Osama propels book onto best-seller list

[Surya Gayatri]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4636742.stm

Osama 'plug' boosts anti-US book

"Osama Bin Laden has seemingly propelled a book by an obscure historian into the US bestseller list, by endorsing it in an audio message aired on Thursday.

"Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower" had reached number 21 on the Amazon list by Sunday, leaping from below the 200,000 mark.

Author William Blum, 72, said he had no regrets about the endorsement.

The 320-page book is highly critical of US foreign policy, and says the War on Terror is doomed to failure."

<snip>

What about this book--any good? SG

[flyingfysh]

1. I heard Chomsky likes it

so it must be good. I tried bookstores in Harvard Square yesterday, all were sold out.

[Surya Gayatri]

3. Now there's a worthy recommendation...

Good sign that it's sold out--hope Mr. Blum gets his fair share of this unexpected windfall! SG

[kurth]

2. Osama is eating very well, has ample and satisfactory living conditions

See http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Terrorism/story?id=1525570

[Surya Gayatri]

4. Wow, how is it that

our vaunted intelligence services can't interrupt his "supply chain"--this guy has been tranformed into such a mythical boogeyman that he's just too good to lose. He'll never be apprehended as long as the BFEE is in power. His powers to distract from real issues are just too useful. SG

[flyingfysh]

5. There is one thing I worry about here

I'm sure the Bush crowd will use this endorsement to push the idea that leftists are allied with bin Laden, and further try to suppress dissent as a result.

I'm always suspicious when a new tape by bin Laden appears. The last time this happened, it was right before the 2004 election. There are people who are very good at faking tapes.