Osama speaks...

[songsmith]

He released an audiotape this afternoon, admitting he is responsible for 9/11, saying it was in retaliation for us invading Lebanon in 1982. He says if we continue with the current position in the Arab world, he will continue.
Given the timing, I think this has historic bearing on the election, and we are living in a historic time. What happens next will be watched by humanity in total. I think if Kerry's smart, he'll point out that Osama is flipping us off while we're spread thin in Iraq... but will he?... he'll look unpatriotic if he makes it sound like bin Laden has us by the curlies.
Of course America cannot budge an inch anywhere now, cannot give in to the Arab world, for our own well-being... Pay attention, my friends, history is literally unfolding around you.----->JMS

[lonewolf]

From his message, it's obvious he wants Bush out of office. I wonder why? Do you think maybe he fears Bush more than anyone?

[songsmith]

Nope. I think he doesn't care who's president, he simply want to show how much weight he swings. He's not going to stop terrorism for Bush, Kerry, or anyone else, because he's a narcissistic egomaniac with an inflated sense of self-worth. He grew up rich, and that's how those people are anyway, but he's that one in a billion a-hole who "has it all."
If Bush wanted to really put him in his place, he'd point out , in the world media, that we have the ability to "delete" Lebanon, Palestine, and hell, even Mecca for that matter. I've always felt the answer to Arab saber-rattling is to rattle the biggest saber... we have nukes as a deterrent, after all. This American Al Qaeda tape the other day should have been a MUCH bigger story... it could have put Bush far ahead with the "security moms" if he'd approached it, but both candidates are so gun-shy right now because they're both putzes and they don't want to say something the other could attack. Everyone knew there'd be a "surprise" close to the elections... GOP and Dems alike... Bush has the bully pulpit, which he should use now, today. Instead, he stays quiet, re-election is ALWAYS a politician's real priority, and this could be construed as embarrassing for a cowboy. He could, however, turn this into a landslide win with the right strategy... as I said before, this is anybody's race, and the next week will be very interesting whether or not you follow politics.---->JMS

[byndrsn]

Yes, I believe he does want Bush out of office, and so does the fellow who wrote the following article. This is a good read.

It was written in the Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington paper) on Wed. Oct. 6, 2004. It was written by Mathew Manweller who is a Central Washington University political science professor.

The title of the article was "Election determines fate of nation."

"In that this will be my last column before the presidential election there will be no sarcasm, no attempts at witty repartee. The topic is too serious, and the stakes are too high. This November we will vote in the only election during our lifetime that will truly matter. Because America is at a once-in-a-generation crossroads, more than an election hangs in the balance.

Down one path lies retreat, abdication and a reign of ambivalence. Down the other lies a nation that is aware of its past and accepts the daunting obligation its future demands. If we choose poorly, the consequences will echo through the next 50 years of history. If we, in a spasm of frustration, turn out the current occupant of the White House, the message to the world and ourselves will be twofold. First, we will reject the notion that America can do big things. Once a nation that tamed a frontier, stood down the Nazis and stood upon the moon, we will announce to the world that bringing democracy to the Middle East is too big of a task for us. But more significantly, we will signal to future presidents that as voters, we are unwilling to tackle difficult challenges, preferring caution to boldness, embracing the mediocrity that has characterized other civilizations.

The defeat of President Bush will send a chilling message to culture presidents who may need to make difficult, yet unpopular decisions. America has always been a nation that rises to the demands of history regardless of the costs or appeal. If we turn away from that legacy, we turn away from who we are. Second, we inform every terrorist organization on the globe that the lesson of Somalia was well learned. In Somalia we showed terrorists that you don't need to defeat America on the battlefield when you can defeat them in the newsroom. They learned that a wounded America can become a defeated America. Twenty-four-hour news stations and daily tracing polls will do the heavy lifting, turning a cut into a fatal blow. Except that Iraq is Somalia times 10. The election of John Kerry will serve notice to every terrorist in every cave that the soft underbelly of American power is the timidity of American voters. Terrorists will know that a steady stream of grizzly photos for CNN is all you need to break the will of the American people. Our own self-doubt will take it from there. Bin Laden will recognize that he can topple any American administration without setting foot on the homeland

It is said that America's W.W.II generation is its 'greatest generation.' But my greatest fear is that it will become known as America's 'last generation.' Born in the bleakness of the Great Depression and hardened in the fire of WW II, they may be the last American generation that understands the meaning of duty, honor and sacrifice. It is difficult to admit, but I know these terms are spoken with only hollow detachment by many (but not all) in my generation. Too many citizens today mistake 'living in America' as 'being an American.' But America has always been more of an idea than a place. When you sign on, you do more than buy real estate. You accept a set of values and responsibilities.

