Sunday, April 23, 2006

Emanations from a Cave

Osama Bin Laden's latest statements have been calmly analyzed by Tigerhawk who summarizes each of Osama's ten talking points.

1. Hamas: Despite the fact that we (including Ayman Zawahiri) warned (Muslim Palestinians) not to take part in elections in general, the victory of Hamas shows that there is a "Crusader Zionist War against Islam." Cutting foreign aid to the Palestinians because of Hamas victory proves that war.

2. The public (in the West and the US), despite our warnings, continues to reelect these Governments, pay taxes to these Governments, and send their children to fight against us. They (civilians) are therefore part of the war against us. They are responsible for any harm that would be caused to them.

3. Sudan: The Bashir Government is failing in stopping the Crusader War in Sudan. The Crusaders (Britain) has pushed the southerners (Blacks) to separate. The US has armed them and is supporting them. And now, because of tribal tensions in Darfour, the Crusaders are planning on intervening there. We are calling on the Jihadists to fight them in Darfour and Southern Sudan.

4. Long War: We're calling on all Jihadists, particularly in Sudan and the Arabian Peninsula to prepare themselves for a long war.

5. Danish Cartoons: We are asking the Danish Government to remit the Cartoonists to al Qaida.

6. Saudis: We criticize the Saudi Monarch for refuting the idea of Clash of civilization. There is a clash led by the West against Islam.

7. Arab Liberals: Jihadists must silence the Arab and Muslim liberals. (A list has been established, but it wasn't aired).

8. Education: We warn from any change that would affect the educational curriculum in the Arab and Muslim world.

9. Arab TV: We warn against those TV stations airing into the region and propagating Crusader propaganda.

10: Truce: We offered a truce to the West (US and Europe) but their public refused to accept it. They will only blame themselves.

After this measured beginning, Tigerhawk ends the litany with a punchline worth of J. Alfred Prufrock

Apart from the list's comic aspects, it is fascinating for its omissions. Why didn't bin Laden talk about Iraq?

Pajamas Media has a roundup of what other bloggers are saying on the subject but even the liberal MyBlahg can only think to compare Osama's statement to George Bush's. "Shorter Osama bin Laden: Stay the course. We won’t cut and run. Support the troops." Which is to say that since the liberals think that GWB is a disaster that Osama Bin Laden must be the same dire strait.

Tigerhawk goes on to say that:

Al Qaeda drew a line in the sands of the Sunni Triangle, and the United States Army and Marines walked right across it. First, al Qaeda tried to kill Americans, per bin Laden's orders. It largely failed. Then al Qaeda went after America's allies, and succeeded only in turning public opinion against itself in every Muslim country it attacked. After thirty months of battlefield defeats and political embarrassments, bin Laden won't even mention Iraq in one of his rare public utterances, and he rallies his troops to fight a war where American soldiers aren't. How humiliating. How delightful.

Commentary

You don't have to fully agree with Tigerhawk's assessment to acknowledge there is some truth to it. One can argue about the extent to which the enemy is hurting but it is difficult to maintain that the enemy is unhurt. But if Tigerhawk was surprised by the omission of Iraq, I was doubly surprised by the inclusion of the Danish cartoons in Osama's list of vital fronts. The Danish cartoon battle has been largely fought by the blogosphere and a handful of European newspapers; that is to say fought by the no-account, podunk, non-Pulitzer Prize winners of the world. The decision by the great flagships of modern Western thought -- the newspapers, networks and towers of academia -- to stay out of it has inadvertently but fortunately eliminated them from the reckoning. Their self-exclusion means that a bunch of guys with computers on TV carts, kitchens, basements, attics and in the garages have actually left a mark on Osama Bin Laden. This calls for ... (glance into non-existent wine cellar) ... another cup of coffee.

Update

John Kerry thinks that Osama Bin Laden's recent statement is another reason why Donald Rumsfeld should resign.

