Breakdown of Bin Laden audiotape

"The idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is just plain wrong," Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean told a San Antonio radio show on Monday

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Published on Thursday, March 17, 2005 by CommonDreams.org
Why Iraq Withdrawal Makes Sense
by Norman Solomon

In mid-March, an ABC News/Washington Post poll found that a large proportion of the U.S. population has a negative view of the war. For instance, the poll asked: "All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting or not?" Only 45 percent said "worth fighting," while 53 percent said "not worth fighting."

Such nationwide poll numbers hardly indicate a country where few people are interested in proposals for extricating U.S. troops from Iraq. But the point is not only that political space exists in the United States for a grassroots movement to effectively organize for a swift pullout. It's also the best alternative for Iraq.

Consider the perspective of David Enders, a brave American journalist who has been in Iraq most of the time since the invasion. While writing for such outlets as MotherJones.com, the Nation magazine and the British daily Independent, he actually covers Iraqi society firsthand rather than staying behind American lines. Days ago, responding to my questions via email from Iraq, Enders provided some of the reasons for his assessment that American troops should leave rather than stay. For instance:


"It is the will of the Iraqi people." Enders cites a recent survey by Iraqi pollster Saadun Al-Dulaimie, who found that 85 percent of Iraqi people want U.S. troops out of their country as soon as possible.

"The U.S. does not provide security for the average Iraqi, and it never has."

"The U.S. has not prevented a civil war from taking place. If anything, it has exacerbated it."

"It is not morally derelict to pull out; it's morally derelict to stay. Returning real control and sovereignty to Iraqis is the most effective way to prevent the country from breaking apart. U.S. troops complain Iraqis don't want to stand up and fight for themselves, and a big part of the reason is the occupiers' presence."

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Violence Increasing in Afghanistan By Tom Regan
The Christian Science Monitor

Tuesday 17 January 2006

Suicide bombers bring new wave of terror, concerns about "re-Talibanization" of country...

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Bush job approval dips again to 39%

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America's Not Safer
by Charley Reese

It was a blunder from start to finish, and it has made the American people less secure, not more secure. More people hate us, and fewer nations are willing to cooperate with us on any international mission.

We have sent a message to our enemies that while we might be able to crush their conventional forces handily, we are no better at fighting a guerrilla war than we were when the North Vietnamese drove us out of Southeast Asia. We have sent a message to the entire Arab world that under no circumstances will we treat the Palestinians with even a semblance of justice and that we will condone whatever Israel chooses to do. Bush has never grasped the fact that the Palestinian issue is paramount in every Arab country.

If you think that makes America safer, then you should apply for a job as a Bush speechwriter.

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Quit Meddling in the Middle East
by Rep. Ron Paul

Respect for self-determination really is the cornerstone of a sensible foreign policy, yet many Americans who strongly support U.S. sovereignty advocate interventionist policies that deny other nations that same right. The interventionist approach that has dominated American foreign policy since World War I has produced an unmitigated series of disasters. From Korea to Vietnam to Kosovo to the Middle East, American military and economic meddling has made numerous conflicts worse, not better. Washington and Jefferson had it right when they warned against entangling alliances, and the history of the 20th century proves their point. The simple truth is that we cannot resolve every human conflict across the globe, and there will always be violence somewhere on earth. The fatal conceit lies in believing America can impose geopolitical solutions wherever it chooses.

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Merchants of Death:
Corporations that sell war, then profit from the bloodshed

It's pretty clear that the invasion and occupation of Iraq was not about the weapons of mass destruction (where ARE they?). Or about restoring sovereignty to Iraq (what about the 14 permanent U.S. military bases newly built there?). Or about ending the vast illegal imprisonment and torture of Iraqis (no comment necessary).

But as they say in detective novels, "Follow the money." Wouldn't it be important to learn about the billions and billions of dollars that certain companies are making from U.S. invasions and occupations? And would it surprise you that these very same companies have been contributing massive amounts to candidates, have "friends in high places" in the government, and have been "advising" the Department of Defense for years?

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cnredd said:

I don't think there's anything new here in Osama Bin Laden's new audiotape...

If you look closely, you can see that everything he said is the exact same thing we've been hearing from the left for quite awhile...

He's got the talking points down pat!...

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BWG said:

Charley Reese, a conservative columnist
http://www.conservativechronicle.com/columnists/reese/

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The Orlando Sentinel has endorsed John Kerry for President:

Four years ago, the Orlando Sentinel endorsed Republican George W. Bush for president based on our trust in him to unite America. We expected him to forge bipartisan solutions to problems while keeping this nation secure and fiscally sound.

This president has utterly failed to fulfill our expectations. We turn now to his Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry, with the belief that he is more likely to meet the hopes we once held for Mr. Bush

My friends, this is not a "liberal media" attack:

Our choice was not dictated by partisanship. Already this election season, the Sentinel has endorsed Republican Mel Martinez for the U.S. Senate and four U.S. House Republicans. In 2002, we backed Republican Gov. Jeb Bush for re-election, repeating our endorsement of four years earlier. Indeed, it has been 40 years since the Sentinel endorsed a Democrat -- Lyndon Johnson -- for president.

And all along where has our President been a "uniter, not a divider"? The Sentinel trusts that Kerry will be that uniter:

In sum, we believe Mr. Kerry would be a more bipartisan and effective leader than Mr. Bush. In the Nov. 2 general election, the Sentinel endorses John Kerry for president of the United States.
http://www.appalachia-alumni-association.net/blog/archives/000688.html

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vandree said:

..... Maybe instead of wiretapping innocent Americans, Bush should wiretap Al-Jazeera to find out how these tapes get there?

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oldreliable67 said:

One thing this bin Laden message clearly shows: he either has access to the internet and is spending a lot of time keeping up to date on US politics and polls, or some of his minions are doing so and keeping him updated. It appears likely that whereever he is hiding, he has internet access or is at least near internet access.

What do you suppose, cable, DSL or dial-up? Come on, NSA, do your thing!

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vandree said:

..... Maybe instead of wiretapping innocent Americans, Bush should wiretap Al-Jazeera to find out how these tapes get there?

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mixedmedia said:

But have they confirmed that this tape is his voice? I haven't heard that, yet? Been "out of the loop" today.

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