Financial Times: Beware an October surprise from bin Laden [to help McCain]

[Ian_rd]

Beware an October surprise from bin Laden
By Joseph Nye

<snip>

After the second presidential debate, Mr Obama widened his lead, but dangers remain. Polls show that Republicans do better on the issue of terrorism. Last June, McCain adviser Charlie Black was reprimanded for having the temerity to point out that the intrusion of a terrorist event into the campaign would "certainly be a big advantage" for Mr McCain. Mr Black may have been politically incorrect but an objective analysis suggests he might be right.

On October 29 2004, four days before the last election, Al Jazeera aired an 18 minute video tape in which Osama bin Laden addressed the American people and threatened further retaliation and a desire to bankrupt the US. In the first poll after that tape was released, President George W. Bush opened up a six point lead over Senator John Kerry. The deputy director of the CIA commented that "Bin Laden certainly did a nice favour today for the president."

... From the al-Qaeda leader's point of view, Mr Bush's policies were more useful for his efforts to recruit supporters than Mr Kerry's might have been.

<snip>

[no_hypocrisy]

1. One better: Bin Laden found in Iraq.

[Whalestoe]

2. So, if Osama shows up and says please don't vote for McCain

Americans will listen to a terrorist again? If that's the case, we deserve what we get.

[Mz Pip]

3. Wishing for a terrorist

attack to help your campaign seems almost treasonous to me. It sure wouldn't change my vote.

[Clio the Leo]

4. Too late. Obama has already proven he has the temperment to lead in time of crisis. NT

[CJCRANE]

5. Bin Laden + the MSM did Bush a favor

because the MSM didn't report the part of the speech where Bin Laden thanked Bush-Cheney for helping to make al-Qaeda so successful.

(You can find a mirror site of the full transcript from al-Jazeera).

[LibraLiz1973]

6. I fail to see the benefit to McCain of finding Obama now.

If anything, it would reinforce the fact that it took them all these years to do it.

[blogslut]

7. you might want to edit your post

:hi:

[LibraLiz1973]

8. Shit. SHIT SHIT SHIT

I just got home and saw this.

Argh.

[Vinca]

9. Watch for a video from a cave papered in Obama signs and Osama

in a "I'm Voting For That One" t-shirt. :rofl: