A CIA-created Osama bin Laden toy doll, designed to keep overseas kids from taking up with al Qaeda, has been put on the auction block for the asking price of $2,500.
Only three of the dolls were made.
The face of the figure was painted with a material that actually dissolved from the heat generated by a child’s touch, the International Business Times reported. Once dissolved, bin Laden’s face would then emerge in fiery red-colored paint — suggesting his demonic roots, IBT said.
“Scarce and nearly unbelievable prototype of Osama Bin Laden doll intended for use in Arab countries in order to persuade children from idolizing the terror leader,” an auction blurb of the toy doll reads on, IBT reported. “This prototype was covertly designed for the CIA by Donald Levine in 2005 for an ’influence operation,’ intended to strategically distribute a scary depiction of bin Laden to children, ideally to dissuade them from joining a terrorist group such as al Qaeda.”
The model set for auction actually has a removable head that is replaceable with one that shows the killed terror chief as a demon, IBT said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.