"Osama Bin Laden is loose today because we allowed him to escape at Tora Bora," said Kerry, echoing a statement often heard during his failed 2004 presidential bid. ... Kerry also cited the tape in echoing calls from several retired generals for change at the top of the Defense Department, saying, "This is another reason Donald Rumsfeld should resign." ... Kerry slammed the administration's Iraq policy, arguing, "There's no excuse ... for American troops to be driving by IEDs and getting blown up." Kerry continued, "Where is the standing down? It isn't taking place." ...

Comment etiquette

To the keep the thread lively, each commenter should try to keep to 4 or 5 comments per post. Otherwise it gets too lively.

48 Comments:

Blogger Doug said...

"Their self-exclusion means that a bunch of guys with computers on TV carts, kitchens, basements, attics and in the garages have actually left a mark on Osama Bin Laden.
This calls for ... (glance into non-existent wine cellar) ... another cup of coffee.
"
---
Huzzah!
First of many victories for the New A Team.
(and I ain't talkin New Age)

4/23/2006 03:21:00 PM  
Blogger USCitizen said...

It looks like Tigershark has some good points. The ommission of Iraq is interesting.

Thanks for mentioning the garage (commented in an earlier post).

4/23/2006 03:29:00 PM  
Blogger USCitizen said...

Er, I meant Tigerhawk.

4/23/2006 03:30:00 PM  
Blogger Marcus Aurelius said...

The MSM for the most part tried to distance itself from the Cartoon Conflagration as much as possible and often times was obsequious to Muslims over it. None the less that pandering has bought nothing with the Bin Ladens of the world. CNN despite its censoring and pandering to the tender feelings of Muslims is placed into the Crusader/Zionist bucket with the rest of us.

Austin Bay also noted Bin Laden's lashing out at the Western lead effort to save the lives of Muslims in The Sudan's Darfur.

4/23/2006 03:38:00 PM  
Blogger diabeticfriendly said...

Dear Mister Osama bin Laden.

Thanks to you, I have purchased several cases of bacon bits to sprinkle on your grave and your followers...

These bottles of bacon will be even smuggled into mecca and medina and sprinkled as we walk. We proud infidel men, will wear complete Burqas, we will spread bacon bits everywhere you pray...

we will sprinkle your dead with bacon bits...


Thank you Osama bin Laden for giving me the WMD you cannot counter... bacon and the infidel who wields it...

4/23/2006 03:43:00 PM  
Blogger Doug said...

USCitizen has his profile turned off, but his website
USCitizen is the place to go for Immigration Links.

4/23/2006 04:17:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

OB(ul)L also called for a world-wide boycott of American goods. I note he didn't say "western" goods--no doubt due to his understanding that cellphones, videocams, assault rifles, vehicles, and even cassette tape recorders do not configure well made from poppies, figs, and goat dung.

4/23/2006 04:18:00 PM  
Blogger Doug said...

This is too good for anyone to miss:
geoffgo said...
H/T Freep
Pulitzer Prize winning Dana Priest is married to William Goodfellow. William Goodfellow is the Executive Director of the the Center for International Policy (CIP).

Before 9/11, CIP, a Fenton Communications client, mainly acted as Fidel Castro’s greatest “think tank” ally. Much of its million-dollar budget was spent lobbying to end economic sanctions and travel restrictions against Cuba.

Now, it has another mission. Fenton has established a “war room” with CIP called The Iraq Policy Information Program (IPIP). Its main job is getting the anti-Bush foreign policy message out to the media and providing guests for talk shows. A featured speaker of the IPIP is former ambassador Joe Wilson, one of the Bush administration’s most vocal enemies.

Like Moveon.org and Win Without War, the contact for the Iraq Policy Information Program is Fenton Communications. Win Without War also collects tax-deductible donations through CIP.

So Dana Priest's husband runs an operation that gets Joe Wilson speaking gigs.

4/23/2006 04:24:00 PM  
Blogger Doug said...

Dana is from CA, dontcha know.
Greeeaaat!

4/23/2006 04:25:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

Doug, go to your search engine and type in [ fenton soros tides ]

That's just a top o the head, on Goo.

