The release of yet another tape from Osama Bin Laden Wednesday serves as a reminder of the many leftover issues Barack Obama will inherit from the Bush administration.
In the 22-minute audio tape, the al-Qaeda leader boasts of "new fronts" against the United States and places the blame for the fighting in the Gaza on the United States and moderate Arab states.
His comments on Gaza are a reflection of al-Qaeda's desire for relevance to its target audience. On the issue that has most transfixed the Islamic world, al-Qaeda, the self-appointed spokesmen and "defenders" of the Islamic world, are totally absent from the storyline. The fighting in Gaza is the direct result of Hamas's continued rain of rockets on the heads of Israeli civilians. But Bin Laden, vying to compete with the attention Hamas is receiving, turns the Gaza conflict into a parable about the need to follow al-Qaeda's prescription of violence against America and support for an ultra extremist Caliphate. In the absence of an operational capability in Gaza, Bin Laden is trying to frame his past efforts against America and its moderate Arab allies as a greater threat to Israel than the rockets currently being fired by Hamas.
Still, Al-Qaeda may reclaim its place in the headlines sooner rather than later. As al-Qaeda's safe haven in Pakistan allows it to thrive and the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan gains momentum, the next president will be forced to confront a terrorist group that has gained strength since 9/11, not lost it, and remains a serious threat to the stability of South Asia and the security of the American homeland.
Fortunately, Bin Laden's latest promise of "new fronts" against the United States will not go unmatched. President-elect Obama has already signaled that he will open up his own "new front" against al-Qaeda on the as-yet untouched ideological battlefield. Obama's moves to close Guantanamo and strong anti-torture stance will help deny Bin Laden the political oxygen he needs to incite potential recruits to violence.
Fortunately, Barack Obama has already delivered a blow to al-Qaeda in the "war of ideas." His election, by signaling to the world that America is a country of limitless opportunity whose democracy can correct its own mistakes, has turned Bin Laden's narrative of a corrupt and belligerent America on its head.
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Osama Bin Laden Challenges Obama In Tape
CAIRO, Egypt — Osama bin Laden urged Muslims to launch a jihad against Israel, seeking to harness anger over the Gaza offensive with a new...
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Hamas Rejects Israeli Cease-Fire Demands
Hamas will not accept Israeli conditions for a cease-fire in Gaza and would continue armed resistance until the offensive ends, Khaled Meshal, the leader of...
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Obama, It's Time to Stop the Arms Gifts to Israel and Egypt
It's time for us to question the wisdom of ripping apart a country, or a territory as the case may be, in the name of snuffing out a militant group.
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Bush's Final Gift: Gaza
Just when we thought it was impossible for the calamitous George Bush and Svengali Dick Cheney to do any more damage to the world or...
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The 2009 Slantie Awards
Since 2004, my website, ConWebWatch, has given out the Slantie Awards, which highlight the year's worst reporting and most outrageous statements in the right-wing media....
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Bush's Original Farewell Address Leaked to Press
I beenz Precedent of The United over 8 to 10 yearz gone bye. I haz fun to be Precedent of y'all, even immegrantz, but not gayz. Here is my list of favorites, all favoritez, for you.
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Obama Must Isolate Al-Qaeda By Negotiating With Taliban: Analyst
The US and NATO have to rethink their military strategies on Afghanistan. And rather than using might, they will have to negotiate with terrorists. Will Obama be able to do that?
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Kucinich to Introduce Gaza Ceasefire Resolution -- Who Will Co-Sponsor?
It's great that Dennis is on the floor of the House telling the truth. But it's terrible for the prospects of changing disastrous U.S. policies towards the Palestinians for Dennis to be standing alone.
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Evidence Grows That Israel is Using White Phosphorus in Gaza
Today, at least two UN officials have flatly declared that three or more white phosphorous shells were part of the attack today that set a UN building and compound ablaze in Gaza City.
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You're No Harry Truman
President Bush apparently wants to be compared to President Harry Truman, who was also very unpopular when he left office. But Mr. Bush, you are no Harry Truman.
