The right-wing is dead wrong - Osama wants Bush elected

[EarlG]

Okay, I'm getting sick and tired of right-wing media brown-nosers trying to spin this Osama video in favor of George W. Bush.

Let's look at the facts.

* Bush ignored warnings before 9/11.
* After bin Laden attacked us Bush vowed to capture him "dead or alive."
* Six months later Bush said "I'm not that concerned about him."
* Now bin Laden shows up in a video laughing at America.

Bush has turned the "war on terror" into a joke. But much worse than that, he is giving radical Islamists exactly what they want. This latest bin Laden appearance should not be spun into a "boost" for Bush. Its very existence is a crushing indictment of Bush's disastrous foreign policy and mishandling of the war on terror.

Consider this partial translation of an Arab website's analysis of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi's recent "pledge of fealty" to Osama bin Laden which we were made aware of today:

In the name of God, the Merciful and the Compassionate

Thanks to God, Lord of the Worlds, and the outcome to those who fear Him; no aggression shall be except on oppressors; prayer and peace upon the one who was sent for the mercy of the people, upon his family and his companions.

I happened to read an analysis in one of the News sites, "Middle East," under the subject: "Why has Zarqawi decided to pledge fealty to Bin Laden now?" I found the writer to be in great confusion, quoting several opinions, and coming to the conclusion that: "The explanations are extremely contradictory in justifying this declaration!!!"

I believe that the flaw lies in the lack of understanding of Al-Qaeda’s strategy in managing the war against the Americans. In order to clarify the picture and show the truth, I am going to go through some of the opinions, adding some guidance to them.

(snip)

There is no doubt that the confirmation that this statement gave about the inexistence of a relationship between Saddam and Al-Qaeda was not intentional; for, in my opinion, Al-Qaeda is not aiming at getting Bush to lose the upcoming elections, as some might believe. Al-Qaeda knows very well that Bush’s policy in Iraq and Afghanistan serves the Jihad to a great extent. The increase in hostility towards the Americans by all of kinds of people, is terrifying the wise Americans, to the extent that many of their allies (the Philippines, Spain, Honduras, ad the Dominican Republic) walked out on them after only one year of the war. What will be the case if the war lasts for years and years?!!

It is worth mentioning that the Mujahideen are prepared for a long lasting war, that could go on for decades, until the fall of America into the same trap that the Mujahideen had set for the Soviets in the past.

Nowadays, we hear of statements signed by hundreds of American politicians, military people, and thinkers warning of the consequences of the policy of 'Bush Junior' in his war on terror in general, and in Iraq in particular.

As for Kerry, we are positive that he is not less hostile than Bush, and so is the case of all the occupants of the 'Black House'

What I mean to say here, is that the Mujahideen prefer the re-election of 'Bush Junior' because his policy is a mixture of arrogance, pride, recklessness and eagerness. These qualities are most important in leading the Americans to an early defeat, God willing. This fact brings us to believe that Al-Qaeda is not necessarily looking at weakening Bush’s election winning ticket, by exposing his lying about the motives of the war on Iraq.

Now here's Bush's former terrorism chief, Richard Clarke. This is a transcript of last night's Nightline with Clarke and Professor Akbar Ahmed:

AHMED: If president bush is re-elected, it helps osama bin laden. It helps president musharraf, the two enemies in that. It helps both of them. Because it secures musharraf in pakistan it secures osama bin laden, his base. He needs an america that is on the war path against him, to be able to say america's attacking islam, in fact, so he's twisting what is happening from america.

KOPPEL: Do you agree, richard?

CLARKE: I do. I think it's obvious he's trying to affect the u.S. Election. This is the second audio/visual tape we've received in the last week from al qaeda, addressed to the american people. And he attacked the president in the way that, i think, is designed to get the american people to move to bush's side. He's a smart guy, osama bin laden, and he knows if he attacks bush that will strengthen bush. Why does he want bush as president? Because bush, as president, gives him the symbol that gets all these people joining al qaeda. Bush is the symbol that has increased recruitment for al qaeda, and has increased money flow for al qaeda. Bush is the symbol for all of the jihadists throughout the muslim world who hate america.

