Sounds like he is trying to weasel his way out of the thrashing that he knows is comming to him.

Posted by: km at January 20, 2006 3:15 AM

Qur’an 9:3 “Allah and His Messenger dissolve obligations.”

WELL HOW CAN YOU TRUST PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THIS??

Bukhari:V7B67N427 “The Prophet said, ‘If I take an oath and later find something else better than that, then I do what is better and expiate my oath.’”

KIND OF WHAT HE USED WHILE LOOSING IN TORA BORA??
THE YELLOW COWARD WHO RAN AWAY??

Qur’an 66:1 “Allah has already sanctioned for you the dissolution of your vows.”

NOW WHAT WAS THAT HE SAID ABOUT NOT TELLING THE TRUTH??

Qur’an 4:142 “Surely the hypocrites strive to deceive Allah. He shall retaliate by deceiving them.”

FOOL ME ONCE SHAME ON YOU FOOL ME TWICE SHAME ON ME

Qur’an 33:11 “In that situation the Believers were sorely tried and shaken as by a tremendous shaking. And behold! The Hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease said: ‘Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion; they have promised only to deceive us.”

YEP ubl[hipacrat who runs away and hangs out with women yellow coward] BEEN SEEING A LOT OF EATHQUAKES IN MULSUM COUNTRIES AND THEY FOLLOWED THIS MONSTER WHO IS IN IRAN WHO SENDS MONSTERS TO KILL THE IRAQI PEOPLE

Qur’an 33:14 “Say: Flight will not avail you if you flee from death, killing, or slaughter. In that case you will not be allowed to enjoy yourselves but a little while. Say, ‘Who will screen you, saving you from Allah if he intends to harm and injure you?’”

MORE ISLAMIC TERRORIST DEAD TODAY

Ishaq:519 “Hajjaj said to the Apostle, ‘I have money scattered among the Meccan merchants, so give me permission to go and get it.’ Having got Muhammad’s permission, he said, ‘I must tell lies.’ The Apostle said, ‘Tell them.’”

NOW THAT DON'T MAKE HIS CASE??

Qur’an 8:58 “If you apprehend treachery from a people with whom you have a treaty, retaliate by breaking off relations with them.”

SO THE YELLOW COWARD CAN SAY WHATEVER HE WANTS AND NOT MAKING THE CASE FOR TRUTH??

Ishaq:548 “By Allah, the black mass has spread. Abu Bakr said, ‘There is not much honesty among people nowadays.’”

YES THE BIRD FLUE IS SPREADING AMOUNG THE MULSUMS IN IRAN AND AROUND THE WORLD

Tabari VI:110 “When Muhammad brought a revelation from Allah canceling what Satan had cast on the tongue of His Prophet, the Quraysh said, ‘Muhammad has repented of [reneged on] what he said concerning the position of our gods with Allah. He has altered [the bargain] and brought something else.’ Those two phrases which Satan had cast on Muhammad’s tongue of were in the mouth of every polytheist. The Messenger said, ‘I have fabricated things against Allah and have imputed to Him words which He has not spoken.’”

SO THIER MO-HAM-OD LIED NOT GOOD FOR THE YELLOW COWARDS CASE??

Qur’an 8:49 “When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease said: ‘The religion has deceived and misled them.’”

COULD THIS BE IRAN AND THE YELLOW COWARD WHO THEY HARBOR??

Ishaq:323 “I am the best of plotters. I deceived them with My guile so that I delivered you from them.”

YES POPIES ARE NOT TULIPS AND YOU YELLOW COWARD ARE A LIAR!!

Ishaq:365/Tabari VII:94 “Muhammad bin Maslamah said, ‘O Messenger, we shall have to tell lies.’ ‘Say what you like,’ Muhammad replied. ‘You are absolved, free to say whatever you must.’”

HAD TO SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST LIAR!!

Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
GOD BLESS THE USA AND HER FIGHTING FORCES AND ALL WHO FIGHT WITH HER GIVE THEM STRENGTH, WISDOM, SIGHT, AND COURAGE TO STAY THE COURSE TO DESTROY ALL ISLAMIC TERRORIST AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THEM LET NOT THE WORLD BE DECIEVED BY THEM AMEN

Posted by: Catherine at January 20, 2006 3:38 AM

Who cares what this diseased maggot thinks and says?

Same old garbage directed towards the usual fools who lick it like cats do milk.

It is only relevant if it directs a missile or bomb better.

It would seem that for him C4 belts and death are not an option...maybe he is too old or not stupid enough or as Catherine says: maybe just a coward. Most bullies usually are.

Posted by: Zathras at January 20, 2006 4:35 AM

Bin Laden's English is not so good, so for the sake of the media here in the west we'd better clarify: when a jihadist 'offers a truce', what he's really trying to say is:

'The forces of the Jihad are weakened almost to the point of defeat - we therefore call upon the infidels to surrender as soon as possible'.

Posted by: religion_of_peas at January 20, 2006 4:46 AM

America's Greatest Delusion

There is still a fatal flaw in the best thinking of our leaders who are seeking to defend us against the current global Islamic ‘holy war’ that has been launched against us. And the majority of America’s Media keeps reporting news that misunderstands the nature of the threat we face as a nation from ‘radical Islam’ – in the name of “political correctness.”
We are not involved in a traditional kind of war in which your opponent is either a physical nation or an axis of nations. It is not a conflict where they can be confronted and defeated – as in World War One and Two, Korea or Viet Nam. It is not a conflict where we can isolate and blockade them. It is not even a war where we can defeat them and the menace stops. This enemy is far too diversified, scattered and hidden to easily confront them.
We could capture or kill Osama bin-Laden and all the al-Qaeda leadership and it would not stop this ‘holy war’ or ‘Jihad’ that rages against us. Al-Qaeda is but one group of Islamic fanatics that seek to destroy us.
The root causes of the war we face are deeply embedded in a religion-based culture that totally rejects our culture and religions. Islam’s core teachings breed a deep ‘civilizational hatred’ toward every thing Western culture stands for. In fact against any culture that is different from the one taught in the Koran. The committed Muslim thinks that this hatred for us is from his God. The devout Muslim believes that when he rejects and attacks western culture, he is obeying specific commands in the Koran.
The West rarely takes one of Mohammad’s most basic teachings seriously. Yet it is one of the most defining principles of Islam. Mohammad divided the world into only two spheres: ‘Dar al Islam’ or ‘the region of peace’ and ‘Dar al Harb’ or the region of war. The ‘region of peace’ means that all its inhabitants are in ‘submission’ to Allah. The ‘region of war’ means that Muslims are to view it as a place of perpetually war until ALL are in submission to Allah and his laws.
Islam’s method of bringing the inhabitants of ‘Dar al Harb’ into submission is the sword. Islam’s method of ‘evangelism’ is by force of arms. You either convert to Islam or, if they choose, remain alive with no rights and pay an obscene tax for the ‘privilege’ of living among them. This is a fundamental message in the Koran. It is authenticated by Muslim actions in history.
Winston Churchill correctly observed, “The religion of Islam above all others was founded upon the sword … Moreover it provides incentives to slaughter, and in three continents has produced fighting breeds of men – filled with a wild and merciless fanaticism.”
A dispassionate examination of the Koran illustrates why this is. There are over 109 verses in the Koran that call on believers to fight Jews and Christians, subjugate them, murder them, break treaties that are made with them, cut off their heads, tongues, hands, feet, crucify them.
Fourteen hundred years of history clearly bears out how Muslims have understood and implemented these commands from the Koran. The Muslim Faith did not spread from the Pyrenees to the Philippines within 100 years of Mohammed’s death, by peaceful proselytizing.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam have all had a profound impact on the world.
A promised deliverer named Moses founded Judaism. He led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery and passed on to them the Laws God gave him upon which their nation was then built. According to the Bible, they were created as a people to be a light to guide people to the true God.
Jesus, a man of peace who did not even resist his own execution, founded Christianity. He offered all men atonement for their sins and forgiveness. He did not come to set up a kingdom on this earth, but rather He called people to join Him in an eternal heavenly kingdom that is entered by faith in His atonement for them.
