Based on Ms. Dowd's pop culture-obsessed columns, television is reality, so Osama's face on the tube is the same as al Qaida operatives flying jets into skyscrapers.

She also defends the manor by basically saying the officer who said the explosives were removed from the Iraqi bunker is lying when he said the Times got the story wrong. No big surprise there, bui it does show a little of the Upper West Side's mindset on U.S. forces hasn't changed much in 35 years, and if Bush wins re-election, look for sptting on guys in uniforms to become the latest early 70s' retro activity among the intellectual set that reads (and writes) the paper of record.

Maureen Dowd is the female version of Walter Cronkite.

The Power of Will
Winning still matters.
by Victor Davis Hanson
National Review Online

"[...] Victory on the battlefield — not the mysterious diplomacy of "wise men," or German and French sanction, or Arab League support — alone will allow Iraq an opportunity for humane government.

Meanwhile, we all vote. One candidate urges us to return to the mindset of pre-September 11 — law enforcement dealing with terrorists as nuisances. He claims the policies that have led to an absence of another attack at home, the end of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, idealistic efforts to extend freedom, and radical and positive changes in Pakistan, Libya, the West Bank, and the Gulf have made things worse. In contrast, the other reminds us that we are in a real war against horrific enemies and are no longer passive targets, but will fight the terrorists on their home turf, win, and leave behind humane government. No choice could be clearer. It is America's call."

http://victorhanson.com/articles/hanson102904.html

I dunno, maybe we should be listening to Mo here.

I anyone on planet earth can speak authoritatively about that which is "inane', it's Maureen Dowd.

"Terrorism as Nuisance":

Only the common rabble get killed (as opposed to, say, someone who Served In Vietnam and married Billion$ being inconvenienced).

      "Strange, wouldn't you think the point is that instead of attacking us here all they can do is make idle video threats?"

      No, I'd say that the point is that Osama, assuming it really was Osama, was whining about how he'd leave us alone if we'd leave him alone.  In other words, he's losing and wants to call it all off.

THE SAUDS MUST BE DESTROYED!

I thought Osama's last message spoke of his coming here and becoming the ultimate suicide bomber.

Dowd ought to donate her brain to science.

And then write about the experience.