Sunday, December 12, 2004
Osama Redux
I don't know... Correct me if I'm wrong, but we've been saying this for, like, ever. And we still haven't caught him, dead or alive. I'd like to see him in jail just as much as the next reasonable liberal, but he's starting to lose his appeal. Maybe the mainstream media should bring him up a little more often and, you know, scare me a little bit again.
From Daily Kos:
I don't know. What makes everyone so sure he'll be caught? We had our chance, maybe it's time to move on. Even if we were to catch him, it's not like that would really damage Al Qaeda. They've got quite the powerful infrastructure, and enough fact-based propaganda to publish recruiting materials for years to come. Why don't we go after more dangerous targets? Taking out Osama bin Laden would be like taking out the Queen of England... Sad as hell for the people that loved him, but essentially meaningless to the organization or effectiveness of the whole. In fact, it seems to me that there would be a really powerful backlash, one we don't necessarily want to provoke, even if it means we've got bin Laden's head. ¶
- david | 11:07 PM
"Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Sunday that Osama bin Laden is 'definitely' in the region and eventually will be caught, even though American and Pakistani generals admit the trail is cold."
I don't know... Correct me if I'm wrong, but we've been saying this for, like, ever. And we still haven't caught him, dead or alive. I'd like to see him in jail just as much as the next reasonable liberal, but he's starting to lose his appeal. Maybe the mainstream media should bring him up a little more often and, you know, scare me a little bit again.
From Daily Kos:
Apparently one of the biggest problems we have in battling al Qaida and capturing Osama bin Laden is the strained relationship the U.S. has with Pakistani security forces:
Hunting for Osama bin Laden, the C.I.A. established a series of small, covert bases in the rugged mountain frontier of northwest Pakistan in late 2003. Mr. bin Laden, the terrorist leader, was being sheltered there by local tribesmen and foreign militants, the agency had concluded, and controlled a group of handpicked operatives dedicated to attacking the United States.
But since the bases opened, the C.I.A. officers stationed there have been strictly supervised by Pakistani officials, who have limited their ability to operate and have escorted them wherever they travel in the Pakistani border region. As a result, it has been virtually impossible for the Americans to gather intelligence effectively, say several officials familiar with the operation who would only speak anonymously.
I don't know. What makes everyone so sure he'll be caught? We had our chance, maybe it's time to move on. Even if we were to catch him, it's not like that would really damage Al Qaeda. They've got quite the powerful infrastructure, and enough fact-based propaganda to publish recruiting materials for years to come. Why don't we go after more dangerous targets? Taking out Osama bin Laden would be like taking out the Queen of England... Sad as hell for the people that loved him, but essentially meaningless to the organization or effectiveness of the whole. In fact, it seems to me that there would be a really powerful backlash, one we don't necessarily want to provoke, even if it means we've got bin Laden's head. ¶
- david | 11:07 PM