There is plenty of evidence to support this:

The London-based Al-Quds al-Arabi said on its Web site that it had received a statement from "The Brigade of Abu Hafs al-Masri (search) (Al Qaeda)" in which the group reiterated its responsibility for the March 11 attacks (in Madrid) that killed more than 200 people and wounded more than 1,600 ... The statement tells American voters that Abu Hafs al-Masri supports the re-election campaign of President Bush: "We are very keen that Bush does not lose the upcoming elections."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,114489,00.html

And then there's:

The occupation of Iraq has provided a "potent global recruitment pretext" for al-Qaida and probably increased worldwide terrorism, a leading thinktank said yesterday. Despite some losses, al-Qaida has more than 18,000 potential terrorists at large and its ranks are growing, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said, adding that al-Qaida now had a presence in more than 60 countries.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/alqaida/story/0,12469,1224821,00.html

Or how about:

The State Department acknowledged Thursday it was wrong in reporting terrorism declined worldwide last year. Instead, both the number of incidents and the toll in victims increased sharply, the department said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,122403,00.html

And let's not forget:

TEHRAN, Iran - The head of Iran's security council said on Tuesday the re-election of President Bush (news - web sites) was in Tehran's best interests, despite the administration's axis of evil label, accusations that Iran harbors al-Qaida terrorists and threats of sanctions over the country's nuclear ambitions.

"We should not forget that most sanctions and economic pressures were imposed on Iran during the time of Clinton," Rowhani said of the former Democratic president. "And we should not forget that during Bush's era — despite his hard-line and baseless rhetoric against Iran — he didn't take, in practical terms, any dangerous action against Iran."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041019/ap_on_el_pr/iran_us_elections_1

The right-wing spin on this is despicable. Take the recent Washington Times story which Drudge has been touting. The title is "Terrorists hope to defeat Bush through Iraq violence." Oh really? From the article itself:

Mowafaq Al-Tai, a London-educated architect and intellectual, said different types of resistance fighters have different views of the U.S. election. The most pro-Kerry, he said, are the former Saddam Hussein loyalists — Ba'ath Party members and others who think Washington might scale back its ambitions for Iraq if Mr. Kerry wins, allowing them to re-enter civic life.

The most pro-Bush, he said, are the foreign extremists. "They prefer Bush, because he's a provocative figure, and the more they can push people to the extreme, the better for their case."

http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/extra/archives/001136.html

Foreign extremists inside Iraq = al Qaeda. Way to go, Washington Times.

So come on, DU. Let's crush this right-wing spin. Spread this around, and if you know of any other examples of the terrorists endorsing Bush, let's have 'em.

[snowbear]

1. CNN...

Just had a political analyst on there saying basically the same thing.

Bush is a much easier target and it will be a blessing to terrorists throughout the world if he's elected.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. If you look for it

yiou will find it, OBL endorsement of Bush, AFP carried it oh six months ago

[Harlan James]

3. Unless Kerry speaks out and hits Bush hard on Osama

...we can just kiss this all goodbye.

A nuclear bomb just went off. Kerry needs to stand up and blame Osama's continuing existence on the incompetence of Bush.

Not much else is going to work.

[endnote]

18. No nuke went off. Nobody gives a shit about this tape.

[kokomo]

21. I am very suspicious about the timing of the Osama videotape release.

We don't even know WHEN it was made, nor WHO may have fed it to Al Jazeera. Even though it has been made to look like Bush is Al Jazeera's nemesis, that network is also located in Qatar, which is Bush friendly to the point that CENTCOM was even headquartered there.

