I am all for identifying the guy, but, I'd much rather locate him and see the end of him.
Regardless, remember this?
Terror plot in Germany may have targeted U.S. facilities (click here)
By David McHugh The Associated Press
BERLIN — Three suspected Islamic terrorists from an al-Qaida-influenced group nursing "profound hatred of U.S. citizens" were arrested on suspicious of plotting imminent, massive bomb attacks on U.S. facilities in Germany, prosecutors said Wednesday. A senior State Department official said German investigators had determined the Frankfurt International Airport and the nearby U.S. Ramstein Air Base were the primary targets of the plot but that those arrested may have also been considering strikes on other sites, particularly facilities associated with the United States.
It was the second time in as many days that European officials said they had thwarted a major attack, following the arrest by Danish authorities on Tuesday of eight alleged Islamic militants with links to senior al-Qaida terrorists. It also comes less than a week before the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
German Federal Prosecutor Monika Harms said the three suspects, two of whom were German converts to Islam, had trained at camps in Pakistan run by the Islamic Jihad Union, a group based in Central Asia. They had obtained some 1,500 pounds of hydrogen peroxide for making explosives.
"We were able to succeed in recognizing and preventing the most serious and massive bombings," Harms told reporters. She declined to name specific targets, but said the suspects had an eye on institutions and establishments frequented by Americans in Germany, including discos, pubs and airports.
The senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe discussions between American and German intelligence agencies, said the threat had been a major reason the U.S. Embassy in Berlin had boosted security and issued two warnings in April and May about possible impending terrorist attacks.
Chancellor Angela Merkel called the arrests a "very, very great success."...
Just for a minute, imagine the plot to have worked. Just for the sake of example. I am more than pleased the intelligence worked and that is not the issue, but, just imagine these terrorists were able to carry out the plot.
Now.
A couple days later...
...after all the excitement and terror had 'set in' around the globe...
...what appears on the internet?
Yep. Osama bin Laden with the message that unless the USA converts to Islam otherwise there will be no ending the war in Iraq, etc., etc...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWHKDASKChI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fnews%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2Fnwshp%3Ftab%3Dwn
So, to contend this is a tape that is autonomous from any successful terrroist bombing on USA assets as if still another possibility is not giving enough credit to the mastermind of September 11th. The sad reality for 'bin' is that the world is coming to terms with his ability to invade infrastructure and to realize the intercepts that 'nailed down' the plot came from Pakistan gives clear indication to where he is actually living and conducting his business.
Now, if I may, I'd like to take this tape message once step further. This is pure speculation but none the less a perspective never pursued in the media.
So...
Here is a guy about 55 years old or so in a Pakistan tribal area, eating goat with his personal mentor, Omar, contemplating the next attack to dwarf the attacks of September 11th. Let's suppose he actually believes he has a purpose in his life. Not just some deranged anger with the USA. Not just a bastard son of his father that has to prove to all the world he is a man to contend with and 'the best' of all his siblings. Let's give 'bin' some credit in believing he is doing the right thing here.
Osama bin Laden, as wacked as he may be, reflects some of the most profound ideology of the Islamic world in recognizing the power of the USA over not just Islam, but, 'the way the world works.' Basically, he recognizes the USA as 'the evil' among people.
How is that not so strange?
We, as Americans, have witnessed to ourselves the corruption of our government, balanced it with the outcomes of other peoples, including farmers in Africa disaffected by USA policies, we have looked to Darfur and realized there are no policies of the USA that are successful to stop the genocide, we 'at home' have watched our democracy used and abused by Neocons providing more and more reason to be concerned for our own citizens.
The point is that when the USA has policy that 'hurts' others, especially Islamic populous it is instilling fear and hatred that reverberates through the community of Islam which comprises 50% of Earth's population. When bin Laden states, '...if the USA converts to Islam the war in Iraq will stop...' He is reflecting the fact we have a president that reflects extremist Christian principles which allows him morally to attack illegally an Islamic country, namely Iraq. That has clout in the populous of Muslims around the world. That is what gives 'bin' his clout to young men whom see their purpose in life to defeat the 'great evil.'
When one reflects on 'bin's message from the standpoint of 'sanity' there is a lot of reality that comes out of his statements. He is wrong in that there is another way to end the war in Iraq and that is to withdraw our troops. It would no longer give 'bin' a playground for his terrorist networks and sympathizers. He is wrong about a lot of things in his message, and that is more reassuring than anything else about this 'madman.'
He is a very clever man to plot against the West the way he does but all in all I can also see the unraveling of al Qaeda's reach as the West is able to unravel the plots and score successes against his abilities. The deepest problem that The West faces is not Osama himself, but, the reality that The West's own policies, politicians and priorities need to change. Not to give up democracy, or freedom of religion but to realize the profound 'right of passage' our societies give to the directives of 'bin' and Omar.
When the USA provides reason for others to realize how their suffering is a direct result of policies and politics practiced within our borders, is it enough to 'be safe' or do we need to move beyond that and realize others react to our society in an overwhelming way.
I firmly believe the USA is becoming just about as safe as it can. Not to say there won't be attempts or perhaps details that might slip through the cracks, but, September 11th was preventable. The USA intelligence agencies were 'on the case.' Realizing the USA is coming closer to being 'safe' I firmly believe we need to realize the power of USA policies globally and 'add' to them conscience to soften adversity to the people they can disaffect.
Ridding the world of 'bin' is one thing, being safe within our borders is another, but, do we want a future for our children that ? might ? spawn another 'bin,' another Omar? I think not and to that end we need to realize we need leadership that believes in 'a governmental conscience' to foreign policy. We also need leadership that apologies for poor decision making, willing to step aside for the best interest of the country. The face of American elections have to change to realize we are responsible in some way for messages such as those 'fired off' in contemplation of building fear in Western society intended to demise it.
The next president of the USA has to be strong enough to realize wars achieve little when it comes to domestic protection at home and stopping madmen like Osama bin Laden starts with the very policies we have with Islamic countries with populations at risk for extremism.
