[Gromiaaborn]

You rightly make the point that continuing to tacitly fascilitate torture is also counter-productive. Yet you have not addressed the point that the antics of the Republican Party play into terrorist hands. Are you admitting that they do? I've been honest with you, can you do the same?

As for Afghanistan, Obama had to play the hand he was dealt. After much debate, he decided it was in America's long-term security interests to make one last-ditch effort to secure Afghanistan from the Taliban (and thus al Qaeda). Airstrikes in Pakistan are an essential part of that effort.

But although you would love to side-track the discussion into debating Obama's strategy in Afghanistan, let's not let you off so easily. You have not addressed that point that right-winger Republicans are demonstrating the very behaviors bin Laden accuses us of--behaviors that are detrimental to our standing in the world and indeed, to our national security.

I'm not blaming Obama or Gingrich.

Honestly, it doesn't matter what we do from a propaganda perspective.

We oppose the mosque: "The Infidel is denying Allah and the Prophet!"
We don't oppose it: " Allah has granted us victory over the kuffar! Theey dare not oppose our mosque on their sacred ground!"

Obama changes course in Afghanistan: "We are defeating the Infidel! They are confused and lost! Allah Akbar!"
Obama doesn't change course in Afghanistan: "Allah has made the kuffar too scared to engage us! Allah Akbar!"

No matter what happens, Osama Bin Hidin will claim it is a sigh of Allah's blessings on the Mujahideen.

Matt