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A Jew's Prayer for the Children of Gaza
In this day, when the trepidation and rage and mourning that is called war, seizes our hearts and patches them in scars, we call to you, the Lord whose name is Peace.
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Gaza and the Obama Effect -- Ending the War
It might be pushing the envelope to call Obama the peacemaker here, but it's hard to deny that his impending entrance to the world stage has an effect.
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Bush's Farewell Address: Still Delusional After All These Years
It's easy to feel a pang of pity for a guy heading out the door. But the more sympathy he evokes, the more susceptible we are to the lies he is telling. READ MORE
Memo to Obama: Moving Forward Doesn't Mean You Can't Also Look Back Will Obama's promise to protect and defend the Constitution include an investigation into the assaults on it perpetrated by members of the Bush administration? READ MORE
Watch: Arianna Discusses Bush's Farewell Address on Rachel Maddow
Watch: Arianna Discusses Closing Gitmo on MSNBC
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A Grand Opportunity for a Global President
Expectations for Obama are high and no where more than in the Muslim World that has seen the past decade marked by a threatened Clash of Civilizations between it and the West.
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Gaza, Qaddafi, And Starbucks
Along with the images of bloodied children, scenes of destruction and carnage in Gaza, debates on Arab disunity have increased in the Arab media.
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What Is the Difference Between Bravery and Courage?
The most critical element needed for peace is true courage: courage to withstand public criticism, and courage to take responsibility for our own wrongdoings, to learn from them and to change.
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Hamas and the Death of a Better Future
To me, Gaza is personal. As an Israeli infantry officer, I served in Gaza before, during, and after the 2005 Disengagement.
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Tanks for the memories
It was rush hour in Gaza and the tanks were bumper-to-bumper. I won't bother blogging about the current conflict in Gaza. The topic is so...
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His main engagement will be through our relations with Iran.
And here, Obama's and Hillary's policy statements have been sorely lacking of any hint of a new Obama era, actually doubling down the policies of George Bush.
Clinton and Rice have each shown a lack of understanding about Iran's nuclear intentions and the results of its actions.
Both have shown a willingness to propagandize on the charges against Iran for its sanctions.
Both have called for denying Iran its rights under international treaties to which we and over a hundred other nations are signatories.
If Obama wants to do anything meaningful with regard to improving our position in foreign relations, then he needs to act responsibly in strengthening the International Non-Proliferation Treat(NPT).
This is really the foreign policy challenge of this administration, and the Israeli conflicts are a costly distraction.
The Obama Era.
I can't wait.
Indiana needs Roemer
There are, after all, about 3000 murder victims, and their families, awaiting justice ... and though it may be enjoyable to torture Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to the point of madness for his participation in the crime, it is difficult to believe he is the Alpha and Omega of the treachery that occurred 9/11/2001.
Btw, Mr. Roemer, why did you attempt to discredit Norman Mineta's testimony when he described Cheney confirming unidentified "orders" in the PEOC at 9:25 a.m. as an aircraft was tracked approaching the Pentagon? Why did the Commission claim Cheney did not reach the PEOC until 10:00 a.m.? You do realize that the Commission admits the Langley fighters were not scrambled to intercept AA77, but were vectored over the Atlantic to intercept a "phantom" aircraft, don't you?
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/12/18/clock-stoppers/
The CIA usually makes the "Bin Laden Tapes"...so we can take this with a grain of salt.
Its just another red herring to draw attention away from real issues. Like the war "over there so we wouldn't have to fight them over here" was so very handy as cover for the looting of our treasury and the hacking away at our civil rights.
We decimate Iraq and in the process destroy our Democracy, helluva hand that George Bush.
"The truth is useless. You have to understand this right now. You can't deposit the truth in a bank. You can't buy groceries with the truth. You can't pay rent with the truth. The truth is a useless commodity that will hang around your neck like an albatross all the way to the homeless shelter. And if you think that the million or so people in this country that are really interested in the truth about their government can support people who would tell them the truth, you got another thing coming. Because the million or so people in this country that are truly interested in the truth don't have any money." - Jeb Bush
The Arab countries are.
He is an old relic with residual followings.
The new "Base" no longer is interested in what he says.
