Osama as Senior Statesman for the Middle East

[MaryH]

There is a power void in the Middle East right now. And Osama may be trying to fill it. Wouldn't that be something?

Right now "he's the man" to a lot of Muslims. Muslims who feel that they have been humiliated and shamed by the US.

It wouldn't surprise me to see this happen. Osama on this new tape is different. He is statesmanlike. He is rational. And he looks perfectly healthy. And the guy is just a natural-born leader.

I think he is also completely crazy - but that's just my opinion.

[jean]

1. I thought he looked like a king, or, for LOTR fans like me, a powerful

wizard in his latest tape. He looked healthy and intact - no apparent injuries. You're right in your assessment of him but there's no way our leadership could let him assume a position of power like that - Kerry has more or less called him a barbarian and says he'll hunt down and kill/capture him. Can't go back on that promise.

[MaryH]

2. I don't think it will be up to our leadership

The Middle East is its own place with its own rules. We just chose to not pay attention to that when we should have.