Monday, November 01, 2004

 

A couple days ago 4 minutes of videotape of Osama Bin Laden were released. Everyone stood up and took notice. But no-one was really surprised by what he had to say.

Time will only tell if others agree with me, but I feel like the real bombshell only came today, with the release of the complete transcript of the full 14 minute video. Bin Laden is a smart fucker. In the extended transcript, he states that the central aim of Al-Qaida is to bankrupt America:

"All that we have to do is to send two mujahedeen to the furthest point east to raise a piece of cloth on which is written al Qaeda, in order to make generals race there to cause America to suffer human, economic and political losses without their achieving anything of note other than some benefits for their private corporations [. . .] the darkness of the black gold blurred [Bush's] vision and insight, and he gave priority to private interests over the public interests of America. So the war [in Iraq] went ahead, the death toll rose, the American economy bled, and Bush became embroiled in the swamps of Iraq that threaten his future.

He is, essentially, taunting Bush for falling into his trap by going into Iraq. Until now, this was mere left-wing speculation, the idea that Bin Laden wanted Bush to pursue this kind of aggressive, costly foreign policy. Now it's fact, straight from Bin Laden's mouth.

There are many - including both presidential candidates - who proclaim stridently that we cannot allow the terrorists to dictate our policy, that we cannot show weakness. This is a reasonable argument. But what are these people to think when they see Bin Laden say, straight out, "bring it on - you're stupid, and you have been doing exactly what we want you to"?

I don't even know what to think. I just know this is newsworthy. I hope people stand up and take note.

posted by Miles 8:40 PM