Authored by: DanZ on Monday, November 01 2004 @ 02:26 AM

Certainly Gibson's point about OBL's "global brand" success is well taken - I recall reading a similar point in The Economist (I think) about a month ago. His morning-after caveat is important (i.e., okay, maybe we don't really know his long game) but more important is the fact that this video is timed to influence the elections and is specific to Bush and the US. And, most important (as noted by Gibson) is the fact that the main points of the text parallel F9/11's story line very closely:
- Events of early '80's
- Bush Senior & the house of Saud
- Attack on towers w/ 20 min warning
- Bush Jr and the goat story

While it's not clear just how OBL expects the American public to react, this video is almost comical in its homage to the F9/11 movie. For those that have seen the movie and are sympathetic, his message sounds like: "Yeh, uh, what that Moore guy said!" - which in my mind makes OBL sound like he's off message. Are attacks against oppression in Egypt, North Africa, Europe, etc. all a waste of good martyrs? I don't think so. This isn't just about the USA, but this video trivializes it and makes it seem like a setup for an OBL/Bush showdown at high noon: The USA vs. the "Freedom Fighters".

A better message would be:

"Over the last 20 years, the house of Saud, the American presidents, the Israeli's, etc. have seen that oppression, tyranny and greed will only result in the blossoming of the spirit of liberation in the hearts of the oppressed. In an ironic turnabout for the Americans who committed this same act of terrorism in the Boston harbor - to shake themselves free of the shackles of tyranny - so they will find themselves powerless to stop the army of self-determination that has arisen of its own power in the hearts and minds of those from whom they Americans have stolen life, wealth, religion and, at Abu Graihb, honor. Allah have mercy on us all."

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