Osama bin Laden speaks

Al-Jazeera released an audiotape today from Osama bin Laden warning the United States of an impending attack and offering a truce.

In one breath, the impending attack:

“The new operations of al-Qaida has not happened not because we could not penetrate the security measures. It is being prepared and you'll see it in your homeland very soon.”

In another, the offer of truce:

“We do not mind establishing a long-term truce between us and you.”

Well bin Laden has now been heard from-finally. Scott McClellen states,

"We do not negotiate with terrorists. We put them out of business."

What is even more interesting than the rhetoric on both sides is some of the analysis. Al-Jazeera notes that the tapes production dates back to December 2005. It has been noted lately that Osama bin Laden quite possibly departed this world in that same month. Could this be his last word?

Additionally, Dr Dia Rashwan, an Egyptian specialist in Islamic movements, stated,

“We saw al-Zawahiri's previous recordings were clear and proffessionally recorded, while today's Bin Laden tape is of bad sound quality, which indicates that the two men live in two different enviroments."

Vice President Cheney egged the argument on stating,

The “terrorist network had been driven ‘underground’ and was now unable to produce video messages.”

according to AFP @ Yahoo.

Al-Jazeera warns:

"It is not the first time that al-Qaida offers a truce. The last time it offered it to European peoples.”

Of course we know that because Europe did not accept the truce, bombings happened in England and riots happened in France. Al-Jazeera leads one to wonder if this is just a last warning prior to an attack, like in Europe, or a real truce.

Al-Jazeera believes that we trust Osama bin Laden since he states,

"We are a nation that Allah banned from lying and stabbing others in the back, hence both parties of the truce will enjoy stability and security to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, which were destroyed by war.”

First, he indiscriminately killed 3000 Americans. So much for “stabbing others in the back” theory. Secondly, he has stabbed many of his friends, not only enemies, in the back. Note how bin Laden is free although holed up in a cave somewhere, while many of his brothers are in Guantanamo. He seemed able to save his own hide while his brothers were inprisoned. Finally, he states that he wants to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, “which were destroyed by war.” This leads again to the question of who started the war and about the “lying” and backstabbing.

One must wonder about also the timing of this recording. Things are looking good in Iraq. The insurgents in Iraq are on the defensive, not only from US actions, but also from Sunni actions. Iraq is a lost cause. Afghanistan, his own backyard, is becomng extremely productive despite the Taliban actions.

We will see if bin Laden is able to launch a successful attack in the US. We will not capitulate. We will not back down. If attacked again, the Congress will undoubtedly forget about wiretapping “irregularities” and reinstate the Patriot Act.

To echo President Bush, “Bring it on”.