Osama either doesn't interest us or doesn't interest the mainstream press, or both. He's just another swami in hiding who refuses to speak our language. Where's the story here?
It's all story, and we'd better listen to it because it has passed into legend while we weren't looking. Osama, in an accomplishment beyond Einstein, somehow managed to turn back the clock a thousand years, using his opponent's own weaponry. Lacking smart bombs, he improvised. He was somehow able to stir commitment — not the hand-on-the-Bible, palm-in-the-air type of commitment, but the say-goodbye-to-the-kids and strap-on-the-bomb variety.
He saw himself from another time. He must have, given his cave days. But what man of our time can resist the limelight? What tyrant doesn't love a little press, even if it's just a souvenir for the scrapbook? Why haven't we heard from him since Tora Bora?
We have, three times, in taped messages judged both fake and real by various experts, though most agree the third is different, both in waveform and content, from the others, which may show telltale marks of editing that are blurred by the pass through cell towers. His first two messages are aimed as warnings to the U.S., while his third admonishes the Iraqis who are cooperating with the Americans. Smart money is on Saad, Osama's son, doing a mean impression of Dad. Just as we often confuse fathers for sons on the phone, so too is our technology confused.
What to draw from this? Personally I suspect Osama is dead — and has been dead since Tora Bora. Mainly I believe this because dead men don't talk. And that's exactly what he's doing.
Article comments
1 - Shark
"Osama bin Laden knew about the Western world, was schooled in it, apparently didn't like it, made a decision to destroy it. He made a killing in the terror business, dabbling at first for revenge, then headed a pan-Arabic army of the Angry. This remains the alpha-omega of our knowledge."
Um, you left out:
• we trained him and supplied his Army during the Ronald Raygun years
• Clinton had a number of lost opportunities to snag his miserable ass;
• he received financial, logistical, and political support from various Saudi royalty (Prince Bandar's wife (Saudi Ambassador to US and good friend of Bush Sr, and Jr.), fer starters)
• President Bush had his family members flown out of the country a few days after 9/11 (at your expense, btw)
• He is not to be underestimated
PS: He's alive and will be caught or killed right before the Republican Convention in the fall. Bet on it.
2 - hb
Do you really believe the Repubs are saving his captured for the Convention?
How simple are you to be so swayed by the far left. It is a damn shame when cynics run loose with a keyboard.