As the robotic Scott McLellan reminds us in response to Osama bin Forgotten’s latest communiqué, we will end [the war in Iraq] at a time and place of our choosing.
Now seems as good a time as any, don’t you think?
“So, why is Bin Laden speaking now? He has suffered some recent setbacks. He is certainly reacting to the missile strikes last week in Pakistan that apparently killed some Al Qaeda operatives. Bin Laden is letting his followers and the world know that he is alive and ready to fight to the death. He also is reminding us that he takes the longterm view. The offer of a truce is not a sign of weakness, rather it is a gesture to the Muslim world intended to portray Bin Laden as a man of reason and honor who is intent on being faithful to God’s commandments. When he references the 10 year war against the Soviets and the perseverance of the mujahideen and their ultimate victory, this is not mere hyperbole. It is his war plan for success.”
His followers are no less true believers than the hawks among us, but they are willing and able to strap on a rifle or a bomb-belt where ours are content to reach for the Twinkies and rage on.
Independent Online Edition > Robert Fisk:
Never before in history have so many wanted men sent pictures and messages and video tapes out of the dark.
The irony, of course, is that Bin Laden is now partly irrelevant. He has created al-Qa’ida. His achievement – that word should be seen in context – is complete. Why bother hunting for him now? It’s a bit like arresting the world’s nuclear scientists after the invention of the atom bomb. The monster has been born. It’s al-Qa’ida we have to deal with.
If he had been run to ground in December 2001, could the growth of his movement been stunted? Most likely: he’s had 4 years to add to his legend of the most effective attacker the world’s remaining superpower ever faced and yet couldn’t capture.
Most effective? More civilians died in the WTC attack than servicemen at Pearl Harbor, and less time elapsed from Pearl Harbor to VJ day than has elapsed from Sept 11 to now.
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