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Is bin Laden Losing Heart?
The Toronto Star ^
| January 14, 2004
| Richard Gwyn
Posted on 01/14/2004 12:57:56 PM PST by 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-
(Excerpt) Read more at thestar.com ...
TOPICS: Extended News; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; binladen; obl
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To: 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.
Sort of like Soros?
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I feel ashamed now and will properly go punish myself by buying overpriced coffee.
21
posted on
01/14/2004 1:41:41 PM PST
by
kingu
(Remember: Politicians and members of the press are going to read what you write today.)
To: quidnunc
He's looking more and more like an ideologue who took on a fight he lacked the resources, ability and imagination to win. I don't know whether he's looking like anything you'd recognize as human, right now. But when he started 9/11, he had no idea how large and relatively invulnerable this country is. He had no direct knowledge of the US, and also probably thought all its inhabitants were pussy wimps like Clinton.
22
posted on
01/14/2004 1:46:30 PM PST
by
expatpat
To: quidnunc
Losing heart ? Allowing that he has a heart, I look forward to some future reports that it has stopped beating.
"These terrorists kill not merely to end lives, but to disrupt and end a way of life. With every atrocity, they hope that America grows fearful, retreating from the world and forsaking our friends. They stand against us because we stand in their way.
We're not deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They're the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the 20th century. By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions, by abandoning every value except the will to power, they follow in the path of fascism, Nazism and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way to where it ends in history's unmarked grave of discarded lies.
-snip-
And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation in every region now has a decision to make: Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.
From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime. Our nation has been put on notice. We're not immune from attack. We will take defensive measures against terrorism to protect Americans.
-snip-
I will not forget the wound to our country and those who inflicted it. I will not yield, I will not rest, I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people.
The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.
Fellow citizens, we'll meet violence with patient justice, assured of the rightness of our cause and confident of the victories to come.
In all that lies before us, may God grant us wisdom and may He watch over the United States of America." - President George W Bush, address to Congress, 20 September 2001
23
posted on
01/14/2004 1:53:02 PM PST
by
Darlin'
("I will not forget this wound to my country." President George W Bush, 20 Sept 2001)
To: mhking
You have to have something for it to stop, my FRiend.
24
posted on
01/14/2004 2:12:46 PM PST
by
4mycountry
("No! Bad doggie! Don't eat dead people!")
To: Ronly Bonly Jones
This calls for the jumbo-size WAHHHHmbulance.
25
posted on
01/14/2004 2:12:52 PM PST
by
bootless
(Never Forget)
To: AngieGOP; All
Folks lets talk seriously about dialysis. Something I know a bit about because my brother had home dialysis.
The machines can be fussy, they have alarms that go off and refuses to function if there are problems. They require BIG amounts of sterile dialyzing fluid, sterile tubings (disposable, must be replaced with each use) and the machine must be cleaned and maintained daily. It was a minimum of 4 hours (many more hours sometimes if there were problems) to set up the machine, hook up the patient and complete the dialysis.
My point: it's a huge effort. Even if only done 3 times per week. And the sterile supplies and fluids that are required to maintain on-going dialysis would require a conspicuous supply source and some amount of storeage space.
My opinion: If OBL requires and is doing this, he is near a metro area that's large enough to support the necessary supplies. And he has trained support people around him performing the shunt access etc.
My take: He's dead. Or in no need of on-going dialysis.
Prairie
26
posted on
01/14/2004 2:14:27 PM PST
by
prairiebreeze
(Was O'Neill being blackmailed or did Clinton call in the aluminum favor? Only the Shadow knows.....)
To: quidnunc
meant to include you on my post #26
27
posted on
01/14/2004 2:14:52 PM PST
by
prairiebreeze
(Was O'Neill being blackmailed or did Clinton call in the aluminum favor? Only the Shadow knows.....)
To: quidnunc
"O Muslims, I am in deep doo-doo."
To: Billthedrill
Hey, maybe we should cheer the poor fellow up...I know - let's all chip in and get him a Candygram! Candygram for Mongo! Candygram for Mongo!
To: Tricorn
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?
Well, 90% of the Democratic Party seems to think that Osama is beating America.
To: quidnunc
He's dead Jim and Richard Gwyn!
What part of dead, don't you understand?
31
posted on
01/14/2004 5:38:23 PM PST
by
Grampa Dave
(Free Republic, where leftist liars are exposed 24/7!)
To: bootless
"This calls for the jumbo-size WAHHHHmbulance."
32
posted on
01/14/2004 5:41:34 PM PST
by
Grampa Dave
(Free Republic, where leftist liars are exposed 24/7!)
To: mhking
bttt
33
posted on
01/14/2004 6:13:49 PM PST
by
lainde
(Heads up...We're coming and we've got tongue blades!!)
To: steve-b
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).
....
...or more desireable.
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