4/23/2006 04:38:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

"America's Red Army" as your pal and mine David Horowitz calls it. Little Mary is a member in good standing, and the Hubby of WaPo reporter Dana Priest is a Field Commander. Kerry of course does his thing as consort of the titular head of the Ketchup Front.

What's really funny is how all these NGOs--from Soros' Open Society to Heinz' Tides Foundation all operate tax-free, and always grab every possible government grant available by inside hook and crook.

They meant it about the rope to hang us with.

4/23/2006 04:48:00 PM  
Blogger RWE said...

"...storms caused us the loss of several ships after an imprudently undertaken engagement."

The above quote was Napolean's official response to the decisive British victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Of Iraq - that great measure of the clash of civilizations - Bin Laden said far less, in fact nothing at all.

Wretchard's dead right! Break out the bubbly!

4/23/2006 04:53:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

sorry for the o/t (but-ps-drive a Ford?) --

4/23/2006 04:53:00 PM  
Blogger desert rat said...

Iraq?
we have not from mini Z and aQI for a couple of moons, now.
The old man of the mountain, keeps on keepin' on, though.

Osama, Dead or alive.

His freedom, unacceptable.
Just like Iranian cascades.

4/23/2006 04:58:00 PM  
Blogger Doug said...

So maybe one of Toyota's big advantages is they don't have to pay for the Communist Party USA?

4/23/2006 05:00:00 PM  
Blogger Doug said...

"Just like Iranian cascades."
---
They won't be able to Bury the THOUSANDS of those deeply, will they?
If not, seems like we should just knock em down every time they put em up.

4/23/2006 05:03:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Wretchard, if you enjoy an occasional glass, please email me a DHL shipping address and we'll get a start on your cellar - as I type, sipping a fine though inexpensive cabernet, reflecting on this latest good news and the (long) list of tyrants who threaten us and other freedom loving people that I expect will (sooner than later) share UBL's fate (due in large part to a president who refuses to take the easy way out and let this cup pass from him).

4/23/2006 05:07:00 PM  
Blogger Doug said...

Ah, the Calif Cab.
I like Pinot even better.
And the lowly Zin is fine for me.

4/23/2006 05:20:00 PM  
Blogger Doug said...

(But we mustn't dehydrate in the Tropics, so Beer is most often near.)

4/23/2006 05:22:00 PM  
Blogger desert rat said...

Seems like they can, doug. Deep underground under an Urban setting.

That is the main setup, the one we know about, how many others are there, and where?

Maybe we know, but so what if we do?

Mr Goss said he knew where Osama was, once.

Iran crossed the line, decades ago.

4/23/2006 05:28:00 PM  
Blogger wretchardthecat said...

Ari Tai,

Thanks. But fortunately, there are a couple of wine shops nearby selling an excellent assortment of vintage most of which I am too ignorant to appreciate. The fine fruity tastes, the bouquets will all be lost on me.

4/23/2006 05:39:00 PM  
Blogger desert rat said...

Mr Kofi asked for 10,000 additional troops to support the African Union troops already there in Darfur, and he also requested Close Air Support capability for those troops.
Mr Bolton supported the letter, reccommending that NATO take up the effort, Mr Bush echoed that idea.

To date I know of no deployment of any of the requested assets, from anyone.

The Sudanese are Mohammedan to the core, though.

Just depend on whom the Enemy is, today.

4/23/2006 05:48:00 PM  
Blogger desert rat said...

Well, who really gives a hoot

"... By Ralph Peters ... "

" ... Not so long ago we were told that democracy would sweep the world. A new age of governmental decency would dawn for hundreds of millions. Peace, constructive trade and general good-will would follow.

Now, as the number of real and nominal democracies continues to grow, we see little improvement in the human condition, no diminution of corruption, burgeoning discontents--and turmoil where we meant to implant peace.

Even in the West, where democracy is deep-rooted, there's a crisis of mediocrity and will. ... "

Democracy's Global Crisis: Not the Promised Cure-All

Read it here, days or hours ahead of the curve.

