Buried in work from an utterly busy week, there suddenly seemed to be a quick migration to the water cooler (or actually the tv in the lunch room next to the water cooler). The work day stopped cold.
Osama Bin Laden had a message for America. A message to all of us purporting to prevent killing more of our innocent civilians. Bin Laden asks us to meet his demands, he asks the American people to abandon our ally, Israel. As I hear it, he asks America to allow religious fanaticism to prosper, genocide to continue; he asks us to no longer care.
This blogger must admit that I have rarely been moved emotionally more than after hearing these words. The emotions of everyone at my office were high this past Friday.
The timing of this message is unmistakable, and its aim is as clear. Bin Laden wants to affect the American election. He wants to destabilize us through fear, hate, and weakness. He wishes for a pacifist to take the helm of this nation and move its course.
The most outrageous part of Bin Laden’s message is its striking similarity to the criticism by Michel Moore that Bush did not do all he could during 9-11 to defend our people—the people Bin Laden wished to kill. There is no doubt that whether it was John F. Kerry or George W. Bush as president on September 11th, both men would have done all they could to protect us. Although my generation is one of cynicism, there is a time when we need to have a little faith.
The fallout from the Bin Laden tape is unclear. The Kerry supporters think it may help his campaign by demonstrating we have yet to capture Bin Laden. I and my fellow Bushites think that there will be a backlash.
I guess only tomorrow will tell. However, one thing is certain: the message to Bin Laden must be that the American People do not negotiate with terrorists, we will not negotiate with you, and we shall be unwilling to allow you to chose the next President of this nation. The hunt for you will continue, and Bush or Kerry we will not be deterred.
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