Spinning al Zawiri's latest rant

This Iraq war is so full of propaganda and spin that we often must apply reason and logic to the various media and administration aqttempts at justifying their positions. so let us apply some reasoning and logic to the latest spin.

Over the weekend, Ayman al Zawahiri, al Qaeda’s No. 2 man, released the latest in a series of bizarre videos... this time discussing his barely coherent “insights” on the war in Iraq. The video was quickly seized upon by partisans on both sides on the U.S. political divide, but one side seems wrong.

I should note from the outset that Zawahiri is a madman, whose opinions are not to be taken too seriously. But therein lies the rub...the White House believes Zawahri is credible and takes his public comments very seriously. The president, vice president, and top Whitehouse officials quote Zawahri with surprising regularity... especially when he talks about fighting U.S. troops in Iraq.

But if Zawahiri’s comments are important when they bolster White House talking points... then they’re equally important when they don’t.

In a new video posted today on the Internet, al Qaeda’s number two man, Ayman al Zawahiri, mocks the bill passed by Congress setting a timetable for the pullout of U.S. troops in Iraq.

“This bill will deprive us of the opportunity to destroy the American forces which we have caught in a historic trap,” Zawahiri says in answer to a question posed to him an interviewer.

Continuing in the same tone, Zawahiri says... “We ask Allah that they only get out of it after losing 200,000 to 300,000 killed, in order that we give the spillers of blood in Washington and Europe an unforgettable lesson.”

Conservatives seized upon this as proof of Democratic folly. Far-right blogs argued that the video is proof that al Qaeda prefers the Democrat withdrawal plan. Fox News’ Chris Wallace said Zawahiri “says the Democrats' troop pull-out bill is proof of a U.S. defeat.”

They seem to have this backwards. Zawahiri wants the U.S. to stay in Iraq so he can kill more American troops.

At a certain level, the entire exercise is misguided. I understand the temptation if we know what terrorists say they want, all we have to do is the opposite. It is, to put it mildly, a flawed approach. Our policy should be based on evidence and wise decision making, not a constant game-theory contest with Osama bin Laden.

But if we are going to take al Qaeda’s wishes into account, so that our actions counter their wishes, withdrawal appears to be the smartest course of action. Zawahiri’s sees Iraq as a “trap” for the United States...one in which he hopes we stay for a long time.

It’s not the first terrorist communique to make this argument.

A recent private letter between senior al Qaeda leaders declared their “most important” goal was “prolonging the war” in Iraq. The letter, confiscated in the fatal June attack on the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and translated by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, argues that pinning the United States into an open-ended commitment in Iraq will strengthen jihadists around the world.

On that score, al Qaeda apparently agrees with the administration’s famous National Intelligence Estimate, which concluded that the U.S. occupation of Iraq is a ” ’cause celebre’ for jihadists,” inspiring new terrorist enemies around the world.

If our strategy is going to be based on giving al Qaeda the opposite of what they want, then it’s time to go.

Science is not the basis of fundemental happiness

Week's Quote

"It’s incredible how long science has succeeded in keeping men’s minds off their fundamental unhappiness and its own very limited power to remedy their fundamental unhappiness. One marvel follows another — electric light, phonograph, motor car, telephone, radio, airplane, television. It’s a curious list, and very pathetic. The soul of man is crying for hope of purpose or meaning; and the scientist says, “Here is a telephone” or “Look, television!” — exactly as one tries to distract a baby crying for its mother by offering it sugar-sticks and making funny faces."

- Frank Sheed
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And so we go forward. We are cursed and blessed at the same time by the workings of our very own minds. Minds that tend to concentrate on physical comfort and gadgets while ignoring the yearnings that flow forth from our supernatural beginning. Just as a fish can swim off to sea as a fingerling man too has swam off into mortal existence. And like our sea dwelling friends we too have an unquenchable thrist to return to our source.

Televisions, pretty clothes, and fancy cars are a poor substitute for the glory of the Creator...God imortal.What we devise and manufacturer is doomed from it's conception to the scrap pile as we invent even more intricate or intriquing "things" to occupy our minds and concentrated attention. But what if we were to turn away from things of invention and occupy our time with seeking the perfection and beauty of the Lord in thought, action, or deed? What if we became through a life of devotion similar in nature to the one whose devotion brought us forth from dust and crowned us lords over this world?

Will we doom oursleves to a scrap pile of anquish as we reap in enternity what we sowed in this world? Will we turn away from excuses and pacifiers as a way of spending mortal time? The answers to these questions are assured as we all must leave this existance one day. If we were to only invest a few minutes a day to glorifying our creator...if we only change a percentage of our attention to the bedrock of our Lord's promises...if we only sit in quiet contemplation of the boundless love our creator has for us... His favored creation, then that bit of attention that denys "things" there grip on our reality will be loosened and we can assume our rightful glory the conquers all including death.

let us appreciate science for those inventions that make worship of our God easier to attain and look with a skeptical eye at those that are mere excuses for failing to attain our purpose has man. To love and glorify our Lord God above all those devices.

Science is not and never will be the basis for fundemental happiness.

Where have we been?

I think an update is in order.

Since the last post to this forum we have packed up and moved to Nevada. We have changed the forum template. And we have neglected to add any new musings to this site.

Politics is heating up daily in America on the national scene as the grand experiment with eight years of a Republican administration and six years of Republican congressional majority soured in the publics minds and hearts. Tonight a gaggle of Republican hopefuls held a debate at the Reagan Presidential library in California. Of the ten hopefuls on stage, Mitt Romney with his cleancut good looks and polished demeaner carried the night in this viewers opinion. The rest of the assembled clinged to their messages in an attempt to shine a little brighter than their fellow contestants. And true to tradition there were no minority or women cadidates in the mix. The Republican presidential game is one played by white males while the women folks stay in their assigned slots and while no minority has dared to breech this special club's walls. What a stark contrast to the recent Democrat debate where the leading contenders were a white woman and a black man. More on politics later.

Yodi and Sadie have settled into this small clan nicely over the past ten months. They have each carved out their domain and established their boundaries with yours truly often acting as judge or referee.

We have a garden growing at the new place along with an assortment of trees and grape vines. I'm sure all will be well with nature once I learn to keep my needlesome fingers out of the mix.

One final note on the debate: John McCain appears to be stiff and over managed by his aides. He gave a horrible performance as his handlers attempted to frame him as the forceful pre-ordained favorite. He has bet all his marbles on the notion that the Republicans can once again win on a platform based in fear and war. Did I mention the public rejected this platform last November and the very reason this debate tonight is at least six months early is because many want to usher out the Bush administration...along with his war... and have already turned their attention to 2008.