My theory is that Zarqawi has been long dead. I think that our propaganda machines and the insurgents propaganda machines are the only places where Mr. Zarqawi and his extra legs “really exist.”
That being said I’m intrigued by the idea getting play that UbL is trying to turn aQ achieve a success like the IRA and PLO. He’s trying to turn legit (after a fashion). UbL’s moving in for the fight over the moderate Muslims. He’s already earned his street cred and now he’s trying to appeal to the security/soccer moms of the Muslim world. If he can offer something other than a violently dynamic end for these womens’ babies (babies of all ages) he might stand a chance of slipping into the Protector role. If he pulls this off the fact that he’s a wanted man all over the world’ll just look glamorous like a Robin Hood.
Just like so many other political battles there’s a fight for the moderate middle.
That is the problem of fighting terrorists with bombs… not much leftover to prove anything. How do you know if that bearded corpse was Zarqawi ? Not even his allies would be sure.
Nothing like the death of thousands to help a guy out, right! Nothing like one of the world’s greatest mass murderers running around free after three years, thumbing his nose at the U.S. to cheer Republicans.
WaPo RV with leaners: went from Bush +2 to Kerry +1.
WaPo LV with leaners: went from Bush +3 to tied.
Zogby LV: from Bush +1 to tied.
Zogby LV with leaners: tied then, tied now.
Fox has four versions: registered, likely, with and without Nader.
Fox RV 2-way: from tied to Kerry +2.
Fox RV 3-way: from Bush +2 to Kerry +2.
Fox LV 2-way: from Bush +5 to Kerry +1.
Fox LV 3-way: from Bush +5 to tied.
Yesterday’s Rasmussen will be up in half an hour. It was Bush +2 for the tracker ending Thursday.
Anyway, if there’s been movement towards Bush since Thursday night, it hasn’t shown up in the polls yet.
My mom’s second husband (she’s on #3 now and he seems pretty tame) is from Iran and described it this way (roughly):
He was 8 or so. Didn’t know what was going on. His folks told him it was to be a party but not the purpose. Family, friends, his local cleric, what-have-you from the neighborhood, servants, passersby, etc.
Everything is sweet. People are talking and eating…milling about in that party style. He is oblivious.
Til his mom tells him to drop trou in the living room.
No shit.
Suddenly he’s pantsed by his parents and a guy with a knife is coming at his weenie and he doesn’t know what the hell is going on.
A knife flashes, a child screams, a crowd cheers.
No kidding. He said they cheered.
Now, he may well be enhancing this for the sake of a good yarn, I admit.
But damn, son. I hated the man with a passion only a 14 year old can muster and even I felt sympathy for him that time.
Hmm… I agree. Maybe it fizzled. Right wingania was all abuz about a final swift vet surprise.
Of course, local suprises abound. Maybe I’m locating myself, but someone today just cut the phone lines on one of the largest Kerry phonebanks in my region. Yes: cut the lines. Physically. Nice. I guess that’s more efficient than hiring firms to phone jam our phone banks.
I wasn’t sure where to put this, but this is as good a place as any. The “Jersey Girls,” 9/11 widows who were very important in getting the 9/11 Commision going (since PrezBush was against it), have released a statement on the bin Laden tape.