We discuss competency at noon,
Mr Peters mentions a "Crisis of Mediocrity" at Dinner time, instant access to the spin masters.

But then, you'd have to believe.
As ol' mat would say, "have faith"

4/23/2006 06:16:00 PM  
Blogger Asher Abrams said...

{raises cup of Folger's instant}

L'chaim!

4/23/2006 06:18:00 PM  
Blogger Doug said...

shoshanna,
I used to gross everyone out by spooning the precious crystals directly into my mouth out of the container, sometimes chased down by Beer!

I am much more refined now, however, and spend half my time brewing coffee.
Life is tough for the easily addicted.

4/23/2006 07:10:00 PM  
Blogger USCitizen said...

Thanks to Doug for the link.

USCitizen
from
Traction Control

4/23/2006 07:30:00 PM  
Blogger Boghie said...

Somnambulist,

I'll take a stab at those very difficult and intriging questions:

1. Why is Grover Norquist still heavily involved with the GOP and the Bush Administration?

Answer: Grover Norquist is not a Senior International Affairs analyst for the Bush Administration. Can you provide a link that demonstrates official ties to the Bush Administration :-(

Here is Grover's biography: Grover's Bio - Very Hard to Find


2. Why is Michael Leeden still senior International Affairs analyst for the Bush Administration?

Answer: Michael Leeden is not a Senior International Affairs analyst for the Bush Administration. Can you provide a link that demonstrates official ties to the Bush Administration :-(

Here is a Wikipedia discussion on Michael's biography: Grover's Bio - Very Hard to Find

Brilliant questions... Did you get them from the Randi Rhodent on Err America.

Basically, I really don't care about Grover and Michael. Grover is good on tax questions and Michael is good on Islamofascism. And, with the bloat in Washington D.C. there is always a chance someone gets one of the million or so "Senior Analyst" positions floating around - like a K-Mart "Sales Associate", eh...

Finally, Iran will most likely not pop up fully prepared to nuke Israeli or European or Turkish cities for a few years yet - say 2010 or so. That will be when some Democrat has saved some money through another Peace Dividend (cutting DOD and Intelligence budgets) and started another 'War on Poverty' or something... Maybe start another copy of the Peace Corps...

Here is a question I have:

Should we fight every war declared on us?

4/23/2006 07:40:00 PM  
Blogger Boghie said...

Sorry about feeding the trolls...
Never Again...
Never Again...

Looks like Osama is going to play 'Build the Islamic Caliphate' using Pee Wee Reese's hitting strategy:

"Hit em were they ain't"

It works in baseball, why not terrorism. You can threaten America in Zimbawe or Mongolia or somewhere... How bout the Sudan again...

Maybe the 'Iraq is a Terrorist Training Ground' concept isn't working out as well as Osama thought - after reading the Leftist blogs. He does read them - see the references to the cartoons!!! He might be spending too much time on DU and the DailyKOS...

4/23/2006 07:46:00 PM  
Blogger Pangloss said...

Given that Darfur is the home of a Moslem on Moslem genocide by Arabs upon Black Africans, is it not an untapped PR disaster of epic proportions for Islam? Islam claims that it is color blind. Obviously, it is not. With slavery still practiced openly in Sudan (and in secret by Arabs everywhere), coupled with the anti-black-African genocide in Darfur, isn't it increasingly clear that there is no more peace inside Islam than there is on its borders?

4/23/2006 08:43:00 PM  
Blogger Boghie said...

Somnambulist,

You asked the following:

1. Why is Grover Norquist still heavily involved with the GOP and the Bush Administration ?

2. Why is Michael Leeden still senior International Affairs analyst for the Bush Administration ?

As part of a response, you stated:
"Actually, these questions came from the American Conservative, The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, Front Page Magazine and the Weekly Standard.

I have made a cursory review and found that Ledeen writes for the WSJ, NRO, and articles in FPM and WS seem favorable. Personally, I have never read anything in those sources remotely like your presentation.

Can you provide links? Otherwise your discussion is unsubstantiated.

BTW, Ledeen's field of study was Fascism. Can you provide a link to your quote - which seems rather cut up and potentially taken out of context.

