In any case, I think he summed up a lot of important points:Finally, the use of the terrorist groups by states seeking to avoid international consequences is an effective ruse by which they pursue agendas. Thus states like Iran, Libya, Syria and Iraq gladly employ the type of plausible deniability provided by someone like bin Laden.
Bin Laden had the brilliant realization that we (America) only fight states. Not being or allying himself with a state was probably his smartest move.
We have to remember that many wars were won by changes in strategy. The Romans on many occasions revamped their strategy to fight the barbarians on their own terms. The Continental Army fought with a strategy that left the lined-up advancing squadrons of the Brits dead upon the ground.
I think, actually, that that's what we're doing now. We'll have a conventional war at some point. But who knows when?