Is bin Laden Losing Heart?

The Toronto Star ^ | January 14, 2004 | Richard Gwyn

[quidnunc]

A terrorist leader who appeals for advice on how to fight adversity is already applying the loser label to himself

Except as confirmation that he's still alive, Osama bin Laden's latest audiocassette has largely been dismissed as yet another "same-old, same-old," rant.

In fact, bin Laden's tape is one of the most interesting he's given since the Al Qaeda leader's early days on the run when he defiantly called for holy war to demonstrate that defeat in Afghanistan didn't mean the defeat of terrorism.

The interest in this new tape lies not in its content, which is indeed familiar and stale, but in its tone. That tone is palpably pessimistic.

As in: "O Muslims, The situation is serious and the misfortune is momentous."

And: "Lend me your ears and open up your hearts to me so that we may examine these pitch-black misfortunes and so that we may consider how we can find a way out of these adversities and calamities."

Rather than a Churchillian-style speech of a general rallying his troops for a last, glorious charge to the top of a hill, these are the ruminations of a commander who not only is keenly aware of the setbacks his side has experienced but who himself is beginning to become demoralized.

-snip-

[Billthedrill]

Hey, maybe we should cheer the poor fellow up...I know - let's all chip in and get him a Candygram! I know some fellers in funny-looking blotchy clothing who'd be happy to deliver it...

[mhking]

I'd be more likely to believe that Bin Laden's heart has stopped.

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[John H K]

Hmmm...

Maybe we need to change the "Daschle is deeply saddened" posts to "Bin Laden is deeply saddened."

[Tricorn]

Even a demented jihadist can only take so much failure and defeat before he starts to lose heart. Think how his followers feel. They die while he hides and all the while W and the Americans rout them at every turn. They are truly pathetic and who can't see that?

[Stentor]

Is bin Laden Losing Heart?

Pulled out of his dessicated body by the indigenous wildlife? Here's hoping they have wild hogs over there.

[Doctor Stochastic]

More likely, he's losing kidney.

[LexBaird]

If anything, he's losing kidney. Isn't he supposed to need regular dialysis? I often wonder how available kidney dialysis machines are in the mountains of Pakistan.

[AppyPappy]

Moew likely, he's frustrated because he can't seem to get another attack going. I bet he's shelled out millions and seen nothing in return.

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

I should say he has lost heart. And every other body part. Being dead does that.

[DoctorMichael]

Are we supposed to feel sorry for this clown because he's depressed?

Are we supposed to feel guilty because we are making him depressed because we are thwarting his schemes?

He's certainly got enough money for some Prozac.

[steve-b]

Except as confirmation that he's still alive

A low-fidelity audio tape doesn't confirm anything. I could cobble up an audio tape of President Bush giving the order to nuke Paris or announcing the abolition of the Departments of Energy and Education (whichever one you consider less plausible).

[Destructor]

"A terrorist leader who appeals to his supporters for advice on how to "find a way out of these adversities and calamities" is already applying the loser label to himself."

I wouldn't count on a large percentage of Muslims being smart enough to figure that out!

[skinkinthegrass]

..I'll say...As long as your taking suggestions

Lets' have Barbecue for the guy, Like a grand old "Necktie party"..the kind held in TX. w/GWB hosting it, ben Hidden as guest of honor!...ya think so?

[Redcloak]

Is bin Laden Losing Heart?

Heart, stomach, spinal fluid, liver, spleen, lower intestine, skeletal muscle, aqueous humor, lungs, bone marrow, connective tissue, kidneys...

Pretty much everything that gets squishy and runny in the presence of bacteria and mold.

[onedoug]

I hope he is/was good and depressed when he is/was snuffed out.

[skeeter]

I don't think he's exactly lost his heart. Its likely to be somewhere within the radius of the debris field caused by the high explosive blast that caused it to cease functioning.

[AngieGOP]

Someone told me that dialysis machines would be easy to trace as only one or two companies make and sell them. Does anyone know if that is true or not? If it is true, they why not trace bin Laden that way?

[LibWhacker]

I agree with this for the most part. But to say he's losing heart implies there was some degree of bravery to begin with.

[expatpat]

He sounds like Jimmy Peanuts when he came down from Camp David saying there was 'a malaise' in the country. Thank God for Ronnie!