Another example, your excerpt:

"Creative destruction is our middle name, both within our own society and abroad. We tear down the old order every day, from business to science, literature, art, architecture, and cinema to politics and the law."

reemphasizes my point. Do you know what the concept of "creative destruction" is? And, yes, relatively free forms of capitalism and speech exercise "creative destruction". If you Google (an example of "creative destruction" vs' AOL) +Ledeen, +"Wall Street Journal" you will get the arguments that are going on in the conservative arena regarding foreign policy. Very interesting arguments - with nothing of value coming from the left.

Finally, Ledeen is not a government employ. Your question made it sound so. If BusHitler and his cronies want to listen to a citizen with expertise who am I to stop him.

I know very little of Norquist. Don't care for him too much. Again, why should I care? He is the top dog of a think tank. He is influential on government spending and taxation issues. Is the Belmont Club where this discussion should take place? The Libs have think tanks as well. How else do you build consensus and develop ideas? If he got involved with that lobbyist than he should go to the pokey. Otherwise, I do not care.

Finally, I am leaving myself quite open. I don't think these comments warrant the usual review I give before commenting. But, it is fun...

4/23/2006 09:55:00 PM  
Blogger Boghie said...

On Topic:

al Qaeda is a spent force in the pivit point Middle East. The mighty Osama wants to make a stand in the Congo - no, thats not right, he said the Sudan or someplace.

What are we going to have to do. Hunt him out like the Romans did to Hannibal. I think we are game for that.

Hate to be him and his bowel movement...

Off Topic for Sleepy Somnambulist:

Is it possible not to fight a war someone declares on you?

Just read your American Conservative article on Ledeen being a Fascist or something...

While the author does try to make the point that Ledeen is a closet Fascist it is, shall we say, a bit strained... In fact a Google search of "John Laughland" leaves a bit to be desired.

He cannot even make that point well. Like most agenda driven "journalists" (allthough he doesn't play one here - he is honest enough not to do that since it is opinion) he hits hard in the first paragraph and then discusses what his favorite color is in the rest. He brings up Ledeen's scholarship on why the citizens of Germany, Italy, and even France started leaning fascist in the 1930's - and claims that they thought it was progressive... Note that Ledeen is talking about other people at another time - not himself.

So, how does your quote fit into a discussion of Ledeen?

4/23/2006 10:24:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

I can see how the term "creative destruction" might throw someone who's never heard of the very well known Joseph Schumpeter--as Mr. Ledeen surely ain't one of.

4/23/2006 10:26:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

IOW, Somnambu--the phrase you highlight as advocating evil, has an actual meaning inside the theories of a very famous philosopher of the morality of freeing the common soul to create a better material life. You not only have it wrong, you have it exactly wrong. As you will see, if you peruse the link.

4/23/2006 10:35:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

I just skimmed the thread, and found an assertion that Latin American markets have proven liberalization "a disaster". Please, just scroll to the bottom of this EZ trends-at-a-glance site:

4/23/2006 11:41:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

"Now that President Bush is increasingly alone in pushing for freedom, I can only hope that his dissident spirit will continue to persevere. For should that spirit break, evil will indeed triumph, and the consequences for our world would be disastrous."

Natan Sharansky

4/24/2006 12:09:00 AM  
Blogger enuff said...

The fact Kerry and his following of ‘Clueless’ keep harping on taking bin Laden out should tell most how dangerous and ignorant these political opportunist’s remain.

Recruitment into the core or one of the secondary group/organizations surrounding the central, base, leadership group of al-Q has never been top-down. Almost without exception recruitment is, and remains, from the bottom, up. An individual(s), group(s) or cell(s) almost exclusively seek enlistment by way of training which the leadership(core) group uses a part of a selection process. It provides an effective means of compartmentalization but it also hampers recruitment by providing an effective barrier if there’s not a secure means of communication into the base or a secondary element possessing a communication link.

4/24/2006 02:41:00 AM  
Blogger Harrywr2 said...

