McCain Surrogate: Al Qaeda Blogger Using Reverse Psychology

The McCain campaign blasted back against a story in today's Washington Post reporting that an al-Qaeda official in a "commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah," had called for the support of the Arizona Republican.

In doing so, foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann attacked everything from the paper ("I use journalism in quotations marks when referring to this story"), to the controversial figures who have said nice things about Barack Obama, to a conference call questioner who asked him to reevaluate the history of the Iraq War.

The most interesting line, however, came from former CIA Director Jim Woosley, who sought to frame the al-Qaeda blog posting as some sort of attempt at reverse political psychology

"If one takes one individual Islamist blogger from one terrorist Islamist blog who has come up with this statement that it would be good to have McCain in the White House, I think one has to consider the motives," he said. "This individual knows that the endorsement of people like him is a kiss of death, figuratively and literally. So it seems to be that it is pretty clear by making this statement it would be a good thing for McCain to be president. He wants to damage McCain. He's not speaking from his heart."

How Woosley interpreted the musings of an al Qaeda blogger to be a foray into electoral strategy remains unclear. So is the idea that this endorsement shouldn't be considered honest but the "endorsement" of Obama by members of Hammas or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which Scheunemann evoked repeatedly, somehow should be regarded as sincere.

But it is important to recall that in the 2004 election, Republican officials were quick to interpret a late-in-the-election tape from Osama bin Laden as a surefire endorsement of John Kerry's candidacy. Even Kerry himself said the issue cost him the election.

Now, it appears, the standards are different, with al-Qaeda well-versed in electoral trickery and eagerly pushing a candidate that they think would, in the end, most harm its cause.

UPDATE: Greg Sargent at TPM offers an interesting reminder concerning this topic:

When discussing this topic, it's always useful to recall that journalist Ron Suskind reported that CIA analysts concluded that Bin Laden had released a tape of himself on the eve of the 2004 election in order to help Bush stay in power, partly because his presidency made such a handy recruiting tool.

Comments

[marthlois]

If the shoe were on the other foot, I believe that Obama's simple response would probably be something like: "The United States of America stands against all terrorism. It doesn't matter if Senator McCain is elected or if I am elected. We stand together, always, as one nation".

But the Clueless, ambitious, country-last McCain campaign can do no such thing. Again, I don't want
someone who cannot bring us all together.

[Sarrasin]

Of COURSE Al Qaeda wants McCain/Palin get a clue. How can you sell "The Western White Devil" is the cause of all your problems as a RECRUITING TOOL with a picture of BARACK OBAMA. McCain IS A CONTINUATION of GEORGE BUSH in EVERY SELLABLE ASPECT to recruit and CONTINUE hostilities. Its EASIER to paint the enemy of Islam with BUSH/McCAIN than a guy willing to "TALK" named HUSSEIN. McCAIN IS AL QAEDA'S POSTER BOY. Al Qaeda KNOWS idiots will OVERTHINK the TRUTH, "Reverse psychology my @ss..." LOL

[melonman]

You are right on! Couldn't have said it better myself.

[DaisyDooks]

Dang, you've got a point. Good perspective.

[Hirnlego]

I don't believe a picture of Obama makes a difference. The difference is what he will do...and most importantly the foreign policy..

[cmarmonhalm]

Republicans are the master of spin...if nothing else.

[cmarmonhalm]

I thought they were going to catch Osama before the election just to turn the page on the economy?

[suzek55]

I wonder what lengths the republican party would go to with regard to an october surprise! Something to threaten national security perhaps ? Thank God Colin Powell has endorsed Obama.

[DaisyDooks]

George Bush will probably declare martial law.

[trytha1]

Just like in 2004.......... I'm counting the minutes until the Bush/McCain camp decides the Terror Alert is raised to Orange or Red....."better to scare you with my dear"

---oh and expect another OBL tape to surface --coming soon to a faux station near you!

[BamaGrl9000]

Who cares what the al quadeas think?? when Obama is elected he will bring the troops home and stop fighting them. then they can do what they want who cares.

[cdub1991]

It's a testament to McCain's world view that he thinks Americans are going to make some sort of choice based on the rantings--reverse psych-out or not--of some loony anonymous blogger, instead of choosing based on their current economic situation. Most folks' priorities are clearer than that.

[EmotionDetector]

Now RNC says AL-Q is campaigning for Obama to win? I don't think any one in America is surprised at how low the GOP will go.

[jusion]

The Left seems to be convinced that the root problem is foreign policy, and that the solution is appeasement and concessions.
Al-Qaeda and Islamists in general know and rely on such unbridled Western liberal guilt. Indeed, it is not implausible to say that, based on history -- from Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton -- al-Qaeda has reasoned that it is always best to have a Democrat in office, someone who, while not taking radical Islam seriously, will try to appease by making "physical" concessions.
Said Jesse Jackson: "Barack is determined to repair our relations with the world of Islam and Muslims. Thanks to his background and ecumenical approach, he knows how Muslims feel while remaining committed to his own faith."
Lest anyone assume that al-Qaeda is not sophisticated enough to connive such a feat of reverse psychology to their benefit, the Madrid bombings of 2004 should be recalled: three days before Spain's general elections, explosions in Madrid commuter trains planted by al-Qaeda operatives killed 191 people and injured approximately 1,460.Three days later, Jose Zapatero won the election. The very day after winning the elections, Zapatero promised to withdraw Spain's 1,300 troops from Iraq.
Yet while bin Laden's 2004 "political campaigning" worked in Spain, it failed in the US in 2004 and will fail again in 2008.

[felkakarp]

Is it true that "bin Laden's 2004 "political campaigning" failed in the US in 2004" or did it do exactly what it was meant to do? Why wouldn't he want an American president who says "Iraq is the central battlefront in the war on terror?," when it's a thousand miles away from him?

[rosiebond007]

OF COURSE IT'S REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY - BUT WILL THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FALL FOR IT ?
IF THEY DO - WE'LL GO COMPLETELY BROKE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

AL QAEDA HAVE BECOME SO LARGE AND SPREAD FAR AND WIDE THAT TO FINISH OFF BIN LADEN WOULD ONLY TURN HIM INTO A HERO - WE NEED TO HAVE SOME DIALOGUE HERE AND GET THIS MOVEMENT CLOSED FOR GOOD.

VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN '08 ..........­.........N­O MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.

[jusion]

Your rant is either dry sarcasm at its best or psychosis at its worst. Either way you're the best advocate for the McCain/Palin ticket. Cheers.

[trytha1]

McShorty's campaign is too funny.... asking for Russian donations and receiving the Al Queda endorsment --- what next?? This is really funny!

[Sexyjade5055]

Republican Double Standard In Full Effect!!!!

[PATina]

I wonder why it wasn't considered "reverse psychology" when Charlie Black said that a domestic terrorist attack would help Mc Cain win the presidency?????

[midwestgal STL]

Obamicans, dont downplay how the msm will try to spin this as McCains winning issue.....­........th­e October Surprise......get your friends and family out to early vote....im­mediately!­!!!!!!