Well, it came a kind of a surprise to me although in retrospect it shouldn't have, especially considering the timing. Once again, I would like to thank Al-Jazeera for being "Johnny on the Spot" with the latest breaking news from the inside track of the underworld of militant Islam. Without them, the Tokyo Rose of sandbox journalism, we would never know the true thoughts and needs of our enemies. They're people too, ya know.
Now, onto a couple of points I found interesting:
1. Osama is looking well and healthy. This is a sharp contrast to the half starved man that was making tapes a couple of years ago. So, we can conclude that he is either no longer living in a cave sustaining himself on rats and sandstone tea, or the tape was made well before it was aired. IMO it is most likely current, although it wouldn't surprise me to discover that he planned this well in advance. Kinda like a reverse Andy Kaufman disappearing act. But, this is highly unlikely.
2. This video, clearly taunting the current administration by sheer virtue of its (i.e. Osama's) existence, couldn't have been timed better. What better way (from hiding) to influence the weak of mind in a nation on the brink of one of the most monumental elections in modern history? Well done, Al-Quaida.
3. Osama more or less promises to leave us alone in exchange for us no longer "threatening Muslim security". The statement to the effect that the voters, not the leaders, hold destiny in their hands was IMO clearly a thinly veiled threat. Hmm.
Conclusions: Osama, wherever he may be, is sending a very clear message to the voting public: "Your president is ineffective (see, I'm still alive), and if you reelect him I will attack you again. If you don't, I might not."
No deal, Mr. Bin Laden. Whatever it is he's looking for, whatever he hopes to gain, it is our duty to deny him. Osama dealt us a terrible, bloody blow a couple of years ago, and heaven help us all if we forget that the threat from these people is very real and will not go away with some political pandering. Whether they're in Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, New York City or the North Pole, and whether they go by the name Al-Quaida, the PLO, Iraqi "insurgents" or Santa's Elves...they must be neutralized by whatever means become necessary. This is going to be a very long, very difficult war..and it's just beginning. In the end, it may or may not be winnable. Some fights are worth fighting, and this is certainly worth the effort. Every ounce of it.
My vote is for President Bush, because he has the courage to make the difficult and unpopular decisions.