"Another reason Donald Rumsfeld should resign"

If the course of events in Iraq should turn undeniably positive between now and November, there will be no one to blame. If Rumsfeld resigns now, and the course of the war turns postive between now and November, it will be because Rumsfeld resigned.

Of course, real logic would dictate that any impact a new SecDef would make won't be visible for at least a year.

4/24/2006 08:11:00 AM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

They got no issue but the fuzzy-wuzzy "incompetence".

Someone should mention that the charge is meaningless without a comparison.

4/24/2006 08:23:00 AM  
Blogger Cobalt Blue said...

Raising my cup of coffee to you, Wretchard, and to all of the Belmont Club community.

4/24/2006 08:36:00 AM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

You're right about WalMart--500 million weekly inflation-killing shopping visits are an absolute scandal--the very idea that no unions are being let in the door to skim off the top! How's a poor crooked politician 'spose to get his cut? We should mount a campaign or something.

Forget all those insignificant proles lining up because they desire to shop and/or work there--just concentrate on the "higher truth" that the Worker's Paradise can't get off the ground so long as outfits like WalMart deny it its grift and leverage.

4/24/2006 01:32:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

The thing to do, for walmart haters, is start a competing store instead of trying to turn WalMart into Red Square. See how well the worker's paradise attracts customers and employees.

4/24/2006 01:39:00 PM  
Blogger Alexis said...

buddy: Actually, some people are doing that, obliquely. I simply don't shop at Wal-Mart.

(Personally, I don't mind buying Chinese products per se, but I do mind Wal-Mart telling its suppliers it won't buy their products unless they shift their production to China. There's often a big difference between a passive policy and an active one.)

4/24/2006 01:54:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

"Those who are right should never fear scrutiny of their policy and thorough debate."--John Kerry, Boston Globe, April 22, 2006

"Kerry Accuses Bush of Stifling Dissent"--headline, Associated Press, April 23, 2006

"The Kerry campaign has asked the Federal Election Commission to ban the Swift Boat ads."--Robert Samuelson, Newsweek, Aug. 25, 2004

(*giggle*) (ht-Taranto)

4/24/2006 01:58:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

Alexis--they are pretty monomaniacal about low-cost. You and Somnanb have great, valid points.

I just hate the coordinated smear/bogus legalistic campaign by the hard-eyed left.

And ask you to remember that you at least are able to choose rock-bottom prices if you are ever in need of them.

4/24/2006 02:03:00 PM  
Blogger Alexis said...

I think Osama bin Laden has made several major mistakes in his last speech. And that is our gain.

His decision to send his supporters to Sudan opens up many possibilities, among them a historical trajectory leading to the demise of the Iran's clerical regime and an emboldening of Muslim liberals.

http://cybersym.blogspot.com

Sadly speaking, political opinion in the Middle East follows the sword. Because of this, any political faction within the Middle East seeking ideological ascendancy must be seen to have strong military muscle. As a rule, this has played into the hands of autocrats and "political generals". Still, this can be turned to the advantage of democrats and liberals in the Middle East. And alliance of ideological factions against al-Qaeda could take control of the street (and the media) from Islamist and neo-Fascist militia. Just as the Free French forces were important in 1944, expatriate militia are important now.

An opportunity has come for decisive victory. Let's seize it.

4/24/2006 02:09:00 PM  
Blogger buddy larsen said...

Nice writing, nice looking blog, Alexis--the "what if" is a nice touch--

4/24/2006 02:24:00 PM  
Blogger aaron said...

What kind of influence do these OBL tapes actually have nowadays? Is there anyone who studied reaction to previous tapes (and I mean reaction by terrorists, not news organizations and bloggers)?

4/24/2006 02:53:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I have written a book about the U.S. military in the Persian Gulf during the years 1987-1988. It includes all of the events from Stark to Vincennes, including several combat operations between the USA and Iran. The title is "Inside the Danger Zone." Check it out. It is a little-known part of history.

http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Danger-Zone-Military-1987-1988/dp/1591149703

4/10/2007 01:10:00 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home


Powered by Blogger