A warlord named Mohammad who led men into battle and murdered disarmed opponents founded Islam. As he gained power, he became progressively more violent. Mohammad forced people to convert are die. Function has continued to follow form.
As we look at the crises of the world today, almost all of terrorism is committed and inspired by a radical brand of Islam known as fundamentalists. There are Muslim fundamentalists in every part of the world. These are Muslims who begin to take the Koran and the example of Mohammad seriously. As they do, they begin to have an all-consuming hatred of the Western civilization, of Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. They then either become active terrorists or support them.
This life or death struggle forced upon us by Islamic Fundamentalism will not be won quickly or easily. We must carry the battle to all Muslim countries that support terrorism in any way. We cannot allow them to supply weapons, money, logistics and sanctuary to them. We especially must immediately confront any nation that would put weapons of mass destruction (WMD) into their hands. This is especially true of Iran.
Our defense must be relentless and resolute. Any sign of weakness or loss of resolve will only encourage more attacks against our cities. Every time we make concessions to demands backed by terror, we empower them over Muslims who would be moderate – as in Gaza.
The prevalent U.S. policy of “political correctness” toward Islam must be abandoned if we are to survive at all. How can any knowledgeable person describe Islam as a “Religion of peace that has been hijacked by a few fanatics”? In view of the 109 “war verses” in the Koran that command the faithful to kill and subdue Jews, Christians and other religions; to subject their countries to Islamic Sharia law against their will; the 1400 year history of conquest by the sword of other peoples and countries; the current worldwide plague of Islamic terrorism against the West – how can any sane person not view all Muslims as potential threats.
I am aware that about eighty percent of Muslims are not Fundamentalists and want to live peacefully among us. But these ‘peaceful Muslims’ need to be far more forthright in exposing the signs of radicalism and fanaticism by Muslims living among them.
They need to not be offended or amazed if our security forces scrutinize their communities and Mosques. They need to have a spirit of cooperation instead of ‘howling’ about their perceived offended rights. In view of what fellow Muslims have done to this country, they should consider themselves fortunate to have security people that seek to identify the guilty and to protect the innocent among them. No Muslim will suffer any harm if they are innocent of being a ‘jihad pursuing radical.’
Muslims need to know that more non-Muslims are learning what the Koran actually commands about subjecting them to submission to Allah by force. In view of the centuries of war, violence and murder that have been inspired by Islam’s core teachings, they need to realize that any Western society has to take some careful preventative measures to protect itself.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) needs to be much more concerned about cooperation with policing their communities than ‘wailing’ about every warning that comes out about the threat Islamic Fundamentalists pose to this host nation.
After all, with Islam’s record of following the 109 plus “war verses” that call for the killing and subjecting of Jewish and Christian ‘infidels’, CAIR should have more understanding about our intense concern. The Fundamentalist zealots of their religion, which have appeared in every generation since Mohammad, should not be allowed into any civilized nation on earth.
CAIR needs to also remember that where Moslems are in the majority, other faiths are forbidden (Saudi Arabia), severely circumscribed (Egypt) or subjected to relentless persecution (Pakistan, Indonesia, the Sudan and Northern Nigeria). Where Moslems are a substantial minority (Serbia, Macedonia, The Kashmir, Israel, Chechnya) there is intifada – terrorism in pursuit of succession.
So CAIR should not lecture the U.S. on ‘religious tolerance’, using our generous civil liberty laws against us. Our survival as a people, nation and culture are at stake. We have been forced to defend ourselves. And given the nature of deception, dedication and lethality of the Islamic terrorist, we have to fight back with every means legally possible. And we must certainly go first to where the terrorists are most likely to be found – hidden among the Muslim communities.

