Bin Laden Aides Bought Pepsi, Coke in Bulk

Terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden had two trusted aides shop for supplies in the stores of Abbottabad, Pakistan always paying in cash and showing an unexpected preference for Western brands like Coca Cola and Pepsi.

Two men, calling themselves Akbar and Rashid Khan, did their daily shopping just 150 meters from Bin Laden's walled compound (seen above) and bought enough for 10 people. The Khans spoke with the Pashtu-language accents of Waziristan, a region that borders Afghanistan, and always drove vehicles to the store. Grocers said they were suspicious of the large orders, but never asked questions because it would have been rude.

According to the grocer, the men showed equal preference for large orders of Coke and Pepsi. They also brought high-quality Nestle milk, good-quality soaps, shampoos and purchased meat from a local butcher.

The news is particularly ironic because one Al-Qaeda leader famously said in 2001, "The Americans love Pepsi Cola, we love death."

Photo by pentopad