Yeah. Sure. That'll happen. Keep telling yourself that.

[Caveat Emptor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bssA9Cj4phQ

Al Qaeda's third in command was interviewed by Al Jazeera

Demands for "peace":

U.S. leaves Middle East, stops supporting Israel.

After 10 years, convert to Islam.

If you refuse to convert, you must pay special tax.

Refuse to pay tax, war resumes.

[BroomJockey]

Lesse. Forced conversion, religious bias against those who refuse, and economic hardship (I'm willing to bet that since he's as fundamentalist as it gets, the fine would be crippling), war if you refuse.

Betcha he'd rail to the death if a proposal exactly like that was made to him.

[lordlundar]

An interesting play. He makes it sound like he's after peace and issues terms that the hardliners like.

In the rare chance that the coalition agrees, Al Qaeda gets a solid base of operations that is damn near impenetrable. The moderates will feel betrayed by the west and it will refuse further support. The situation will become like Vietnam, only much worse.

Most likely, the coalition will refuse and will be branded as "enemies of peace". For the hardliners and even moderates that are on the fence, that will be enough of a push to get the distrust.

[Boozy]

Try as I might, I can't see this as a tactic.

These are absolutely ludicrous terms. No one would accept these terms, and everyone knows it. The coalition refusing to accept such a "peace treaty" is not going to change the minds of any hardliners, and certainly not of any moderates. If they haven't turned to violence against the coalition by now, they probably just aren't the type.

This is just another sign that Al Qaeda = Lunatics.

[lordlundar]

Been thinking on this a bit, and you're right Boozy, if the moderates hear just how asinine these terms are, they'd never agree to it.

The catch is, how many moderates will actually know of these terms? Only arabic media is permitted in the area, and most of those will not mention the terms, either out of collusion or out of terror. At most they'll hear Al Qaeda say that the west refused their "very reasonable terms" or that they accepted them.

It works because access to information is extremely limited and is in the hands of those who want to demonize the west. It's that control that makes it work, and these people are very good at maintaining that control.

[Flyndaran]

Am I the only one that is reminded of Bush's impossible terms for Hussain? Then when Hussain actually did them, Bush invaded anyway?

[Caveat Emptor]

Am I the only one that is reminded of Bush's impossible terms for Hussain? Then when Hussain actually did them, Bush invaded anyway?

"Did them?" Did he produce evidence that he no longer had WMD? Did he allow UN inspectors to return? Did he and his sons leave Iraq?

[Flyndaran]

"Did them?" Did he produce evidence that he no longer had WMD? Did he allow UN inspectors to return? Did he and his sons leave Iraq?

He did allow them unfetter access right before Bush jumped the gun on his supposed final date. How can you produce evidence of something being absent?
The leaving Iraq was of course the most ridiculous demand. Hussain was a horrible person, but let's not rewrite history to make him stupid too.

[blas87]

I think they're all a little cookoo over there.

Yeah, and if we follow all your demands, you'll still attempt terrorist attacks on our country time and time again, don't even try to pretend that your little tiff with Americans will be over if we comply.

[Flyndaran]

I think they're all a little cookoo over there.

Yeah, and if we follow all your demands, you'll still attempt terrorist attacks on our country time and time again, don't even try to pretend that your little tiff with Americans will be over if we comply.

HUSSAIN HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE 9/11 ATTACK!
I would hope everyone here would not have fallen for that nonsense.
If you meant that as a non sequitor or about the original post please mention that, otherwise it trips one of my sore spots.

[Slytovhand]

"Did them?" Did he produce evidence that he no longer had WMD? Did he allow UN inspectors to return? Did he and his sons leave Iraq?

He complied with UN resolutions. How can you produce evidence of nothing? (and, remember, after the invasion, there has been found to be no evidence). Yes, he did allow UN inspectors in... The UN was actually starting to get narky towards Bush because he kept pushing and pushing and pushing... it was obvious he was going to invade anyway.

"Did he and his sons leave Iraq?" Why the hell should they? That's a totally ridiculous 'resolution' to be making to someone. I totally support Hussein on that (alone). If I were in his shoes, I'd tell the US to fuck off, too! No way am I leaving my country of birth cos someone else has a bee up their arse.

[BroomJockey]

If you meant that as a non sequitor or about the original post please mention that

I think the mention of "demands" WAS the hint that she was talking about the original post. Yours, nor any other post about Hussein mentioned him making demands.

[blas87]

I don't think Hussein was behind 9/11 at all, please pardon my lack of clarity in my post.

Perhaps I was generalizing, but my personal opinion is that that entire part of the world will never stop plotting to attack the US or kill as many US soliders as possible.

[Flyndaran]

I don't think Hussein was behind 9/11 at all, please pardon my lack of clarity in my post.

Perhaps I was generalizing, but my personal opinion is that that entire part of the world will never stop plotting to attack the US or kill as many US soliders as possible.

Ok.
It's not part of the world. It's individuals that hate.
Killing soldiers is war, and since everybody does it, it's not evil per se.

The problem is that many nations have legitimate reasons to hate the U.S.

[Caveat Emptor]

Saddam's WMD bluff was apparently aimed at Iran

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090702/...us_iran_saddam

"The U.S. has a huge invasion force in Kuwait, President Hussein!! Should we not reconsider and allow the U.N. inspectors in?"

"No!! I'm still more afraid of Iran!!!"