Some say the video tape is hard on Bush and HURTS him but I fear the opposite effect of Osama's "endorsement". Why? Osama is a RED FLAG to most Americans. His image incites FEAR and hatred which benefits Mr. Bush who has been building his whole campagin on 9/11 and a main theme that Bush is the one to fight terrorism. It does not harm Bush for many to think that Osama is still his enemy. Plus, now that Americans are scared AGAIN, will they have the courage to "change horses in midstream?"

I fear this release on a LATE Friday was planned all along by Karl Rove. Why did the White House Kerry, for "unity" sake to muzzle himself while Bush ONLY was to speak about the tapes??? Every Osama videotape before this one was NOT released quickly, but kept sequestered several days for "analysis" by CIA/FBI to see if there might not be any "hidden messages" contained therein. This one was RUSHED to market! Also, why are all tapes from the Middle East so fuzzy? Even this one isn't as crisp as the ones I get from my own cheap video camera. After all, the whole world buys the same "Made in Japan" or "Made in China" video cameras.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Triana]

5. nominated for home page...

...this needs to be OUT FRONT and far and wide...

[JohnnyCougar]

6. Kick!

Contact the media!!

[Cocoa]

7. Bush admitted he panders to terrorists

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040601-15.html


The terrorists and their allies declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. (Applause.)





Transcript doesn't say who's applauding. It might be the terrorists.

[Goldmund]

8. Here's what I have to add:

1) One of the reasons we support Kerry is because we believe the US foreign policy will be different under Kerry than it has been under Bush;

2) OBL has a stake in US foreign policy, for the reasons you listed and more. It's foolish to say that OBL doesn't care what the US foreign policy is -- of course he does, otherwise he "hates us for our freedoms";

Therefore, Osama Bin Laden has a stake in who wins the election.

3) Releasing the tape so close to the election was obviously intended to have an effect on the US election. OBL is not stupid, and he is conscious of consequences of his actions;

4) What effect did OBL want to achieve with this tape? Which candidate did he want to help? He does not have a crystal ball, but he has access to all of the public data that we have. And what does that public data say? It says two things: 1. Whenever a terror threat of some kind is released, Bush gets a bump in the polls (see graph below); and 2. His tape will knock all of the negative Bush stories from last week off the front pages, or at least diminish their profile.



Therefore,

the release of this tape under these circumstances and at this time was clearly an attempt to help Bush win the election.

Let's hope that the American people have been underestimated and can rise above the knee-jerk, reptilian-brain reactions that they have exhibited in the aftermath of 9/11.

[EarlG]

12. Good points

Bush is good for bin Laden.
Bin Laden is good for Bush.

When one looks at the facts, that becomes clear. But the Bush team has spun this so hard that emotionally, people now associate Bush with somehow hurting bin Laden, despite all the evidence to the contrary. And of course, the media has been more than willing to assist them.

[Goldmund]

20. Exactly -- it's absurd

It's a self-contradictory, unsustainable construct.

The right-wing pundits and their freeper brethren are claiming that Osama's mere emergence is sure to help Bush and state that as an established and undeniable fact, clearly supported by past evidence; the reason this is so is because we're not pussies like the Spanish and we're not going to vote for Kerry just because Osama wants us to.

And the only way, then, that Osama could possibly be wanting to hurt Bush with this tape is if he thinks that he is considered some kind of a respected public figure in the US and that his endrosement would help a political candidate here. Jesus, do these people think Osama is sitting in a cave somewhere, thinking "hm... What can I do to help Kerry? hmm... I know! I'm going to make a tape in which I will mock Bush!"

So if this is the kind of a dumbass Bush hasn't been able to bust before or after 9/11, then what does that say about the Bush administration?

He's either half-shrewd -- in which case he can predict your freeper-ass counter-reaction -- or he's an utter moron, which then makes your Great Leader an uber-dumbfuck.

[CrispyQ]

36. The rest of us are simply pawns . . .

in a war between two religious zealots/ideologies.

[saccheradi]

28. This is TOO TRANSPARENT...

even the idiot majority can't escape the obvious...

