My mom can relax now
Ever since 9/11, my mom has worried about my living in the center of al-Qaeda's primary target. According to MEMRI, however, I'm safe, since New York and New Jersey are almost certainly Kerry states.
The tape of Osama bin Laden that was aired on Al-Jazeera(1) on Friday, October 29th included a specific threat to "each U.S. state," designed to influence the outcome of the upcoming election against George W. Bush. The U.S. media in general mistranslated the words "ay wilaya" (which means "each U.S. state")(2) to mean a "country" or "nation" other than the U.S., while in fact the threat was directed specifically at each individual U.S. state. This suggests some knowledge by bin Laden of the U.S. electoral college system. In a section of his speech in which he harshly criticized George W. Bush, bin Laden stated: "Any U.S. state that does not toy with our security automatically guarantees its own security."
So don't worry, Mom! I'll be fine. Perhaps you should move up here.
Comments
If you want to obsess about Bin Laden's threat to individual states, fine. The reality is that he will want to attack the U.S. under Kerry just as he wanted to attack the U.S. under Clinton.
The question before us is who is best to lead our nation. I am not going to let that motherfucker influence my vote.
Posted by: PE | November 1, 2004 06:13 PM
I apologize for the language.
Posted by: PE | November 1, 2004 06:17 PM
And I apologize for saying that you're obsessing, but frankly I find the idea of it mattering who Osama "endorses" to be repulsive.
Posted by: PE | November 1, 2004 06:19 PM
No need to apologize, PE. Foul language is welcome and encouraged on this site.
I think your "OBL will not influence my vote!" is a commendable attitude. I think it's also commendable to do the opposite of what he'd wish.
I also don't take offense at "obsessing" over this issue. Indeed, I have, every day for the past three years.
Posted by: Barry N. Johnson | November 1, 2004 06:25 PM