Osama at the Top of His Game -- Michael Scheuer, National Interest
On October 27, 2010, Al Jazeera television network broadcasted a new audiotape by Osama bin Laden meant to exploit the Muslim world’s growing anger toward France specifically, and against Europe generally. Defending the recent kidnapping of five French nationals in Niger, bin Laden said the act was an appropriate response to France’s ongoing intervention in the affairs of Muslims in North and West Africa; its persecution of Muslim women in France via its ban on burqa wearing; and the presence of 3,500 French troops in Afghanistan. Bin Laden warned Paris that it is foolish to think France’s anti-Muslim actions would go unanswered by al-Qaeda and other mujahideen. “The equation is very clear and simple,” bin Laden said, stressing, as he always does, the justice of reciprocal treatment in wartime. “[T]he fault lies with the one who initiates [the hostilities]. . . . as you kill, you will be killed; as you abduct, so shall you be abducted; as you ruin our [Muslim] security, so shall we ruin your security.”
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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials
The Israeli-Palestinian settlement impasse -- Saeb Erakat, Washington Post
Defining Afghan 'reconciliation': It doesn't mean for them what it does for us -- Eric Patterson, Washington Times
A Counter View to Fouad Ajami’s Skepticism Regarding Afghanistan -- Max Boot, Commentary Magazine
A different story emerges from Pakistan -- H.D.S. Greenway, Boston.com
The U.S. war on China -- Steve H. Hanke, Financial Post
Arming the Terrorists: Try, Try Again -- J. E. Dyer, Commentary Magazine
What Obama can accomplish in India -- C. Fred Bergsten and Arvind Subramanian, Washington Post
All Quiet on the Black-Ops Front -- Jonah Goldberg, Townhall
Gold Will Outlive Dollar Once Slaughter Comes -- John Hathaway, Bloomberg