Flushing bin Laden out of their systems

By ELEANOR BLACK

Americans are fighting terrorism with their wallets - spending up large on Osama bin Laden toilet paper, coffee mugs, pinatas and Hallowe'en costumes.

Two companies have produced premium toilet paper bearing the terrorist's image and catchy slogans such as "Listen to your mamma ... wipe with Osama" and "Osama ... you look flushed!"

Latex masks shaped to look like the terrorist are for sale along the Texas-Mexico border, and costume shops are taking orders for pint-sized Hallowe'en terrorist outfits.

A percentage of profits from sales of the pricey toilet paper - ranging from $US9.99 ($24) to $US19.99 ($48) a roll - go to the families of victims of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

"Bin Laden toilet paper makes a great gift," says Boden, the firm responsible for the product line Wipe with bin Laden.

"It also brings a smile to an event in a time where smiles are scarce."

Michigan-based novelty company America Wins is doing its part by selling toilet paper, T-shirts and coffee mugs decorated with caricatures of al Qaeda's leader centred in the sights of a gun.

It has even offered in jest to air-drop thousands of the rolls into Afghanistan, to help "wipe out" terrorism.

Costume hire companies in the US predict that Osama bin Laden lookalikes will be warring with police officers and firefighters in the streets of suburbia on October 31 (Hallowe'en).

The popular American holiday is a barometer for social trends and popular costumes generally reflect the hot topic of the day.

"Bin Laden is big," said Paul Blum, owner of the Abracadabra costume shop in New York. "People keep coming in asking for the mask."

But there is little demand for the mask of President George W. Bush.

Websites devoted to the Macabre holiday have done nothing to lessen the gore in spite of the country's heightened sensitivity to horror.

Halloween.com is advertising an outfit similar to that worn by members of al Qaeda for $42.

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