Posted by: tsweeney at January 20, 2006 5:12 AM

I just finished reading the full text of OBL's audio tape at Forbes.com.

It truly is amazing to see how OBL's words track seamlessly with words coming from so-called "leaders" of the Democratic Party who wish to cut and run. Murtha, Boxer, Pelosi, Kennedy, Gore,Reid, Kerry et al please take note: You're not simply anti-war, you all appear to be on the other side

Posted by: omvi at January 20, 2006 8:18 AM

I have seen two instances of an alternative reading of the truce offer and another recent video, namely, that they are meant to satisfy some traditional or mandated obligation before an attack.

Laura Mansfield said (via email from the Yahoo! group "LauraMansfield": 'Historically Bin Laden tapes have preceded major terror attacks. Given the recent cluster of messages from Zawahiri, and this message from Bin Laden, it is certainly possible that attack preparations are in the final stages.

'The "truce offer" is especially disconcerting; under Islamic law, Bin Laden is required to warn his victim and give them an opportunity to come to terms before the attack can be legitimately launched. It is likely that this is what Bin Laden is doing with the truce offer.'

The article "Zawahiri: Foreshadowing Attacks on Israel and America?" by Michael Scheuer (http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369871) concludes:

'At this point in their conflict with America, Zawahiri and bin Laden primarily aim their statements toward Muslim audiences. While their statements are genuine warnings to Americans, they have long since given up any hope of persuading U.S. leaders of either political party to understand that the motivation of al-Qaeda and its allies pivots off what America does in the Muslim world, and not off American freedoms and liberties. In this context, the January 6 and 7 Zawahiri videos—and al-Zarqawi's supporting statement—are truly meant to warn Americans. Yet, more importantly, they are also meant to remind Muslims that since the 9/11 attacks al-Qaeda has done everything in its power to fulfill the Prophet Muhammad's demand that Muslims thoroughly warn their enemies before attacking them. The use of Azzam al-Amriki speaking in English, and accompanied by English subtitles, is, from al-Qaeda's perspective, irrefutable evidence for Muslims that al-Qaeda has gone more than the extra mile to urge Americans to change their policies before they are again attacked.'

By these readings the offer of a truce fulfills some Islamic dictum or tradition and -- even if al-Qaida itself does not feel bound by the dictum or tradition -- aims to assure the general Muslim audience that al-Qaida is fulfilling the dictum or tradition.

I'm not arguing a point, I'm asking a question: Is there such a tradition or dictum? References, anyone?

Pilgrim

Posted by: Pilgrim at January 20, 2006 8:20 AM

I think OBL's remarks are fair. However, I'm not sure if he's right when he says that Americans are unprepared to fight Muslims on Christian land. He's dead wrong if he thinks that Americans and Europeans will not defend our loved ones, families, communities, and land from Muslim immigrant invaders. It's only a matter of time until we expel the Muslim settlers.

Posted by: Stuka at January 20, 2006 9:07 AM

He would like the insurgency in Iraq to stop and US/coalition forces leave. Then all those unemployed jihadists can run right over to Afghanistan and form Mahdi's army. Thats provided the US gets out of there as well. Bushes obstinance is in Mahdi's way. He is foiling Allahs plan. Eventually Mahdi will appear, either supernaturally or appointed. His goal is to bring peace (Islam) to the entire world, using Islamic (sword). All Sunni muslims will go into a state of shock. They will label him a fraud and try to kill him, but a few miracle's will fix that. United they stand, divided we fall, is the game...Islam is the name.
Bin Lousy knows how to play it, Mahdi will be even better...

Posted by: duh_swami at January 20, 2006 9:29 AM

Bush's response: "We do not negotiate with terrorists; we put 'em out of business"

That's right up there with General McAuliffe's "Nuts" at the Battle of Bastogne in WWII.

Posted by: Jimmy Bones at January 20, 2006 9:34 AM

He's dead wrong if he thinks that Americans and Europeans will not defend our loved ones, families, communities, and land from Muslim immigrant invaders.

All evidence to date is contrary to what you say. Indeed, in his various fatwahs Osama has pointed out that Wetern infidels don't have the stomach to resist the Jihad, and that weak leaders will emerge calling for appeasement and Hudna.

History is on Osama's side here. Infidels, Hindus included, have never built the intellectual superstructure necessary for permanent resistance to Islam.

MORE ISLAM MORE MOSLEMS MORE KORANS MORE HADITHS MORE SIRATS MORE!!!

May I indtroduce you to John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Dr. Howard Dean?

And don't laugh. Kerry, a Yale Man, is credentialed in the art of collaborating with the enemy to ensure American defeat. And with Osama he'd be negotiating with a Harvard Man, so thing's be handled really, really intelligently.

Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at January 20, 2006 9:39 AM

That's right up there with General McAuliffe's "Nuts" at the Battle of Bastogne in WWII.

But McAuliffe was in the business of killing Germans, not quoting and praising Mein Kampf and trying to woo the Krauts into the democratic process.

Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at January 20, 2006 9:43 AM

On the other hand, this could be UBL's sure fire way to a) make certain Americans "stay the course" in Iraq even as it becomes increasingly expensive in terms of lives, wealth and ultimately, moral so that we become both economically and morally weakened And 2) to make certain that when do they hit us with their next attack, blame can plausibly be placed (plausible to the those ignorant of Islam) squarely upon our own shoulders. That way Islam can press ahead politically in the aftermath of the next attack.

Blackmail is always part of the game.

Posted by: Rebecca JW at January 20, 2006 9:45 AM

The Kum Ba Yah effect of my Christian up bringing is now on hold. The difference between us and “them” is that we are taught peace, forgiveness and acceptance. All bets are off.
Married into a Coptic family, I have heard many accounts of Christian persecutions by Muslims, but my good old American Political Correctness has clouded my vision.
We pray and pray and pray…….
I heard the plane crash into the second tower on 9/11, witnessed the survivors covered in ashes and soot as they escaped the hell in which they came from and I smelled death and destruction for days from the comforts of my home. Days have passed, months have passed and years of passed. I have finally awakened and the days of political correctness are gone.
My liberal Christian ( if there is such a thing) has come into question. Prayer has now become just a part of my being. For if we do no more then pray and post opinions here, then we are all at risk. We must use our superior intellect to defeat those that are out to defeat us.
Books have to bought, opinions have to be read and web sites have to be visited. But will that be enough?
We must bring to light, someway, the true nature of our enemy. Intimidation and fear of our enemy can not stand in the way. So I say to those that want to enslave me into their ideology, bring it on…this ol’ gal is NOW ready!

Posted by: eastcoastbuckeye at January 20, 2006 9:53 AM

May the next hellfire missile be for this fool and may it be soon.

It still resonates Hugh - where is our Scoop Jackson when we need him? We have the resolve; we could use more articulate leaders.

We have the fool Dems full of useless passion leading nowhere.

Not enough to articlate through a glass darkly.

Bless you fighters.

Posted by: dgene at January 20, 2006 10:00 AM

Osama reads the Western Press, but mistakes it for the Western spirit.

When the devil asks for a "truce", it just means he needs more time to gather fuel for hell.

Strike them harder, hit them now, and let the West's only answer be:

"We stopped listening when you started terrorism."

Send Osama and his maniacs off to add their fat(heads) to the fires of Hades.

Whatever else, he and all terrorist jihadis must die.

That's how peace is restored.

"Truce" is a ruse.

Posted by: profitsbeard at January 20, 2006 10:16 AM

eastcoastbuckeye, welcome. "Intimidation and fear of our enemy can not stand in the way."

Well put.

Posted by: Rebecca JW at January 20, 2006 11:35 AM

"...Americans do not want to fight Muslims on Muslim land, nor do they want Muslims to fight them on their land..."

Probably very true. Who wanted this war? The only thing more evil than this war itself is for the West to lose it.

The constant reference to Muslim lands and Muslim nation offers a neat solution to the problem: diplomatic recognition of the Islamic polity for what it is, formal declaration of war against the Islamic nation, repatriation of all enemy aliens and upon defeat of the Ummah, readjustment of boundaries between the 7th and 21st centuries.

No truce is necessary for implementation of any of the above actions.

Posted by: Chatillon at January 20, 2006 11:37 AM

The only "good" Osama, is a "dead" Osama. Then we'll trust him.

Posted by: Ironman Hondo at January 20, 2006 11:39 AM

Thanks Jimmy Bones' It's good to know that you also know about General McAuliffe. Yeah, I'm a Marine, But the term, "Nuts to That"!!! rings in heart of every American fighting man and woman.

Posted by: Ironman Hondo at January 20, 2006 11:43 AM

The constant reference to Muslim lands and Muslim nation offers a neat solution to the problem: diplomatic recognition of the Islamic polity for what it is...

Doing this would require the intellectual courage to proclaim Islam to be a governmental ideology, and not a religion. It would also require admitting to the unitary and exclusionary dimensions of the ideology.

In other words, the powers-that-be would have to admit that they've been wrong, terribly wrong, all along.

MORE MOSLEMS MORE ISLAM MORE KORANS MORE HADITHS MORE DEPRAVITY MO'

What politician has the stomach for that? And which self-important talking head would issue permission to the government to do admit the truth?

Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at January 20, 2006 11:45 AM

I think Bin Laden has been dead for years.
I reckon he perished in the Tora Bora bombings of February 2002. This is an audio tape, not a video tape, right? If he's alive why doesn't he make a video, unless his been badly wounded or disfigured. I think that it is someone who can impersonate Bin Laden's voice.

Posted by: Elephant at January 20, 2006 11:53 AM

Pilgrim:

The "Big Z's" son was among those killed while attending the tea party in Pakistan that was so unceremoniously interrupted by the US missle a few days back.

I think there may be more connection to this event than not behind Osama's latest pronouncement and it ain't being made from a positon of strength. The local Sunni tribesmen who were once party of the "insurgency" are now fighting A-Q or at least allowing A-Q to be taken down by the Iraqi army or Coalition forces as teh case may be.

Posted by: waterdragon52 at January 20, 2006 12:06 PM

"...readjustment of boundaries between the 7th and 21st centuries..."

I love this idea -- Let's use their own damn recipe to redraw the lines! The 7th Century works for me...roll them all the way back to their dark little beginning.... their domain should be a couple trash heap redoubts around Makkah and Medina, let them comfort themselves wandering in circles around that preposterous idol of black stone and meteorites, let them chant and sway in front of their Korans, let them abuse each other until they are completely delighted... let them return to the wasteland of Islam's origins...

Posted by: jsla at January 20, 2006 12:12 PM

(and keep them there...)

Posted by: jsla at January 20, 2006 12:13 PM

(FOREVER)

Posted by: jsla at January 20, 2006 12:13 PM

Posted on a prvious dead thread:

Somewhat OT:
You know guys, I've been a computer programmer from the days of CP/M. From "listening" to this site for a long time it seems to me that everyone wants to do something to take action against islam; witness the blue ribbon society. Wearing scarves or ribbons is nice, and shows solidarity, but to quote a famous woman "Where's the Beef?".

Out there in Cyberspace, there are tons of "Techies". OBL and AQ utilize cell phones, email, sat uplinks and other infidel innovations to set up their plans to kill us. I can't believe that there aren't quite a few computer geeks (like myself) that are pushed to the limit by these 7th century assclowns. Between all the 21st century countries: USA, England, Canada, Austrlia etc. there hasn't been a movement to get together and create a Trogan Horse, a worm or some other "glitch in the Matrix" that could send Iran or Syria back to the 3rd century (instead of the 7th) by completly killing or paralyzing their information/communication network that they use against us.

A group like this would be completely illegal, and would be fighting not only the goathumping camel jockeys but our own Dhimmified Government.
Action does require risks, but remember our history, of guys like one of my ancestors, Ethan Allen.

I wish I had the Cajones to do this, but I'm 60 years old and tired. What about it, young guys? Want to play Zelda for real?

Posted by: ShortBoard Surfer at January 20, 2006 12:23 PM

Since mohammed was well know for
Breaking every treaty he ever signed.
When ever it pleased his desire..

I will put as much trust in the terrorists agreements as i trust the saudi government and cair to allow me to build a church inside the dome of the rock...

and to bring a jew along with me for the opening ceremony...

When i see mohammed eating a pork chop then i might believe but until then...

We aint stopping till we finish this...

Posted by: jingoist at January 20, 2006 12:42 PM

I find it interesting that there are people who think that someone would ask for a truce when they are winning. That never happens.It has also been the case that every Osama or Zawahiri tape comes with threats of attacks in the US, attacks that have never come.Osama's last tape, designed to get Kerry elected also contained the same threats. Anyway Jim Robbins has a column on the new Osama tape that contains this interesting info:

It is easy to see why Osama would want a truce. His movement is losing the battle of hearts and minds. A recent opinion poll in Afghanistan showed that despite Osama’s offer to help rebuild the country, 83 percent of Afghans already say their country is moving in the right direction. 81 percent of Afghans view the U.S. favorably, with 83 percent approving of U.S. troop presence in-country. Meanwhile 88 percent have an unfavorable view of the Taliban, 82 percent think overthrowing them was a good thing, and 90 percent view Osama bin Laden unfavorably, with 75 percent of that total being "very unfavorable." In Iraq, there are increasing signs of strain between the indigenous resistance forces and the foreign fighters led by Osama’s puppet — sorry, I mean local emir — Zarqawi, and al Qaeda threats against the December parliamentary elections turned out to be hollow.

Posted by: Roxane at January 20, 2006 1:00 PM

Shortbread,

For years there have been hacker groups that monitor and destroy AQ and other jihad websites.I've also heard of people who infiltrate and pose as jihadis in the jihad chatrooms to gather information on whats going on there.

The US government also tracks jihadis on the webs and sometimes monitors their websites for intel. Sometimes the government gets the site tossed off the internet.It should also be remembered that the internet is owned and invented by the US government.So I'm sure the government has the means to take down communications in Iran and Syria if necessary.I suspect communications would be taken down in advance of a US attack.

Posted by: Roxane at January 20, 2006 1:08 PM

Roxane

Thanks for your uplifting comment. (It's ShortBoard, no worries though). I had a feeling that there were other geeks out there like me. (Keep up the good work guys!!)

