Osama bin Laden 'plotting to relaunch al-Qaeda with new 9/11-style spectacular' An exhaustive memo from Bin Laden's American-born spin doctor, Adam Gadahn, disclosed detailed plans for rebranding the network and reinvigorating its supporters by capitalising on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 with a publicity blitz in western media. Bin Laden or his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri were considering granting television interviews, while reporters - including two in Britain - were set to be handpicked for exclusive anniversary material that might put the threat of global jihad back in the headlines. "All the political talk in America is about the economy, forgetting or ignoring the war and its role in weakening the economy," wrote Gadahn, who said the group might even need to rename itself to seize back the initiative. Plans for ambitious new fronts were floated by several of bin Laden's lieutenants, including one to persuade Irish Catholics who were disenchanted with the church due to sex abuse scandals to turn to Islam rather than secularism. However bin Laden remained focused on the nation he labelled the "head of the infidels." "If God wills it, America's head can be cut off," he wrote. Once the head has been removed, then it would be easier to cut off America's wings. Yet the documents depict him as a chairman struggling to maintain control of a sprawling and chaotic board. In memos fired off from his Abbottabad compound he repeatedly attempted to discipline regional commanders who he believed had ideas above their station. The Yemeni-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula were ordered to rein in plans to target their domestic government and declare an Islamic state. Tehrik-e-Taleban, the Pakistani offshoot, were condemned for indiscriminately attacking Muslims and an excessive use of kidnap. Meanwhile al-Shabab, the hardline Somali jihadists, were rebuffed after asking for a formal merger. One document may even point to a split right at the top of al-Qaeda, according to the US Army's Combating Terrorism Centre, which released the documents. A letter to bin Laden from a senior colleague, "possibly" Zawahiri, urged him to reconsider his rejection of the Somali alliance. The merger eventually went ahead after bin Laden was killed and Zawahiri took charge.