Osama speaks!

I've waited a bit to weigh in on Osama bin-Laden's latest offering, because I wanted time to really study the transcript and think about what was really behind it and what the actual words and circumstances signify. Here's a transcript of what was said:Full Text of bin Laden Tape - Yahoo! News

It's important to remember that the tape has been released at a time when it is widely rumoured that Osama bi-Laden is dead, when Zawahiri narrowly escaped death (though several other members of al Qaeda's high command did not) in Pakistan and when the terrorists in Iraq have suffered significant military reverses in Iraq.

Osama's latest message is almost entirely addressed to the appeasors and anti-war leftist political opponents of the Bush administration, and heavily utilizes themes prevalent in the Left wing press in the West and especially in America. Obviously, this was a bid for them to intensify their political efforts..a sign the military end of the war is not going well.

Osama starts out by directly addressing these people on `how to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan' and commenting on how well the war is going for the mujahideen, and how poorly it is going for the Americans...at one point even claiming that the only way out for American troops is suicide.

He then goes on to harp on all the usual leftist talking points: Abu Ghreib, the alleged `plot' to bomb al-Jazeera (AKA Jihad TV),polls supposedly showing opposition to the war, and the allegatons that Bush and his `cabal' have a conspiracy not to end the war 'for their own private, suspect reasons.'

This part of the speech could almost have been written by Cindy Sheehan or MoveOn and given by Barbera Boxer, Dick Durbin, George Galloway or Charles Kennedy.

He then goes on to talk about the attacks in Europe and to promise attacks in America:

"The proof of that is the explosions you have seen in the capitals of the European nations who are in this aggressive coalition. The delay in similar operations happening in America has not been because of failure to break through your security measures. The operations are under preparation and you will see them in your homes the minute they are through (with preparations), with God's permission."

Osama continues by offering what is translated in the transcript as a `truce', but is actually a hudna, Islamospeak for a temporary ceasefire accepted for strategic reasons, and abandoned as soon as it is no longer advantageous to the Jihad. The most famous one of these was Mohammed's truce with the Quraysh tribe, which was supposed to be a truce `for all eternity' but was kept by Mohammed only until he had the military strength to massacre the Quraysh.

He then goes on to cite `Rogue State' a leftist screed beloved by the likes of Gore Vidal and Noam Chomsky as a guide for `further understanding'! That alone could get bin-Laden a professorship at Columbia or Harvard.

The tape is a frank appeal to the Left's isolationist anti-war proponents for assistance, with the promise of a `truce' held out as a carrot and the stick of attacks and `revenge' even if American arms are victorious..which plays right in to the common appeasement talking point that military victory `is impossible'.

Obviously, Osama disagrees and is working to enlist support from that section of the western electorate willing to play along.

As for the threat of attacks, they may very well be in the works. But that would be true regardless of any hudna Osama made with craven politicians here in America.

It remains to be seen if Osama's blatant political ploy bears fruit.

Meanwhile, the work continues.