9 years in the Navy, and 3 years in Viet Nam(1964-1967) has taught me that those people in the Executive branch that want to win a war, must bow to the political forces that work against them.
There are some people applying this 35 year old stratagy of subversion to this current war. I infer that they would feel that it would be unfair to use our superion technical knowledge to cripple the enemy by bringing down their information/communication network. It would result in lawsuits/legislation prohibiting "tech warfare". This is why I feel that although the govt has ample technical ability to bring down a whole country's informational infrasturcture in a matter of minutes, they will not do so.

This is why my fantasy is that 4 or 5 young patriot geeks could completely shut down a country, like Iran. Imagine if this was possible in the rise of Hitler during the early days of WWII. (Read Winds of War - Herman WOuk)

Posted by: ShortBoard Surfer at January 20, 2006 1:48 PM

Elephant:

You forget Osama's pronouncements on the eve of the US elections in Nov. 2004. What has become of him since then is hard to say.

Although my comment about the timing of this latest announcement coming on the heels of the US missile strike in Pakistan that killed Zawahiri's son possibly having some connection with Osama's latest carrot-and-stick offer, I think I may have something. Things are getting hot for them in Iraq, what with the Sunni insurgents only wanting to oppose the occupation and emergence of the Shia, but not necessarily wishing to have an even bigger psychopath than Uday Hussein running the country, have turned on A-Q men and maybe not so safe in the hinterlands of Pakistan either.

Posted by: waterdragon52 at January 20, 2006 3:13 PM

Waterdragon,

If he was on a video tape in November 2004, even several years before Osama Bin Laden could have made a short list of the probably candidates to the election and done a separate video for each one.

To me personally, it seems that the great gaps between the missives from OBL, and the fact that after these there has almost always only been a recording of his voice, point to the fact that he is dead and it is someone impersonating his voice.

I think Al-Qaeda are still pretending he is alive because news of his death or disappearance would be a great morale boost for GWB.

I don't believe that it matters that much to us whether he is dead or not because the other members of al-qaeda are more or less the same as him.

Posted by: Elephant at January 20, 2006 3:29 PM

Seams that Iran want's to do a deal with russia??

Seams also that China came out today and said the Crops are going to fall short this year seams they are having mulsums steal farmland??

And we know how in the Quran it says that mulsums just can't farm??

And having to kull all those animals WOW what will they eat and there is always the Flue???

I say there are a few things that need to be made clear??

and remember he still went into Kosovo Russia don't make the same mistake we have more in common than not Good pork on a stick and Wine and Music and Ballat just imanagine a ballat in Burks OH THE THOUGHT YUG!!!

It is time to Expose the Enemies within we both have them??

http://www.beecy.net/frank/

http://www.senate.gov/~rpc/releases/1997/iran.htm

January 16, 1997
Clinton-Approved Iranian Arms Transfers Help Turn Bosnia into Militant Islamic Base

