Letters to the Editor
-
Is this tape real?
Putting aside questions about why bin Laden, who supposedly directs millions of dollars worth of global sleeper cells, can't afford to make a clear recording of himself, the main reason to doubt this tape (verified only by the trustworthy CIA) is that Karl Rove couldn't have scripted it better.
Already, you see White House and pundit spin drawing parallels between bin Laden's talking points and the talking points of critics:
- Polls show dissatisfaction among the public about Iraq and
Bush
- US troops are under stress and pulling them out is the way to
support them.
- Bush is handling the war in Iraq badly and it will get
worse
- Reports of torture fuel resistance
- Diplomacy is an option
- But I'm already planning to kill you anyhow
- And...read a Western anti-Bush book ( Rogue State) -- I like such books!
It's also worth noting that the bin Laden talking points that don't map onto critics of the administration also help Rove:
- It's true, if you don't defeat us in the Middle East, we will
kill you in your beds.
- If you pull out, you're no better than those Soviet pussies we wore down back in the day!
Seems mighty mysterious that bin Laden would show up after a year of silence with an unfocused message that is so well structured to create Election '06 talking points against war critics. I doubt it will work as well as the administration may hope, but, if it is fake, this recording is a good indication of how low Bush Co. will go.
- Polls show dissatisfaction among the public about Iraq and
Bush
-
intelligent discussion
It would be nice if we could actually get reliable information and informative, intelligent discussion of important events in this country. Chris Mathews and the rest of the (liberal?) media do nothing but push their political vaudeville.
I'm also slightly suspicious of this new tape. Mr. B's apperances always seem to boost Bush's poll numbers.
-
Jon Stewart's Response Was Best
On last night's Daily Show, Jon Stewart gave what is probably the best respnse to Ben Laden's claim that the American people want us out of Iraq. It was along the lines of, "While the majority of people want us out of Iraq, all of us are in favor of bombing the ^%$# out of Bin Laden wherever his is."
-
Is the Tape Real?
Anonymous,
I am afraid you are right. When I heard about the tape, the first thing that came to my mind was "how convenient for BushCo".
The next thing out of the BushCo's mouth will be: " if you against the war, you are for Bin Laden".
Rove's dirty fingerprints are all over this.
-
Bin Laden tape
Editor,
Why, under the circumstances (past and present), does everyone seem ready to assume that this tape is legit? Because a CIA controlled by Bush and his minions says so? No reason for scepticism there, right?
Does not the timing of the tape's appearance seem eerily familiar/Rovian. Rule number one: When your butt's in a sling (NSA, Abramoff, Medicare prescription drug boondoggle, etc... change the subject, and nothing has been more successful for this Administration than playing the "terror" card.
JB
-
Curiouser and curiouser...
While I tend to look dubiously on claims that the tape is a forgery, it is interesting that the CIA has been so quick to offer to a definitive affirmation of the tape's authenticity (at least, that it is bin Laden speaking). In most previous instances, the CIA has equivocated about its ability to definitively identify bin Laden on tapes.
It also strikes me as odd that in all this discussion, nobody brings up the irony that not only have Americans, in polls, expressed their desire to leave Iraq, but the Iraqis themselves, in their elections, have clearly asked that the Americans leave Iraq. It seems that the Bush administration and the US media are both quick to trumpet the Iraq elections and just as quick to shrug off the clear message those elections are sending.
--Josh
-
Agree
I too absolutely agree that the timing of this "bin Laden tape" couldn't be more advantageous to pResident Criminal and his Band of Sh*t-nosed Criminals.
Who would have thought Osama bin Laden was George Bush's best friend? I hope Smirky sends him a basket of fruit once in a while.
-
Can't we just act grown up
What wonderful things can be accomplished if we work together..instead of being identified as a Pollyanna, can't we just be identified as reasonable, cooperative adults. Where did we lose our focus? Why is it so hard to be nice and live and let live?
If everyone just stops screaming for a second, we could hear each other. We need each other. We need to stop wearing boots and switch to mocassins so we can hear again. Thank you.
-
bin Laden tape a fake
I am heartened to read that others think that the timing and substance is just a little too convenient. I think the tape is a fake, prepared and released to keep the public scared and in line.
-
Bin Laden
When trying to understand Bin Laden's strategy you need to begin with two basic truths. The first is that for Bin Laden and all Islamic Jihadists George Bush has been and is the best thing that has happened for them since the Taliban's success. They will do almost anything to keep him in power, Thus a threat to attack America again is designed to make Americans return to Bush as their protector against terrorism. The last thing Bin Laden et al want is a Democratic victory in the fall. The second truth is that the goal of all Jihadist behavior is to come to power in Islamic countries. They cannot suceed in this effort using power(military,police or internal violence) thus they seek to become more legitimate in the eyes of Muslim populations in Islamic states. They do this by attacking (regardless of the degree of success of those attacks) by attacking western nations who, to the Muslim man in the street, are the source of all their woes. They then advertise themselves as the only protectors of Islam and the only wall against westernization. All the polls taken in Islamic nations show their tactics are sucessful and they are gaining legitimacy.
Ben Laden sees this and manipulates our public opinion to insure the sucess of Bush because in so doing he moves toward his ultimate goal coming to power in the Islamic world.