OSAMATRONIC MEWLING:

A shift in P.R. tactics, to bin Laden light (Don Van Natta, Jr., 12/19/04, The New York Times)

What does Osama bin Laden want?

The vexing question emerged again last week with the release of an audiotape on which a man believed to be the al-Qaida leader applauds the Dec. 6 attack against the U.S. Consulate in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, and urges the toppling of the Saudi royal family.

The tape indicated that bin Laden has apparently moved the fomenting of a revolution in his Saudi homeland toward the top of his lengthy and ambitious wish list, which also includes the reversal of American foreign policy in the Middle East, the retreat of the American military from the Arabian Peninsula and the creation of a Palestinian homeland.

Bin Laden has advocated these changes before. What intelligence officials and terrorism experts find particularly remarkable in this and other recent statements is a shift from the raw anger and dark imagery of the post-9/11 days. [...]

Perhaps most striking is bin Laden's expression of frustration. Speaking directly to Americans in the pre-election address, he complained that his rationale for waging war against the United States was repeatedly mischaracterized by President Bush and consequently misunderstood by most Americans.

The tone and retreat are most consistent with Osama being dead and al Qaeda defeated.

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 19, 2004 9:09 AM