This November, my generation, which has been absent too long, must grasp the obligation that comes with being an American, or fade into the oblivion they may deserve. I believe that 100 years from now historians will look back at the election of 2004 and see it as the decisive election of our century. Depending on the outcome, they will describe it as the moment America joined the ranks of ordinary nations; or they will describe it as the moment the prodigal sons and daughters of the greatest generation accepted their burden as caretakers of the City on the Hill."

Please vote with your heart.

[songsmith]

I don't think you have to be a Republican to be a patriot, and the inferrence that you do is one of the reasons I'm parting with my normally somewhat right-leaning views this election. The current administration hasn't made me feel safe, and neither will the next. If either side wanted to make me feel like they're accomplishing anything, they'd stop the bullsh*t ads attacking one another and go GET BIN LADEN. If they put half as much effort into that as they did stopping Clinton from getting some knobby from a college-girl, Osama would be speaking to Allah face-to-face right now.------>JMS

[Ron]

If anyone thinks that Iraq can become a democratic nation, I believe that they are badly mistaken.

Look at Iran.

In 1953 The US and Britain sponsored a military coup that took out the leader (Dr. Mohammad Mossadeq), and brought the Shah to power.

In 1963, the Shah, with support from the US and Britain, introduced widescale social reforms, both secular and religious, and sent Ayatollah Khomeini to prison. the next year, Khomeini is sent into exile in Turkey for opposing a bill granting US military personnel diplomatic immunity. In 1965, he moves to Iraq where he remains until 1978.

In 1977, the Shah faces domestic pressure and pressure from the US to make Iran a democratic nation. Despite all of Iran's oil money, the nation is impoverished.

In 1978-1979, a revolution exiles the Shah and puts the Ayatollah Khomeini into power.

In my opinion, it is only a matter of time until Iraq becomes a nation ruled by hardcore Islamic leaders. The only way that we can prevent it is by occupying it forever.

Iraq will be a thorn in our side for decades. And for?

[Imgrimm01]

Ron That's simple .... OIL !!!! Precious Black Gold Keep them Texas Boys RICH !!

[byndrsn]

Ron That's simple .... OIL !!!! Precious Black Gold Keep them Texas Boys RICH !!

Yeah, that's what the libs were saying during Desert Storm in the early 90's, and gues what? THEY WERE WRONG!

[Imgrimm01]

No we weren't wrong, The Texas Boys stayed plenty rich , Rich enough to buy another son into the whitehouse, WITHOUT winning the election I might add ! This administration is a true bunch of " Good Ole Boys " and they certainly take care of their own AND everyone who can aid in that, Saudi's , Bin Ladin Family etc... But that's just propaganda. rrrrrright !!

[Ron]

Yeah, that's what the libs were saying during Desert Storm in the early 90's, and guess what? THEY WERE WRONG!

In the 90's it WAS about oil. Saddam took over Kuwait and was planning on heading furthur into Saudi Arabia. The Saudi nation may be big, but it is weak militarily without US support. Saddam could have controlled most of the Middle Eastern Reserves and the Persian Gulf if we hadn't stopped him. I believe that that war was justified.

The current war is a quagmire that will cost every one of us for a long, long time. I agree that those Texas boys are a greedy bunch. Even if we manage to make Iraq a democracy for a year or two before the fundamentalists take over, and if we get the pipelines open, oil prices still won't drop.

[lonewolf]

An election day Kerry supporter working hard:

http://www.geocities.com/jcr5/BINVOTEN.jpg

[byndrsn]

An election day Kerry supporter working hard:

http://www.geocities.com/jcr5/BINVOTEN.jpg

I love it!!! It couldn't be more truthful either!!!!!

[bfoust]

So when exactly will the news of Osama's capture be seen? So far I haven't heard anything?