READ THE WHOLE THING

The Militant Islamic Network
The House Subcommittee report also concluded (page 2): "The Administration's Iranian green light policy gave Iran an unprecedented foothold in Europe and has recklessly endangered American lives and US strategic interests." Further --
" . . . The Iranian presence and influence [in Bosnia] jumped radically in the months following the green light. Iranian elements infiltrated the Bosnian government and established close ties with the current leadership in Bosnia and the next generation of leaders. Iranian Revolutionary Guards accompanied Iranian weapons into Bosnia and soon were integrated in the Bosnian military structure from top to bottom as well as operating in independent units throughout Bosnia. The Iranian intelligence service [VEVAK] ran wild through the area developing intelligence networks, setting up terrorist support systems, recruiting terrorist 'sleeper' agents and agents of influence, and insinuating itself with the Bosnian political leadership to a remarkable degree. The Iranians effectively annexed large portions of the Bosnian security apparatus [known as the Agency for Information and Documentation (AID)] to act as their intelligence and terrorist surrogates. This extended to the point of jointly planning terrorist activities. The Iranian embassy became the largest in Bosnia and its officers were given unparalleled privileges and access at every level of the Bosnian government." (page 201)
Not Just the Iranians
To understand how the Clinton green light would lead to this degree of Iranian influence, it is necessary to remember that the policy was adopted in the context of extensive and growing radical Islamic activity in Bosnia. That is, the Iranians and other Muslim militants had long been active in Bosnia; the American green light was an important political signal to both Sarajevo and the militants that the United States was unable or unwilling to present an obstacle to those activities -- and, to a certain extent, was willing to cooperate with them. In short, the Clinton Administration's policy of facilitating the delivery of arms to the Bosnian Muslims made it the de facto partner of an ongoing international network of governments and organizations pursuing their own agenda in Bosnia: the promotion of Islamic revolution in Europe. That network involves not only Iran but Brunei, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan (a key ally of Iran), and Turkey, together with front groups supposedly pursuing humanitarian and cultural activities.
For example, one such group about which details have come to light is the Third World Relief Agency (TWRA), a Sudan-based, phoney humanitarian organization which has been a major link in the arms pipeline to Bosnia. ["How Bosnia's Muslims Dodged Arms Embargo: Relief Agency Brokered Aid From Nations, Radical Groups," Washington Post, 9/22/96; see also "Saudis Funded Weapons For Bosnia, Official Says: $300 Million Program Had U.S. 'Stealth Cooperation'," Washington Post, 2/2/96] TWRA is believed to be connected with such fixtures of the Islamic terror network as Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman (the convicted mastermind behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing) and Osama Binladen, a wealthy Saudi emigre believed to bankroll numerous militant groups. [WP, 9/22/96] (Sheik Rahman, a native of Egypt, is currently in prison in the United States; letter bombs addressed to targets in Washington and London, apparently from Alexandria, Egypt, are believed connected with his case. Binladen was a resident in Khartoum, Sudan, until last year; he is now believed to be in Afghanistan, "where he has issued statements calling for attacks on U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf." [WP, 9/22/96])

YES AND THERE IS MORE SO WHAT WAS HILARY TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER DAY??

YES RUSSIA WE MUST ADMIT OUR MISTAKES AND PRESS ON BECAUSE THE MONSTER IS OUT OF THEIR BOX LIKE HITLER WE MUST WORK TOGETHER HELL EVEN THE USA SAVED CHINA DURING WW2

THE WORLD NEEDS TO STOP ACTING LIKE CHILDREN AND TAKE PLAY TOGETHER AND TAKE CARE OF THE REAL BULLIE ON THE BLOCK THAT WILL KILL ALL OF THE CHILDREN

And Bush we grow food use it Because we can run our cars on corn but they can't eat oil??

Mulsums buy gold can't eat that either but cow patties can be used to grow food!!

Remember the Be Happy song was a lip sink??

Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
GOD BLESS THE USA AND HER FIGHTING FORCES AND ALL WHO FIGHT WITH HER GIVE THEM STRENGTH, WISDOM, SIGHT, AND COURAGE TO STAY THE COURSE TO DESTROY ALL ISLAMIC TERRORIST AND ALL WHO SUPPORT THEM LET NOT THE WORLD BE DECIEVED BY THEM AMEN

PS
Seams that the #2 guys tape is a little dated??I thought he didn't go to the dinner??

Well if they turn up the body well that is 25,000,000 dollars and we Americans always pay-up!!!

Just think of all the tollets and tollet paper you could buy with that??

And maybe Pakistan could buy some of those trailors instead of tents much better in the snow for sure??

Posted by: Catherine at January 20, 2006 6:35 PM

Sounds as if UBL got his talking points from Swimmer Kennedy and co.
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/markalexander/2006/01/20/183247.html

Posted by: Carolyn2 at January 21, 2006 10:21 AM

I do not believe it would be as hard as you all think it would be neutralize Iran's nuclear program.

The United States has been working on deep ground penetrating munitions for awhile. The technology is very refined. We have arms trade agreement with Israel so them getting their hands on this type of weapon is not unlikely.

Iran does not have that many facilities. It may be spread out but hitting their reactors makes them unusable. Meaning they start leaking and you can’t go with 25 miles of them. The heat alone would kill anyone trying to recover anything from the facility.

Anyone remember Chernobyl?

Iran is playing a dangerous game of chicken with a country that normally does not play well with others when it comes to self preservation. Israel is not a country to be trifled with. To me Iran is putting Israel in a corner. Not a good place when Israel already knows Iran hates them so they have nothing to lose by striking them.

Iran may find themselves with a certain part of their country uninhabitable due to leaking reactors.

Posted by: Wild Hare "Infidel extraordinaire" at January 23, 2006 4:25 PM