They've decided on their own battle plans.
Bin Laden is a pathetic old man with a big mouth and delusions of grandeur.
Much like George W. Bush.
They fed each other's needs.
No need to 'buy into it' .
of factions and no longer needs Bin Laden. Even if he is still alive
in a cave somewhere, he isn't the threat he once was.
Obama has problems with Palistine/Israel, Israel/Iran, Syria, Lebanon,
India/Pakistan, North Korea/So. Korea, China/Tiawan, US/Russia.
So basically, besides the economy, Obama will have his hands full
of trouble for the 4 years of his first term.
Say what? I guess you mean America could be and was create for that end. The means are more corrupted than ever before in history. Obama has not walked the talk, but has made a step in the right direction. Time will tell, I am hopeful, but surely not counting Chickens before the hatch.
I do not see why OBL has been stood on his head. 3000 people fight for the independence of the Arab World responds to Sharon/Bush Policy " a corrupt and belligerent" shooting students upset over Sharon's Synigog visit and OBL rushed his attack on the US on 911. Support his narrative and actions as unGODly as it was.
We should be smart, not stupid
Obama: The man from Raytheon....
One in an ever expanding list of ironies about Obama is his nomination of Raytheon lobb ying exec William Lynn, to the Number 2 slot at defense -- which on the surface, seems like a strange way to end the influence of Washington.
It's already apparent that anyone who took (or takes) everything Obama said at face value was a fo ol.
"a terrorist group that has gained strength since 9/11, not lost it, and remains a serious threat to the stability of South Asia and the security of the American homeland."
I won't pretend to be an expert in this area, but the fact seems to be that Al Qaeda has not managed to use operational assets, either manpower or equipment, against the US homeland since the 9/11 attacks - so how exactly have they gotten stronger ? If it were so, wouldn't they have been able to stage a successful operation here by now, or is Mr Roemer suggesting that, although "stronger", they have decided for strategic reasons to hold off on a mainland strike ? Are they "stronger" overseas and, if so, how exactly ? More men, money, material ? Seems those three things are the only thing that makes a terrorist organization strong.
No disrespect to anyone, but I'd love an answer from someone with credentials, not some radical idealist who wants to rant in an effort berate others. Thanks !!
Ever since Bush and Condi decided to rescinded the order to maintain strike ready status on Osama bin Laden that they inherited from Clinton we have been flat footed and behind the eight ball. Nobody can doubt that Iraq and the emergence of Al Qaeda in Iraq along with other movements is a direct result of the invasion and occupation. The Abu Ghraib scandal and the proclavity of US to torture became a rallying point for the disenfranchized and those who lost family and friends to US bombs...
Interesting use of language, however: "Bin Laden's narrative of a corrupt and belligerent America"
So anyone who concludes that the US is "corrupt" and "belligerent" (perish the thought) is a victim of "Bin Laden's narrative".
OK. Since there is nothing about it in the Commission Report, please be so kind as to tell us how Osama pulled off this heist through the WTC computers?
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/the-ghost-in-the-machines-the-mystery-of-the-wtc-hard-drive-recoveries/
Oh, and it's worth noting that it was Israel - not Hamas - who broke the cease fire in place since June 2008 by killing 6 Palestinians in Gaza on November 4th while the world was watching the US elections.
Nice timing.
Until December 27th, no Israeli, civilian or military, was killed as a result of rocket or mortar fire from Gaza.
None. Not one. And there was very little rocket or mortar fire out of Gaza until Israel broke the ceasefire in early November.
But wasn't this rocket fire provocative in the first place? Well, no.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, in exchange for Hamas ending rocket fire out of Gaza, Israel was supposed to end military operations in Gaza and its economic strangulation.
Not only did Israel bring the ceasefire to a premature end on November 4th, it failed to live up to its obligations under it to lift its economic embargo. Hence the sporadic retaliatory fire by Hamas.
So what kept Israel from responding sooner? Bad timing.
What with the the power vaccum in the US during the transition and impending National elections in Israel, Israel's governement figured November 4 would be a better time to burnish its hawkish credentials to stay in power by beating up on Gaza while US attention was distracted.