- security.

"FRANK": These people are ruthless. We'll call him Frank, spokesman for makeempay.com.

JACKSON: Many others are peddling anti-Osama novelties, too. For $29.99, this Texas firm will sell you Bin Laden pinatas, designed to be beaten to pieces. Bin Laden targets are cropping up on shooting ranges all over, this one in San Francisco.

Much of the merchandise is available on the Internet, along with scads of free games. You can shave Osama, punch Osama, shoot Osama, even nuke Osama.

JACKSON (on camera): Most of these games are too gory or too tasteless for television. One of the least offensive is a send-up of the venerable "wack-a-mole" game, "whack Osama."

(voice-over): Like the real world of antiterrorism, it's harder than it looks. Get one and more pop up. Not all that funny if you think about it.

JACKSON (on camera): Also showing up on the Internet, anti-Bin Laden songs and parodies. Sorry, Mr. Belafonte this one was inevitable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Run, Mr. Taliban, we know where you're hiding, Air Force come and they flatten your home.

JACKSON (voice-over): A favorite Australian, or a pretty good imitator, joins the international coalition as the Osama hunter.

But games, songs or goofy merchandise, the idea of ridiculing Bin Laden is to make people feel better.

"FRANK": We wanted to heal through humor, and that was a part of the purpose of this. You could call this propaganda dehumanizing the enemy, or just having a laugh at Bin Laden's expense.

Brooks Jackson, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com