December 08, 2009
He's Alive: Sammy Lives (and bin Laden on Taliban Video)
Samir's blog suddenly came back to life yesterday after nearly a month of silence. Still no word from Samir as he leaves the dirty work to his co-blogger "tarbiya".
The latest post? A statement from Azam Tariq, the spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban blaming someone (anyone!) else for the recent bombings. In fact, it's the Pakistani government bombing the, um, Pakistani government to make the Taliban look bad they claim.
And a special note to the White House that has been busy trying to sell the idea that there are important differences between the "Taliban" and "al Qaeda", this image from a special you-know-who is from the official Taliban video message from the leader of the Pakistani Taliban:
I'll also make the note that the Taliban video was released by as-Sahab, al Qaeda's official production arm not the Taliban's.
To recap: A video of the Taliban spokesman distributed by al Qaeda and featuring an image and statement from Osama bin Laden.
Whatever distinction the fantasists at the State Department wish to make in order to minimize the Islamist threat need to end here. There is an organizational distinction between the Taliban and al Qaeda. But so what? There is an organizational difference between the Navy and the Air Force.
As far as goals, means, and methods are concerned there is no difference between al Qaeda and the Taliban. Al Qada's goal is to defeat the US so we will leave Muslim countries, not so they can rule but so that people like the Taliban can rule. And the Taliban wish to defeat the US so that they can rule by the dictates of Sharia law and then help groups like al Qaeda "liberate" other Muslim lands.
Those who wish to think we can defeat al Qaeda without defeating the Taliban are living on wishful thinking and nothing else.
Thanks to Stable Hand.
