Osama wants a truce?

This tape of Osama Bin Laden that we have been hearing about (at least I heard about it yesterday) apparently has some sort of truce offer. According Al Jazeera, the Arab news agency that has the tape, Osama has noticed that there are many Americans that do not approve of the war in Iraq and wants those Americans to know that he also wants the war in Iraq (and Afghanistan) to end. "In response to the substance of the polls in the US, which indicate that Americans do not want to fight Muslims on Muslim land, nor do they want Muslims to fight them on their land, we do not mind offering a long-term truce based on just conditions that we will stick to"..."We are a nation that Allah banned from lying and stabbing others in the back, hence both parties of the truce will enjoy stability and security to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, which were destroyed by war." He also claims that there have been no other attacks in the U.S. since 9-11 because he hasn't wanted to, not because of our security.

Now, there are several ways to look at this. First, this could either be the smartest or stupidest thing that Bin Laden has done in a while. If it works out and Bush does nothing, maybe he gets the blame. If not, Osama is still a terrorist asshole. Well, I guess either way he's a terrorist asshole.

Question #1: Could Osama really be trusted? It depends on what you think he really wants. If he really just wants the U.S. out of Afghanistan and Iraq then I would imagine that he would be happy if he got this and would love to get us Americans off his back a little. If he really wants to blow us up, well then we're screwed either way. I must say this though: I'm not sure who I would trust more - Bush or Bin Laden.

Question #2: Is our security really that easy to break? Well, my short answer is yes. Our border has more holes than an old man's saggy underwear, rich companies still hire illegal immigrants without considering the ramifications, weapons are regularly bought and sold on our streets, and the Bush family is still best friends with the terrorists in Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, and this is what the White House's response would likely include, Osama could just be desperate to get us off our back with empty threats of another 9-11. That seems highly unlikely. This creates quite a conundrum for the administration. Do they admit that our security isn't secure in order to justify more spying and spending and fighting in Iraq? Not likely, this would admit their shortcomings. Do they say that our security is tight and that we are safe? Well, that would be saying that we are winning the war on terrorism and any further attacks would cause the blame to fall directly on the administration and its party.

Question #3: Can you negotiate with terrorists? I think large-scale terrorists with more global political goals could much more easily be negotiated with than a group that carries out a terrorist act and demands instant gratification. For example, Al Qaeda would be easier to negotiate with than 10 guys that hijacked an airplane. A group like Al Qaeda is essentially a nation with no home. They have goals that exceed immediate satisfaction and want to preserve a way of life instead of each individual member. Would we deal with them knowing that our withdrawal would ensure them stopping their worldwide terrorism? I would, but I don't think our government agrees. I am convinced that Bush and his cronies have more on their mind than terrorism - like oil dollars.

Question #4: What comes next? Probably nothing. The only response that I have found from the White House is "we don't negotiate with terrorists." Sure, but we all saw Air Force One and think that Harrison Ford can save our asses, but in the end we often do deal with terrorists because no politician wants the blood on their hands. However, this blood won't be as closely connected to the Administration, who will point out that any future attack was carried out by the people who did 9-11 and that we need to kill the crap out of them.

I'm not sure if this whole post makes complete sense, but I may add to it later. However, I can't help getting the feeling that there is a breakthrough possible here, but that our government will crap on it for the sake of keeping their pride.

More to come...