Get Him While We Can

Back in 2004, it wasn't uncommon for political opponents of President Bush to wonder if we had Osama bin Laden in custody to spring him in an October surprise to swing the November election. Those were foul accusations based on the assumption that our President is as political as his opponents, who would use any tool to gain the White House.

So I take this report with a grain of salt:

President George W Bush has enlisted British special forces in a final attempt to capture Osama Bin Laden before he leaves the White House.

Defence and intelligence sources in Washington and London confirmed that a renewed hunt was on for the leader of the September 11 attacks. “If he [Bush] can say he has killed Saddam Hussein and captured Bin Laden, he can claim to have left the world a safer place,” said a US intelligence source.

We are clearly preparing to fight inside Pakistan. But I can guarantee that it isn't because President Bush wants to get bin Laden for any personal reason.

Perhaps the report is an attempt to deflect the enemy inside Pakistan from understanding the scope of the pending campaign, relying on our press bias to broadcast an unflattering reason for the preparations.

Or maybe it is as simple as worrying that the next president might not be interested in fighting the "good war" no matter what they say now.

Given that executing Saddam depressed the Baathists in Iraq, it is not out of line to think that killing or capturing bin Laden after their drubbing in Iraq will really depress the jihadi world.

Not to mention the satisfaction of finally nailing that murdering bastard.