[Richard Axtell]

Sorry, but I knew this was going to happen, and for the reasons I mentioned... Bin Laden sees his days are numbered, so he will strike out in desperation, at what he sees is the source of power in the Middle East... Oil.

[BradyLS]

But wouldn't Osama's strike, if successful, be merely transitory? Oil can be found all over the world and, if it came to it, we'd simply keep our domestic sources for ourselves. The wheels of government and industry would put a halt to enviro shennanigans if Osama found a way to permamnently cripple Middle East oil production. And this I doubt seriously. Saddam's scorched earth policy was repaired in record time. The Oil will flow. There's just too much of it for bin Laden to choke off for even a short period of time. IMO.

[Theresa]

Interesting. As a Dune fan you might like to know that the SciFi channel will be introducing the made for TV movie Children of Dune next Sunday. It looks pretty good. Too bad Susan Sarandon is in it....it will be the last time I watch ANYTHING with her in it.

[BradyLS]

BTW. I think your analogy of bin Laden to Herbert's messianic Paul Atriedes (Muad'dib) is fine. It fits, but there must a more subtle resource for Osama to attack for his choke-hold strategy to work.

He'd have to somehow develop or threaten a terrible "something" that ONLY he could put an end to that would bring the world leaders to him with hats in hand.

An extreme example can be found in Robert Heinlein's classic _The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress._ (Great read, BTW!)

[Cold Heat]

I don't see a real connection.

In Dune, the oppressed people revolted against the emperor and anyone else who oppressed them.

Seems natural enough. But, to compare Paul with Bin Wacko is a real stretch, as we are not oppressing the Arabs. We buy their product. We help them develop it.

This is a religious wacko attack and not a rebellion.

BTW, I was really looking forward to "Children of Dune" on Sci-Fi until I discovered to my dismay that Susan SaranWrap was in it.

I am afraid that Sci-Fi will have to do without me for this one.

[sourcery]

Ol' Osama, he bin Dune some bad things :-)

[Keith]

where the analogy falls apart is that we are kicking his organization's ass all over the world...it is getting to the point where hardly a day doesn't go by when we aren't rounding up tons of his idiots.

And now that we have a president who will pursue these guys, the hunt is in earnest for the big boy himself.

[BradyLS]

IMHO, when the bad guys' actions bind we Americans in a cycle of spending and restrictive laws for added security, red-tape, and a host of smaller, everyday hassles that eat at our time, money, patience, and peace of mind... THAT's when they get the most bang for their buck.

[fish hawk]

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