WAR OF PROPOGANDA

A report on TV recently told of an Englishman kidnapped by Al Qaeda in Iraq.
As is usual, they paraded him on Al Jazzera for the world to see while he read from a pre-written script calling for the coalition's withdrawal from Iraq. Typical stuff and nothing really new there. So much so that people have lost interest somewhat.

What is new, however, is the embracing of, by Al Qaeda, the propoganda war this is now becoming. They no longer seem to be in any hurry to decapitate or hurt the man in any way (he certainly appeared in reasonable health), instead choosing to tease their enemy with the parading of the prisoners from time to time. However, the mere threat of a reoccurrence of the 'head hacking' incident concerning the unfortunate American contractor, is enough to have the desired effect - one of strategy in this war of propoganda.

Three months ago, they snatched the Briton. And if this just carries on what will happen next will be the loss of effect of the threat. Then theyll have to execute another to redress the balance.

The fundamentalists are in an extremely strong position now. Six years they've held America and her allies in a stalemate and it shows no sign of ending.

This could turn out to be, like the film title, a bridge too far, for the mighty US.
This prolonged conflict will have more long lasting effects than either of the world wars and of the parochial fight that was Vietnam.

But that's okay - just keep throwing more and more expendable into the attrition - maybe someday...


course the fellow's British so...