you always say the sweetest things

This is actually from Monday.
Blast Blogger and it's unreliability!

Oh wait.
It's free.

Bin Laden released a new audiotape this weekend. It sounds pretty unfocused and even a little desperate in it's attempt to remain relevant in the world of terrorism. Since the war in Iraq, al-Zarqawi has been stealing al-Qaeda's spotlight forcing Bin Laden to comment on issues they haven't actually been involved it including Sudan and Hamas. Pete Hoekstra weighed in Sunday morning on Fox:

"Appearing Sunday on Fox News, Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.), chairman of the House intelligence committee, said bin Laden's most recent tape was part of al-Qaeda's "ongoing and very sophisticated communications effort" and that the terrorists realize much of today's fighting "is about winning the hearts and minds of moderate Islam, and they are focused on that."
Hoekstra said his committee was planning hearings on al-Qaeda's Internet activities shortly after Congress returns from its Easter recess. "They use the right words," Hoekstra said. "They use instantaneous response. They are quick in getting new messages up on the net."

I'm just wondering how very sophisticated the whole operation actually is given that Bin Laden and Co. are hiding out in the mountains of Pakistan. Plus, they're still releasing audiotapes. 5 weeks after having been recorded. Wow. That sounds super-sophisticated. It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the most powerful country in the world with the best technology, best trained military and most intelligent people calling the shots is unable to find a man with a microphone and a tape player hiding out in a very small country.

Hamas is turning out to be a shining example of why political parties are better at running governments than terrorist organizations. It's not surprising that they're in as much trouble as they are given that the West cut off virtually all foreign aid to them. Hamas is taking the "we don't want your stinkin' money" approach, but way to ensure they're able to continue recruiting suicide bombers. Nothing like abject poverty to breed martyrs. I just read that Abbas is claiming he has constitutional authority to remove Hamas from power. Hamas is saying they won't go quietly and will ignore the truce with Israel. And the winner is: nobody! The U.S. will support Abbas, the Muslim world will rally behind Hamas, the divide between the West and the Muslim world will only worsen and everything will dissolve into violence.

Is it just me or does the president of Iran continue to say completely bizarre and crazy things? Today's gem:

"We say that this fake regime [Israel] cannot ... logically continue to live," he said, according to a translator for The Associated Press."

I don't know if he realized just how insane he sounded and that's why he followed up with this:

"We believe that Jews like any other human beings have the right to live in happiness and prosperity and to benefit from security," he said, according to a CNN translator. "Allow them to go back to their own fatherlands and countries."

I'm so glad we're bringing peace and prosperity to the Middle East. That war in Iraq has accomplished so much. Israel is safer, the Palestinians finally have their own government, Iran has been shown that creating a nuclear program is not in their best interest, and Iraq...just look at Iraq! Mission accomplished indeed.