Laden With Fear
‘MY message to you is about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and how it can be ended. I did not intend to speak to you about this, because we already know how this war should end …
No, not the words of George Galloway addressing Big Brother but those of Osama bin Laden, the man weve not heard from for 14 months.
But why does Bin Laden speak now? Why should the man who didnt issue any of his trademark threats to the world for the whole of 2005 think now is the right time to release an audio tape?
Is the media savvy Bin Laden taking advantage of a slow news day? With George Best buried and Elton John married, has Bin Laden seized his chance to hog the limelight?
Or is the broadcast a sign of the enemys desperation, as the Telegraph hears the White House insist?
The Guardians editorial says Bin Laden exhibits the timing and panache of a diabolical Scarlet Pimpernel. But it fails to fully explain why this is so. It goes on: Like it or not, yesterdays tape will burnish his legend with his admirers and enemies alike.
Indeed. Hearing their maters voice will surely remind Bin Ladens followers of their purpose, and that they have a leader. The general is rallying his belegured and depleted troops.
Or has this broadcast been designed to keep the al-Qaeda brand alive? Bin Laden is sticking to what he does best threatening America. In this tape he claims that operations are under preparation and you will see them in your homes the minute they are through [with preparations]. He should be feared.
Granted, its more jaw-jaw than war-war and thank God for that. But if you are losing the physical fight, what else can you do but seek to manipulate the media?
America is under risk of attack, says US Vice President Dick Cheney in the Telegraph; but, for now, the enemys offensive is restricted to the airwaves.
And then theres the part of Bin Ladens invective in which hes heard offering America an olive branch. Bin Laden speaks of a truce with fair conditions to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bin Laden doesnt go into much detail. But he wont need to the White House has rejected his truce out of hand.
In any case, how can anyone be sure it is really is Osama bin Ladens voice on the tape? There is no video, only audio. Osama bin Laden: Is it him? asks Robert Fisk in the Independent.
Might it be that this Osama is not the real thing? Might it be that the voice is that of a Bin Laden impressionist pretending to be the bearded one? Might it be that bin Laden is too ill to talk, or too dead?
This is hardly far fetched thinking. And its surely more believable than the idea that the Americans will ever talk peace with the worlds foremost terrorist…’
Posted: 20th, January 2006 | In: Uncategorized Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
