Sorry, bin Laden, your proposal is RE---JECTED!

1615Z SAT 30OCT04. Belmont Club

Wretchard has the most powerful words I've read to date on this subject:

"He [ObL] is basically saying if you leave us alone we will leave you alone.

The American answer to Osama's proposal will be given on Election Day.

[A] One response is to agree that the United States of America will henceforth act like Sweden, which is on track to become majority Islamic sometime after the middle of this century. The electorate best knows which candidate will serve this end; which candidate most promises to be European-like in attitude and they can choose that path with both eyes open. The electorate can strike that bargain and Osama may keep his word.

[B] The other course is to reject Osama's terms utterly; to recognize the pleading in his outwardly belligerent manner and reply that his fugitive existence; the loss of his sanctuaries; the annihilation of his men are but the merest foretaste of what is yet to come: to say that to enemies such as he, the initials 'US' will always mean Unconditional Surrender.

Osama has stated his terms. He awaits America's answer."

See also the comments to that post.

Found the link to this at Power Line, which I check often.

HOWEVER, Captain Ed doesn't agree that bin Laden has given up on his bigger goals, and I'm inclined to agree. After all, he's put the cart before the horse. He attacked us first, not as a retaliation (unless he blames us for supporting Israel and the British before that and the Crusaders before the US even existed, which he probably does).

"Whiskey" notes how the Spanish were rewarded for their acceptance of the implied deal.

Dealing with snakes didn't work for Chamberlain, and it would not work for us.