al Qaeda and politics.

A new statement purportedly from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was broadcast April 15 by Arab satellite channel al-Arabiya. In stark contrast to previous tapes, this one was aimed at encouraging political maneuvering rather than attacking Western targets.

While OBL hit a home run is Spain last month following the train bombings, should the US prepare for the worst before November 5th?

Many agencies are calling 2004 the do or die year for terrorist and dictators because if Dubbya gets another four they can count on some remodeling of their country or organizations.

[Botnst]

Combine that excellent Al Queda analysis with the administrations emerging problems in Iraq and you have a really interesting balance between internal and external Sunni initiatives and the internal and external Shia initiatives.

The United States is going to have to make alliances. Its core alliance with the majority Shia has to be redefined in the wake of al-Sadr's uprising. Even if al-Sadr is destroyed with his militia, the United States and the Shia will have much to talk about. Far more important, the United States is now talking to the Sunni guerrillas. That might or might not lead anywhere, but it is vitally important to all sides, no matter what comes of it. The United States has recognized that the Sunni enemy is a competent authority in some sense -- and that changes everything.

The United States will combine military action with political maneuvering. That is logical and inevitable in this sort of war. But as deals are cut with a variety of players, how will Bush's argument that the United States is building democracy in Iraq fly? The United States will be building coalitions. Whether it is a democracy is another matter. Indeed, it was al-Sistani demanding elections (which he knew the Shia would win) and the president putting off elections -- declaring at the press conference that he would not bend to Shiite demands on a timetable.

The problem that Bush has created is that there is no conceptual framework in which to understand these maneuvers. Building democracy in Iraq is not really compatible with the deals that are going to have to be cut. It is not that cutting deals is a bad idea. It is not that the current crisis cannot be overcome with a combination of political and military action. The problem is that no one will know how the United States is doing, because it has not defined a conceptual framework for what it is trying to accomplish in Iraq -- or how Iraq fits into the war on the jihadists.

To them its not what you do it's what you say. This article does not have much to do with the above posts but since this war is becoming more Poli Psy by the day it's relevant to the current events.

Young Arab toughs cannot tolerate insults to their manhood. So, as American armored columns pushed down the road to Baghdad, 400-watt loudspeakers mounted on Humvees would, from time to time, blare out in Arabic that Iraqi men are impotent. The Fedayeen, the fierce but undisciplined and untrained Iraqi irregulars, could not bear to be taunted. Whether they took the bait or saw an opportunity to attack, many Iraqis stormed out of their concealed or dug-in positions, pushing aside their human shields in some cases, to be slaughtered by American tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles." -- The Secret War, , 4/13/2003

The rest here.

http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/archives/000075.html

[chazola]

I hear French troops have loudspeakers on their 2CV's blaring "your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!" in Arabic. Really gets them down apparently.

[The Warden]

Now GO AWAY or I shall taunt you a second time!

[Botnst]

Al Queda is desparate to solidify the tie between the Palestinian cause and their own cause. They've been pretty successful.

The killing of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi in an Israeli air strike is particularly significant; it follows a recent shift by the United States that took Washington nearer to Israel's position on the occupation of Palestinian territories. With Israel pledging continued attacks against Palestinian leaders, the killing of al-Rantissi will be perceived as an act sanctioned by the United States, following Washington's April 14 policy announcement. That increases even further the risk of militant strikes against U.S. targets.

Originally posted by Sp0ck
Is that stuff true medmech or are you joking? What a great technique if so and what a bunch of pansies they are for being so insecure about their lack of manhood!:p

Yes if someone wishes to get a full grasp of what's really going on they should try publications other than 60 minutes, cnn, fox, the daily worker.

[soypwrd]

Originally posted by MedMech
...Many agencies are calling 2004 the do or die year for terrorist and dictators because if Dubbya gets another four....

They win. President Bravado is playing right into their hands. These guys in the White house can`t see the forest for the trees. Four more years of Bush and we lose all allies sans the Britts (maybe) and every muslim born is a terrorist. Sorry boys, you just can`t kill them all, it just won`t happen. This ain`t like when you played GI Joe`s, it`s real.

[Botnst]

Originally posted by soypwrd
They win. President Bravado is playing right into their hands. These guys in the White house can`t see the forest for the trees. Four more years of Bush and we lose all allies sans the Britts (maybe) and every muslim born is a terrorist. Sorry boys, you just can`t kill them all, it just won`t happen. This ain`t like when you played GI Joe`s, it`s real.

The terrorists WANT Dubyah to win? Oh yeah....

Under Kerry we will become closer to the French model of dealing with terrorism and mudering bloody f**king dictators.

There's bribes to be had on for the butcher's bill, Jacques.

I'm no great fan of the current administration nor his so-called party, but this I clearly understand--there are people wanting to kill Americans in order to destroy liberty. They have said that, and I take them at their words. They declared war on us and atatcked us for over a decade before we responded seriously.

It is more than time to kill them and kill them and kill them until they decide farming or herding or real estate is a more healthy line of work. Its up to them to choose.

Bush got the message of 9/11 but apparently Kerry just got a dial tone from Vietnam.

B

[soypwrd]

Originally posted by TheVirginiaDude
And 8 years of playing up to them like Clinton did got us what?...............

Read the headlines, your boy Clinton has been outta office for over 3 years now, get over it. There`s another jerk in the White House screwing up things now and his name is Bush. Stay on topic please. You are obsessed with the past.

[soypwrd]

Originally posted by TheVirginiaDude
...Either support the USA or get the hell out. There are plenty of people who love us and want to be here, let them have your space.

Sorry VDude, I`m here to stay, much to your dismay. If you believe my distain for this administration warrents my deportation you haven`t read the constitution.

[soypwrd]

Originally posted by TheVirginiaDude
..Not to mention the odd person who may take it a little too personal.......

Luckily I doubt there are any of those here however.

Not to worry your little head VDude, I take nothing you say here personally or seriously. How could I?