Fox News presented their viewers another feel-good report. Frances Townsend told “FOX News Sunday”, two weeks ago, that the tape from bin Laden was made recently, possibly in the last several months. While the intelligence community is still evaluating the tape to determine the terror leader’s health, possible whereabouts and other details, it does not appear to be a trigger for an attack.“There’s nothing overtly obvious in the tape that would suggest this is a trigger for an attack…..this tape appears to be nothing more than threats. It’s propaganda on their part…This is about the best he can do…This is a man on a run, from a cave, who’s virtually impotent other than these tapes.”
First, we all are glad and safer knowing the tape is being reviewed so carefully. Who knows? Maybe liberals mingle with the evidence in their wicked attempt to gain…something?The statement has skillfully combined the atmosphere from previous brilliant statements that fed US public not so long ago; déjà vu of “bring’em on” and “last throes”.
The “impotence” of bin Laden and his followers was somehow contradicted with the statement in next paragraph: “…the homeland security adviser acknowledged that the latest National Intelligence Estimate shows the terror group has gained some capability and operational leadership”.
So, are they on the run and on their last throes or are they improving their ability to continue vicious attacks? Are we all confused or simply don’t understand the complex reality? Let’s keep reading this enlightening report.“…The United States is safer than it was after Sept. 11, 2001…and comments like one by Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards suggesting the contrary are “irresponsible and unwarranted” and “not supported by facts.”
We are safer apparently because there were no major attacks on our soil; this argument has been re-circulated for more than 3 years now. Let us think for a moment. The first World Trade Center attack took place in 1993. Until 2001 we had no Homeland Security, our borders were open, Saudis could get visa through expedited process, a courtesy of the administration, public awareness was minimal….and yet it took terrorists 8 full years to prepare 9/11 crime. We are about to pass a 6 year mark of the attack.
Do we have enough evidence we are safer than prior to 9/11? Do we have ANY evidence to support the claim? Or, we are simply expressing our social phenomenon of short attention span and impatience?
The above argument reminds me quite revealing comment our previous Pope made soon after his election. He was asked whether now, having a Pope from the other side of the iron curtain, the Church will intensify its efforts in fight communism. The Pope’s comment: “…we are patient, very patient with our progress in that direction. For us, the Church, it may take a year, 10 years or 200 years but we will prevail…”
Townsend recycled old White House mantra and called the war in Iraq “… a “propaganda tool” used by enemies” and objected to a Washington Post op-ed written by Lee Hamilton and James Baker, co-chairmen of the Iraq Study Group, who called the Iraq war a distraction in the War on Terror. “It is not a distraction but an integral part of the war effort,” she added.
So much for impotence.
Filed under: Iraq, Middle East, politics, superpower, surge
