Osama bin Loony

As far as Osama videos go, this was a strange one. \nThe usual diatribe punctuated with intermittent “Death to America” and “God Willing” was exchanged, instead, for a quite boring political speech that was surprisingly light on religious rhetoric and instead focused more on American politics. His main points criticized how the Democrats were unable to stop the war in Iraq, global warming and how corporations are the “real tyrannical terrorists.” He even said that Western democracy has a “flagrant disregard for the intellects of human beings,” a statement so bound with irony and stupidity that it boggles the mind.\nImmediately after the tape was released, many in the media immediately pounced on his criticisms of the Iraq war, global warming and corporations as being similar to many in the liberal camp. The tape was even described by some right-wingers as “Chomsky-esque.” Many people had a field day with this observation, trying to prove once and for all that the Democratic Party’s goals are, more or less, the same as bin Laden’s. But the Democrats do not make their foreign-policy decisions based on what they think Osama might or might not want. \nIt may seem obvious, but Americans need to make policy decisions based on evidence, good conscience and American interests, not on the ranting of a madman. Just because bin Laden publicly states he wishes American forces out of Iraq does not mean that he is aligned in any way with Democrats who also want us out of Iraq. If the right wishes to make this argument, it must be followed through to its logical conclusion that Osama bin Laden also shares many cultural conservative policy points such as: anti-abortion rights, anti-gay marriage and anti-evolution, which raises the question: Why we have never heard Osama’s previous ranting characterized as “Falwell-esque”?\nThe weird reactions on the news to this video reminded me of something that has annoyed me for quite some time: The lazy stereotype that liberals are somehow more sympathetic to radical Islam than conservatives. Stupidity makes a comeback when some suggest that liberals welcome a radical right-wing religious dictatorship. The right cannot criticize the left for being a godless, lawless bunch of free-love hippies one day, then criticize it the next day for wanting a totalitarian religious movement to take over and impose strict religious doctrine. If you want to stereotype the left – which is quite frankly very easy – you really have to do it one way or the other. Using both to score political points makes no sense and, in the end, hurts your argument.\nThere might be a tendency to hear this tape and vow to do everything to contradict bin Laden, even if it means going against your personal beliefs. But basing our foreign policy on this madman’s loony opinions would be a huge mistake and should be avoided at all costs.