Power Line: Is Osama Calling Time Out?

October 30, 2004

Is Osama Calling Time Out?

Wretchard has an interesting take on Osama's video: he's like the kid on the playground who tries to call "time out" when he's about to get clobbered:

It is important to notice what he has stopped saying in this speech. He has stopped talking about the restoration of the Global Caliphate. There is no more mention of the return of Andalusia. There is no more anticipation that Islam will sweep the world. He is no longer boasting that Americans run at the slightest wounds; that they are more cowardly than the Russians. He is not talking about future operations to swathe the world in fire but dwelling on past glories. He is basically saying if you leave us alone we will leave you alone. Though it is couched in his customary orbicular phraseology he is basically asking for time out.
The American answer to Osama's proposal will be given on Election Day. One response is to agree that the United States of America will henceforth act like Sweden, which is on track to become majority Islamic sometime after the middle of this century. The electorate best knows which candidate will serve this end; which candidate most promises to be European-like in attitude and they can choose that path with both eyes open. The electorate can strike that bargain and Osama may keep his word. The other course is to reject Osama's terms utterly; to recognize the pleading in his outwardly belligerent manner and reply that his fugitive existence; the loss of his sanctuaries; the annihilation of his men are but the merest foretaste of what is yet to come: to say that to enemies such as he, the initials 'US' will always mean Unconditional Surrender.

Osama has stated his terms. He awaits America's answer.

Posted by John at 08:20 AM |

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/mt/mt-diespammers.cgi/8441

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Is Osama Calling Time Out?:

» Osama Cries "Mercy" from The Elephant
There is a wonderful response to Osama's "Surrender Proposal" over at the Belmont Club. Below is the text of that response: It is important to notice what he has stopped saying in this speech. He has stopped talking about the restoration of the Glo... [Read More]

Tracked on October 30, 2004 08:50 AM

» Saturday News Roundup - Pre-election edition from marcland
It's been forever since I've done anything like a news roundup. What with the election right around the corner, I figured now's as good a time as ever to revive the roundup, so here goes: * Daschle V. Thune -... [Read More]

Tracked on October 30, 2004 09:19 AM

Tracked on October 30, 2004 09:23 AM

» Saturday News Roundup - Pre-election edition from marcland
It's been forever since I've done anything like a news roundup. What with the election right around the corner, I figured now is as good a time as ever to revive the roundup, so here goes: * Daschle V. Thune... [Read More]

Tracked on October 30, 2004 09:25 AM

» The Second half of the October Surprise from The Cassandra Page
Learn how Osama's speech fits into the Dems' October Surprise - and what you can do to respond. Powerline says it best. Osama needs us to vote for Kerry. It is just a shame that Kerry has taken the bait. Keep your response simple and limited to s... [Read More]

Tracked on October 30, 2004 09:25 AM

Tracked on October 30, 2004 09:26 AM

» bin Laden Video: Another Forged Document? from DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS:Worldviews Behind The News
...a Western/Michael Moore/Dem-talking-point ring to it, and is not (as Wretchard noted) laced with references to the "Global Caliphate" or Andalusia. Is this just another forged document, like the CBS memos? [Read More]

Tracked on October 30, 2004 10:24 AM

» Danger in spinning Bin Laden's remarks from Craig Westover
Wretchard at the Belmont Club has a commentary on Osma Bin Laden’s video that Powerline picks up to characterize Bin Laden as “the kid on the playground who tries to call "time out" when he's about to get clobbered.” That strikes me... [Read More]

Tracked on October 30, 2004 11:07 AM

» Don't Be Fooled By His Measured Tone from Captain's Quarters
Wretchard at the Belmont Club posted a provocative analysis of the Osama bin Laden tape yesterday, linked today at Power Line, which considers the measured tone and reasonableness of OBL a signal to the US of surrender: It is important... [Read More]

Tracked on October 30, 2004 11:26 AM

» Sorry, bin Laden, your proposal is RE---JECTED! from Airborne Combat Engineer
1615Z SAT 30OCT04. Belmont Club Wretchard has the most powerful words I've read to date on this subject: "He [ObL] is basically saying if you leave us alone we will leave you alone. The American answer to Osama's proposal will [Read More]

Tracked on October 30, 2004 11:48 AM

Tracked on October 30, 2004 11:54 AM

» Jay and Silent Osama... from Core/Dump: opinion, babes and bondage...
Ok, I don't have time to go deeply into the video tape that has been turned up from Osama where... [Read More]

Tracked on October 30, 2004 05:19 PM

» Osama Chats Up Americahttp://www.powerlineblog.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi?__mode=view from Quasiblog
Belmont Club suggests that a weary Osama is looking for a time out. We respectfully, but emphatically disagree, unless by time out, one means U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. If memory serves, bin Laden has always been surprisingly soft-spoken in contrast [Read More]

Tracked on October 30, 2004 11:50 PM

» Oompa Loompa Mystery Solved from Pull On Superman's Cape
Back on September 28 the blogosphere was in a brouhaha about Kerry's tan: No one could really figure out what he was up to. Turns out that this was a coordination with UBL gone awry. Since they needed to be [Read More]

Tracked on November 1, 2004 09:34 PM

Tracked on November 1, 2004 09:38 PM

Tracked on November 1, 2004 10:01 PM

Tracked on November 1, 2004 10:22 PM

Tracked on November 4, 2004 05:28 PM

Tracked on November 4, 2004 05:48 PM

Tracked on November 18, 2004 12:23 PM