The Internet is alive with the sound of discord over the meaning of the September 7, 2007 Osama bin Laden videotape. Some say the tape contains warnings of an upcoming Al Qaeda attack. Others dismiss it as a bad joke played by either Al Qaeda publicist Adam Gadahn or the CIA. The only clear fact is that Osama bin Laden has become the ultimate American political Rorschach test – an ambiguous inkblot in whom we each see exactly the terrorist threat we already believe exists.
President Bush: Tape proves Necessity of U.S. War in Iraq
U.S. government
"The president, who rarely responds to al-Qaida videos noted that in the tape, bin Laden talks about the Iraq war.
"'I found it interested (sic) that on the tape Iraq was mentioned, which is a reminder that Iraq is part of the war against extremists. If al-Qaida bothers to mention Iraq, it's because they want to achieve their objectives in Iraq, which is to drive us out,' he said." (VOA News)
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA): "Fugitive Terrorist" Reminds of Bush's Bad Choice
"Every time I see that fugitive terrorist on television taunting America, I think of how wrong this president was in turning away from going after that murderer who murdered our citizens, and moving into Iraq and not having any way of getting us out, while this guy keeps dying his beard apparently and making new tapes," she said. (speaking on "Late Night," quoted by Fox News)
Homeland Security Advisor Frances Townsend: Questions bin Laden's Virility
U.S. Government
"This is about the best he can do," Townsend said of bin Laden. "This is a man on a run, from a cave, who's virtually impotent other than these tapes." (AP)
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell: Questions OBL's Beard
U.S. Government
"We don't know if it's dyed and trimmed, or real, but that's one of the things we are looking at," Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell told a Senate committee hearing. "The last time he appeared it was very different." (As reported by Reuters)
Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney: Forget the Beard, It's the Face ...of Evil
I think the whole radical jihadist movement is extraordinarily misguided and evil and is a form of delusion but I believe that the people of the world recognize that," Romney said. "I think when he makes tapes like this, it hurts his effort. It doesn't help it."