The Washington Times is reporting that “a lack of communication in recent weeks by those close to Osama bin Laden” is “causing some analysts” within the intelligence community “to believe he may be executing a ruse to convince Washington he is dead.”

Officials said a small minority of intelligence analysts believe the dry spell could indicate that bin Laden is dead. He appeared tired and stressed in his last known video diatribe taped in early December, during which his normally active left arm remained motionless throughout.

There is a faint hope among some Bush administration officials that bin Laden was killed during the heavy bombing of his prime terror camp near the eastern city of Khost. But no evidence has surfaced to support that theory, officials said.

The senior officials said the mainstream intelligence assessment is that bin Laden has gone deep under the extensive U.S. intelligence gathering net in hopes Washington will conclude that he died.

‘I believe it’s a ruse,’ the senior official said. ‘I don’t believe he’s dead. We’ll believe he’s dead when we have the DNA.’

Proper attitude for the intelligence community to take — “we’ll believe it when we see it” — but I still believe Binny’s a pulpy coating on some pulverized rock near Khost. Wishful thinking on my part, no doubt…

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