"HEY, WAIT A DAMN MINUTE! WHY'S THAT sonofabitch still ALIVE anyway???"

*glares in shrub's direction*

[chiburb]

9. Most excellent post, EarlG!

It should be pinned to the front page. and blasted to the media.

Thank you.

[roseBudd]

10. the proof is here

Go to http://somnamblst.tripod.com to download high resolution TIF or PDF files to print and distribute. Hand them out and or attach them to utility poles, bus stops, phone booths, etc. Guerilla marketers needed to create MAXIMUM BUZZ!

[EarlG]

13. The only problem I have with that flyer

is that - I'm 99% sure - the quote on the right isn't real. I did a search for the quote ages ago, and the only place I found it was on blogs. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it's not real.

Of course, there is the quote of Bush saying "We haven't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don't know where he is. I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him. I know he is on the run."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/latimests/20041014/ts_latimes/bushnotconcernedaboutbinladenin02

But I think the other one is made up...

[roseBudd]

34. I see what you mean, however I wonder if it was said, but the transcript

is no longer available or been scrubbed.

Especially if it was a local news story or AP. A lot of links to AP stuff are no longer available.

[KoKo]

11. As I said in another post, it's hard to argue with Osama the Enemy's

assessment of the Bushes policies and in particular Bush II's failure to thwart the 9/11 attack.

Whether this is a "real" Osama tape or a Rove trick, the translation seems to assess the Bushies and their actions accurately. :shrug:

The Repug's only defense is to push the "Osama/Saddama" Bogeyman to their base to keep them "oh...so..afraid," when it's their very own Bushies who are the folks they should be very afraid of if they hope to keep America safe.

[linazelle]

14. Great post....and very enlightening for those who don't have time to

digest all this. I'll be sure to spread it. :thumbsup:

[bloom]

15. This opinion piece provides examples of Arab viewpoints

Although it supports more the Bush* as provocateur angle.

"I hate Bush because we know he hates our guts," was retired re-insurance executive Fathi Hamam's blunt response. The vast majority of those polled -- 90 per cent or so -- echoed his sentiments. "Saying the word 'crusade' made him look like a crusader," Hamam explained. "If there is even a one per cent chance that Kerry will be different, then we should try him."
<snip>
TV technician Ahmed Abdel-Hamid was more blunt, about Bush at least, calling him "a mentally-backward barbarian and thug". In fact, people of all social classes and occupations, from butchers to university lecturers, tended to feel the same way about Bush and his Likudist, neo-con gang of advisors.

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/714/fr1.htm

[The Magistrate]

16. Excellent Points, Mr. Earl!

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[NicRic]

17. The entire bush team ,getting air time !

So far what should be a negative effect, appears to have given the bush team an oppertunity to get air time to spin away ! The country gets to see all of the smart people bush has appointed tell about how hard at work they have been protecting us ! Kerry so far has not commented ton the OBL tape. However ,I dont hold that agaist him ,he would only be verifying its importance , or perhaps he has a really good reply ,and is keeping the news cycle in mind ,with all the pro-bush talking heads that are sure to be spewing their B/S all over the Sunday shows ! What I've seen of Kerry ,is him having rallys with voters and the Boss making his music ! The repugs are betting to much on this tape ,and the people have had Iraq all week , I would like them to mention that so far today eight U.S army have been killed. I hope the people see the OBL tape weekend as what it pobably is ,a way to keep the voters off focus of all the other very important issuse at stake here.

[bloom]

19. "The Americans have made this land truly fertile for terrorism."

-said an Iraqi engineer-


"There were not even enough to seal the borders to stop the Zarqawis and al-Qaeda from coming in.

An Iraqi engineer told me this week: "The Americans have made this land truly fertile for terrorism."

With images of severed heads never far from their minds, Western contractors and journalists are now terrified of kidnapping and live in heavily protected camps and compounds, and travel about in armoured vehicles.

