Osama Losing?
The Blotter calls the latest audio tape from Osama bin Laden "worried".
Showing apparent signs of concern over events in Iraq, al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden urged insurgents to "unite your lines into one" in an audiotape played on al Jazeera Monday.
"Don't be arrogant," bin Laden warned. "Your enemies are trying to break up the jihadi groups. I urge you all to work in one united group."
People familiar with bin Laden's voice say the tape appeared to be authentic, although there was no reference to any event that would indicate when it was recorded.
Bin Laden's message comes at a time when U.S. strategy to split Iraqi insurgent groups from al Qaeda units appears to be working.
He has rather a lot to be worried about - his strategy (or the strategies of his underlings) have backfired badly, driving former supporters to the American side in large numbers. It is costing him credibility with the "jihadi street" and he knows it. Osama is the one who trotted out the "strong horse" metaphor. Right about now he's looking a lot like a Shetland pony.
By Mwalimu Daudi, Monday, 22 October , 2007 @ 6:57 pm
The post at ABC News actually could be seen as giving Bush credit for the successful tactics in the War On Terror. Someone’s head at ABC will roll over this………….
By curtis, Monday, 22 October , 2007 @ 7:26 pm
So tough to make a convincing video when you’ve been dead since Tora Bora.
By James, Monday, 22 October , 2007 @ 9:27 pm
I doubt Osama is worried about anything happening in Iraq.
The insurgents are a diverse group of folks who have all kinds of different reasons for fighting; and Al Qaeda is just one small group. They don’t even comprise most of the fighters.
The main question is how long before the Iraq “government” falls apart. There is no progress on Iraqi “government” reconciliation.
By Neo, Monday, 22 October , 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Unfortunely, I was hoping UBL would make an appearance with that ghastly beard just in time for Holoween, but instead we get an audio tape with some guy mumbling about his disunited group on hard times.
By NortonPete, Tuesday, 23 October , 2007 @ 5:34 am
Someone once said they would believe in UFOs when an alien spacecraft crashes into the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) and ties up traffic for miles. I’ll believe these tapes when UBL is seen waiting in line to buy Grecian Formula at the local stop-n-shop in Wazitland.