Thompson: Osama Bin Laden Is ‘More Symbolism Than Anything Else’

[Hissyspit]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/07/thompson-bin-laden

Thompson: Osama Bin Laden Is ‘More Symbolism Than Anything Else’

Speaking to reporters in Iowa today aboard his “brightly colored campaign bus,” Fred Thompson spoke about the war in Iraq and the war against terrorist networks. He claimed — without any evidence — that “Americans are beginning to move in his direction in their support for the war in Iraq.” He also dismissed the threat of Osama bin Laden:

Bin Laden is more symbolism than anything else. I think it demonstrates to people once again that we’re in a global war.

Thompson’s statement echoes the sentiments of President Bush, who in March 2002 said, “I truly am not that concerned about” bin Laden, and Ann Coulter, who said in Aug. 2006 said that bin Laden is “irrelevant.”

Yet bin Laden — the man who masterminded the attacks on 9/11 — is more than just a “symbol.” Today he issued a new videotape promising to “escalate the killing and and fighting against you.”

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[Lucinda]

1. wlucinda: Fred Thompson Is ‘More Stupid Than I Though Possible'

:)

[canadianbeaver]

2. that comment I feel will sink this man......especially if OSB is still alive...

Don't the patriots want OSB for the destruction of 911.....

hey sarcasm on the OSB being dead...

[eugeneliberal]

9. No because...

evidently the patriots believe that Iraq/Saddam was responsible for 9/11. Wonder where they got that idea?

[crikkett]

3. So Fred knows too that OBL is about as real as Elvis.

I mean seriously, how many times have I read about his death?

[kysrsoze]

4. My two Repub-leaning friends swore up and down he'd be the Repuke nominee

I certainly hope so b/c he just a jingoistic, anti-Clinton fucking idiot. I told them he'd be history within 6 months of starting his run and shooting his mouth off.

[treestar]

5. Can't you just see the SOBs salivating at the idea of "global war?"

All those bucks for the military contractors.

They have a lot of nerve claiming binLaden is irrelevant. He's the head of Al Qaeda, their excuse for their damn global war.

[Disturbed]

7. RWingers have to say Osama is irrelevant.

They cannot catch or kill him. Even if Osama is dead he is still the symbol of anti-US & Western vitrol for millions of Muslims. Al Q. is a franchise now & great money maker for Western & ME Businesses.

[pinto]

6. Well, he's upfront about the (R) agenda. (That'll get him 30% of the electorate, if that.)

:kick:

[ck4829]

8. Apparently, Republicans didn't take psychological warfare 101

And that's destroying the symbols of your enemies.