Bin Laden has a new tape out. In it, bin Laden, like all fanatics, demonstrates an inability to see things from the opposing perspective. Bin Laden rails against popularly elected legislative bodies as "infidel assemblies," yet condemns the West's "rejection of Hamas," the elected government of Palestine. He takes the side of the genocidal maniacs in Sudan, who have killed and displaced more than a million of their non-Muslim countrymen, as he whines about abuses (real and imagined) against Muslims in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Pakistan. Less than a week after an Islamic Jihad suicide bomber killed nine Israelis, bin Laden points to a "Zionist" war on Muslims. He calls for a religious war against the West at the same time that he accuses the West of waging a religious, "crusader" war against Islam. "The politicians of the West," bin Laden complains, want neither "dialogue" nor a "truce." Why reason with unreasonable people? Why seek a truce with an irreconcilable warmonger? Defeating the terrorists won't come through chautauquas and peace pipes. Stronger means are necessary.

You know, I liked his first and second tape. But his recent stuff has been junk. I'm waiting for the 'Best of Bin Laden'.

I dont know, I kinda liked his Live from Hassam Square Gardens album...very insightful.

...and his duet album with the Artist formally known as Cat Stevens.

Too bad we couldn't nab the guy after 9-11. We could have saved a lot of lives, a lot of money, and a lot of trouble in this Iraq williness.

Sorry: uh, "silliness."

Do you really think that if they had caught this guy right after 9/11, we still wouldn't have been in Iraq? Just like Saddam, Bin Laden was a good way to put a face on evil and to justify the ends.

Bin Laden is small potatoes. He's an opportunist and a hit and run expert who lives in a bloody cave. There are many more little Bin Ladens out there that are far more dangerous at this point and who we should be more worried about.

Every day that Bin Laden remains alive is a propaganda victory for Al Qaeda.

asdf: do I really think...? Yes.

Iraq could only have happened given a certain vague belief that we were getting revenge on the 9-11 people. If we had killed or captured BL while dismantling the Taliban, people would have felt that we got the people directly responsible. That feeling of closure is still missing. But if we had gotten him, I suspect the American people and even most Republicans would have been quite happy mopping up Afghanistan. Though the war-hawks, those utopians who style themselves hard-edged realists, would still have wanted Iraq for only God knows why, I don't think they would have found the public or Congress as pliable.

I agree with the earlier posts. Bin Laden's tapes have been junk. His earlier Zeppelin influenced stuff was good. His new post punk religious material reminds me of Dylan in the early 80's. We don't want to hear about your conversion man, just rock.

I do agree with your first statement that “Iraq could only have happened given a certain vague belief that we were getting revenge on the 9-11 people.” But I don’t agree that apprehending Bin Laden would have been considered a complete victory and that that would have satisfied our need for revenge. And I certainly don’t think that that alone would have brought closure.

Our foray into Afghanistan was a good move and it certainly was a good way to fight terrorism in a country whose government sanctioned it. This sent the world the right message. And justifiably using Bin Laden as the reason for our operation was necessary and put a face to the terror. But, if there had been no major architect of the horrendous crime, one probably would have been invented as there were absolute reasons for our actions. Military action would have been inevitable either way and we would have gone after the sources of the terrorism.

I am unclear how you make the automatic connection between Bin Laden/Afghanistan and Iraq (“Too bad we couldn’t nab the guy after 9-11. We would have saved a lot of lives, a lot of money, and a lot of trouble in this Iraq (s)illiness.”). If Bin Laden was holed up in some cave in Afghanistan, how do you explain our entering into a military conflict with Iraq? I think 9/11 gave our leaders the impetus they needed to go after not only the perpetrator and sponsors of the WTC disaster but also the justification for us to move into region of the Middle East that had been a concern to many.

Two Sheds, you noted your admiration for bin Laden's '70s tapes. Have you checked out "Bin Laden Comes Alive" or "Bin Laden Live at Budokan"? You might find his live stuff more impressive than his studio work. Or how about in '78, when bin Laden, al Zawahiri, Zarqawi, and Muhammed Atta all got sick of the group format, and released four solo albums on the same day?

You are so right ACE. But have you checked out some of his live stuff. Intensities in Ten Cities is up there with Live at Leeds.

Two Sheds, how did you come by your nickname? Do you in fact have two sheds?

Two sheds and Ace, if you guys are funny, I hate to see what unfunny is.