-Saturday, 23 October 2004

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/3944741.stm

[rocktivity]

22. Of COURSE bin Laden wants Bush--that's why he endorsed Kerry

It was a backhanded endorsement, but an endorsement all the same: it was up to the American people to put Kerry in office because he's more likely to fight terrorism more "responsibly."

Osama is NOT a deranged madman--he has a brain and knows how to use it. He made the tape in hopes that the American sheeple will declare, "No terrorist is going to tell ME who to vote for!" and vote for Bush in retaliation. And THAT is exactly what Osama WANTS them to do!

Why WOULDN'T Osama want Bush to remain in office? He's is an Al-Qaeda recruitment poster boy, he's unable to put justice ahead of greed, and most important, Bush's incompentce has allowed Osama to remain at large! Why in the world would Osama want a president who might form a real global coalition and come after him?

:headbang:
rocknation

[AnIndependentTexan]

23. All Dems need to remember these talking points

Talking Points are

1. Have Kerry hit on the fact that UNDER President Bush Bin Laden has been able to increase terrorist activity in Iraq.

2. Under Bush Iraq has become a heaven for terrorist.

3. Bush dropped the ball because Bin Laden is the only thing they have to run on.

4. Bin Laden is using reverse psychology because he knows everyone will rally against him and re-elect Bush.

5. This is the final talking point which needs to be hit that because of 1. 2. 3. and 4. we are not safe under Bush leadership. Bush has had 4 years to do something about this threat and it has increased under his leadership.

[bloom]

24. "Everybody hates America now because of the policies of President Bush"

"Everybody hates America now because of the policies of President Bush," he (Sheikh Dhafer )said, "and his own people condemn him, so what can we do? What can we say? What are the limits of our response? What are the rights of the Iraqi people?" He then answered his queries, saying there was no action the Iraqis could not take against the Americans. "They slaughtered the Geneva Accords that we were insisting upon every Friday in our mosques, and they killed human rights. This is the tragedy of the Islamic world that we experience here in Iraq, but the gates of victory for all the Islamic world have been opened in Fallujah and victory will never stop as our Prophet has predicted. All the world can recognize now that Fallujah beat the US. This is Islam our religion and state, this is the Islam of Mohammed." Dhafer warned that "after the enemy lost his battle with us he has begun planting strife and spreading rumors".

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FG21Ak03.html


---------------------------------------------------

I don't think the Iraqis want to be at war with us. I think they would rather us leave. But that doesn't mean there are not others who rejoice at the growing war between the US and some in the Arab world.

[mzmolly]

25. Bush and Osama NEED EACHOTHER. They further the others cause.

:hi:

[DaCheat]

27. Transcript Here

Actually, he really doesnt talk much about either canditate in the video. He is just pissed at the foriegn policy of something that happened twenty years ago. transcript: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/79C6AF22-98FB-4A1C-B21F-2BC36E87F61F.htm

[newyawker99]

31. Hi DaCheat!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mzmolly]

32. The transcript proves my point. He did mention Bush, did you read it?

This resemblance began after the visits of Bush Senior to the region at a time when some of our compatriots were dazzled by America and hoping that these visits would have an effect on our countries. All of a sudden he was affected by these monarchies and military regimes and became jealous of their remaining decades in their position to embezzle the public wealth of the Nation without supervision or accounting.

So he took dictatorship and suppression of freedoms to his son and they named it the Patriot Act under the pretences of fighting terrorism.

In addition, Bush sanctioned the installing of sons as state governors and did not forget to import expertise in election fraud from the regions presidents to Florida to be made use of in moments of difficulty.

All that we have mentioned has made it easy for us to provoke and bait this administration.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[bloom]

26. Fallujans fighting for the honor of Palestine, Saudis fighting for Falluja

This is quite an interesting set of articles that sheds light on the mujadeen control of Fallujah.

