New Bin Laden Tape Surfaces

An anonymous submitter writes "Osama bin Laden delivered a new videotaped message in which he told Americans their security does not depend on the president they elect, but on U.S. policy. 'Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda.'"

Comments

Re:This is what Bush needed

[andreMA]

Unfortunately the impact will almost certainly benefit the Bushites.

Actually given the content of the message, I don't think it'll have much impact except to remind people that bin Laden is still alive in spite of Bush promising to 'get him dead or alive' then later saying 'I'm not that concerned with him'. Folks will naturally wonder if we would have gotten him if Bush didn't detour us into Iraq.

Karl Rove?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think this is Karl Rove's October surprise and it will have a very distinct impact on the opinion polls across the nation. Unfortunately the impact will almost certainly benefit the Bushites.

As a part-time tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy theorist, I too wonder about the timing here. CNN are suggesting this was a "Bin Laden October surprise" designed to tip the scales in favour of Kerry.

Bin Laden talks about how US aggression in the Middle East (e.g., he refers to 1982 US Naval support to the Israeli offensive against Lebanon) is his major motivation. All this seems to point to "Vote Bush Out" as the main mesage, for Bush has clearly shown that he is prepared to launch pre-emptive wars overseas (Iraq.)

But my gut feeling is that this new tape will only spur people on to vote for Bush, as it lends credence to his belief in an ongoing crusade against the "evils of terror", which of course is what Bin Laden personifies in a very powerful way for the average American voter.

So, knowing Karl Rove's interest in reverse-psychology publicity stunts, one has to wonder if this really is a genuine tape or not...

Re:Not helping

[Anarcho-Goth]

I don't think terrorist backing will help the Kerry campaign as much as bin Laden seems to think it will.

Maybe he doesn't think it will help Kerry.
Don't you think he would have considered that anything seemingly pro-Kerry from him would help Bush?

Maybe he really wants Bush to win because so far he has remained safe and sound with Bush in charge.

I bet Osama is hiding under a bridge.

I bet he's in a disco in Germany.