ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist®.com: Putin Punishes Georgia</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style2 { font-size: large; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; } .style3 { height: 69px; } .MsoNormal {} .style4 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> <table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr height="79"> <td width="133" height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="7" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="482" height="79" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="1" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="79"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="300" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="624" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style3"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#8226; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#8226; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#8226; <a href="teflon.html"> THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#8226; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> REACTIONS</a> &#8226; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="2"> <td width="133" height="2">&nbsp;</td> <td width="489" height="2576" colspan="3" rowspan="2" align="left" xpos="133" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <p class="style2">Bin Laden Alive and Well</p> <p><b><font face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica">by John M. Curtis</font></b><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b><a href="books.html"><br> </a></b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b> (310) 204-8700</b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright November 19, 2008<br>All Rights Reserved. </i></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="style4">S</span>ending an early Thanksgiving greeting to President-elect Barack Obama, al-Qaida s No. 2 man Ayman al-Zawahri spewed more vile propaganda calling the 47-year-old Harvard Law graduate  house Negroes, along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Al-Zawahri praised Malcom-X, the 1960s radical Muslim preacher, gunned down Feb.21, 1965 in New York City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Al-Zawahri s hateful message underscores that the war on terrorists responsible for Sept. 11 rages on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Zawahri s 12-minute message appeared on militant Web sites, proving al-Qaida s communication wing continues to get out its message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Bin Laden and al-Zawahri s are believed hiding in the ungoverned mountainous tribal lands somewhere between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Both al-Zawahri and Bin Laden manage to get out their message to Islamic radicals.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Responding to predator drone attacks, al-Zawhri couldn t stop himself from responding to Obama s Nov. 4 election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>His message tells Islamic holy warriors that the new American president serves the slave interests of white masters, representing no real change in U.S. policy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Al-Zawahri, without naming names, wasn t too happy about Barack naming U.S.-born Jewish Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, whose parents are Israeli.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Bin Laden and Al-Zawahri rail against Zionism, especially the state of Israel believed occupying Palestinian lands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Bin Landen and Zawahri hijack the Palestinian cause to rally Islamic radicals against a common enemy. On the 30th anniversary of Jonestown mass murders, they display the same cult-like manipulation of followers asked to commit suicide as proof of loyalty for the cause.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Just last week, CIA Director Michael Hayden claimed that Bin Laden was spending a lot of energy on his own security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Hayden claimed that the U.S. disrupted another Sept. 11-type attack, referring to a thwarted 2006 liquid bomb attack originating in the U.K.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Hayden, a former four-star Air Force General, was appointed CIA Director by President George W. Bush in 2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Without admitting CIA involvement, Hayden praised the effort to go after Bin Laden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> America and its friends have take the fight to the enemy, alluding to joint ventures with Pakistan to take out Bin Laden and his top lieutenants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>With Obama taking office Jan. 20, 2009, it s unlikely Hayden will continue as CIA director.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Obama campaigned on Bush s failure to get Bin Laden during his eight years in office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Hayden acknowledges, without showing proof, that Bin Laden still commands al-Qaida.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Zawahri s recent message belies Hayden s appraisal that Bin Laden no longer presents the same threat hiding out somewhere in the rugged border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>  Al-Qaida has suffered serious setbacks, but is a determined, adaptive enemy unlike any our nation has ever faced,: said Hayden, ignoring the ongoing communiqués, leaving Bin Laden and Zawahri still in control of their terrorist message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Zawahri s latest rant shows that he s preserved his operational role as propaganda master, generating more interest and attracting new recruits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> The truth is, we simply don t know what would happen if Bin Laden is killed or captured, but I m willing to bet that it would work in our favor, said Hayden explaining the obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Capturing or killing Bin Laden or Zawahri would land a heavy blow to the organization still with prestige among Islamic radicals</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Zawahri and Bin Laden continue the pernicious propaganda that the U.S. is at war with Islam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Demonizing the U.S. helps al-Qaida recruit an endless stream of suicide bombers brainwashed to believe paradise awaits acts of martyrdom<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span> America has put on a new face, but its hear full of hate, mind drowning in greed, and spirit which spreads evil, murder, repression and despotism continue to be the same as always, Zawahri quoted Bin Laden as saying in his 12 minute rant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>More destructive than roadside bombs or suicide vests, Zawahri s propaganda spreads the lies and falsehoods needed to perpetuate al-Qaida s recruitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> He appears to be largely isolated from the day-to-day operations o the organization he leads, Hayden said recently of Bin Laden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>As long a Bin Laden and Zawahri own the airwaves, al-Qaida continues to menace the U.S. and its allies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Seven years after Sept. 11, al-Qaida remains a menacing force against the free world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Hayden continues the same White House s excuses about how Bin Laden is no longer relevant, holed up in some Afghanistan cave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>U.S. Special Forces and CIA have failed to complete the mission, leaving Bin Laden a provocative threat to U.S. interests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Hayden must follow other members of Bush s national security team into retirement, having failed to get the job done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Hayden and Defense Secretary Robert Gates are of the view that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>They continue to get it wrong and must now step aside to allow the new president to fulfill his pledge to get the terrorists responsible for Sept. 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No amount of excuses can deny Bin Laden and Zawahri s roles as propagandists-in-chief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Obama must end the Iraq War and refocus U.S. efforts back to Bin Laden.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <bAbout the Author</u><b>John M. Curtis</b> writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.&nbsp; He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <i><a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet</a> </i>and <i><a href="books.html"> Operation Charisma</a></i>.</p> </td> <td width="1" height="2576" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="2"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="2574"> <td width="133" height="2574" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="1" height="2574"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2574"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td width="133" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="133" height="1"></td> <td width="7" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="7" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="300" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="300" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> Home</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> || <a href="articlesindex.html">Articles</a> || <a href="books.html">Books</a> || <a href="teflon.html">The Teflon Report</a> || <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> Reactions</a> || <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">About Discobolos</a></strong></font> <div align="left"> <p><font size="1" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">This site designed, developed and hosted by the experts at</font><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"> <a href="http://www.cmeonline.net" target="_blank"><img height="30" width="138" src="images/cmelogoANIM.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></a></font></p> </div> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">©1999-2005 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"> Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>