My interest in the foreign mujahideen, in particular Saudis, finally became too dangerous even for me. My contact in Fallujah, himself a non-Iraqi seeking to join what he described as "al-Qaeda in the northern Anbar", encouraged me to go to the Julan neighborhood, which had been deemed by the local council to be off limits to foreigners, to meet Saudi fighters for al-Qaeda. My contact was toleave me there to go off "on a job". I began to wonder why al-Qaeda would be interested in meeting an American journalist. <snip> That night my contact brought two Iraqis working with the Saudis to meet me in my hotel unannounced. They barely greeted me, but looked me up and down with taciturn interest, as if examining merchandise. My contact's increasingly erratic behavior and confused statements insisting he trusted me and I should trust him convinced me that if I went to Fallujah again I would not return. I had been warned that my contact had turned, and was being pressured to turn over an American to make up for the lost Germans. I knew that the foreign fighters in Fallujah were embittered over the many hostages they had been pressured to release.

I left Iraq, flying out this time to avoid the checkpoints on Highway 10. The Royal Jordanian flight remained within the airport's limits for 15 minutes, circling up in sharp spirals until it reached an altitude at which it could safely fly over Fallujah and avoid being shot down by the resistance. Soon after, an al-Qaeda unit in Saudi Arabia calling itself the Fallujah Squadron began killing foreigners. The US war in Iraq, meant to democratize the region, had instead radicalized it, created a united front, with Fallujans fighting for the honor of Palestine, and Saudis fighting in the name of Fallujah.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FG24Ak01.html

[bloom]

29. Bush "allowed" terrorist conference that Clinton got Musharraf to deny

I have been writing since April 2003 that bin Laden is no longer in day-to-day control of the IIF. This is now being exercised by Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET), which has been in the forefront of recruiting volunteers and collecting funds for the jihad in Iraq.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/FJ26Ag01.html

-----------

" Compared to other similar organisations, the Lashkar has proved to be a resounding success.  Since its inception, it has managed to attract thousands of committed young men to its fold.  The driving force behind its massive success in recruitment is deceptively simple.  It uses its impressive organisational network, which includes schools, social service groups and religious publications, to create a passion for jihad."

According to the "Herald", the Lashkar organises two kinds of military training – a 21-day basic course called "Daura Aam" and a three-months advanced course called "Daura Khas".  The entire advanced course is geared towards guerilla warfare, with training in the use of arms and ammunition, ambush and survival techniques.  Other Pakistani press reports after the arrest of Ramzi Yousef, the culprit in the New York World Trade Centre explosion of February, 1993,   had also revealed that in the past some volunteers were also trained in aircraft-hijacking.
<snip>

In 2000, Musharraf, under pressure from the Clinton Administration, denied the LET permission to hold its annual conference at Muridke in November.   This year, anticipating that there would be no similar pressure from the Bush Administration, he initially allowed them to hold the deferred confertence of 2000 in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), but subsequently, when the LET insisted on holding it at Muridke, he let it do so and asked the ISI to ensure that no journalists, Pakistani or foreign, was able to have access.

Despite this, some Pakistani journalists managed to have access.  The "News" of April 22,2001, reported as follows: "The Lashkar operates six private military training camps in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir where several thousands of cadre are given both military and religious education….  With more than 2200 unit offices across the country and over two dozen launching camps along the Line of Control (LOC), the Lashkar boasts of the biggest jihadi network in Pakistan… The followers of the Lashkar come from all walks of life from the defence and nuclear establishment to the industrial labour."

http://www.saag.org/papers4/paper374.html

[never cry wolf]

30. ALERT! Mods, please lock!! RW sources! Faux cited!!

J/K of course. Excellent post, EarlG! This will be sent off to my mailing list!

[Chimpanzee]

33. Do you think the MSM will figure this out before the election?

Sorry - stupid question.

[loftycity]

35. Earl does anyone here have the real transcript of the OBL video?

I'd like to read what was said..
Out traveling and can't say on the net for too long...thanks for your help..
lofty