Bin Laden Is A Has ‘Bin’

Image by AFP/Getty Images via Daylife

The LA Times headlines its lead story this morning, “Bin Laden takes responsibility for Christmas Day bombing plot.” The article reports:

Reporting from Washington and Beirut – Al Qaeda’s leader claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day attempt to blow up an American civilian jet in an audiotape broadcast today on Arab television.

While the Times‘ editors decided to term Bin Laden’s claim one of “responsibility,” it actually would have been more appropriate to trumpet,  ”Bin Laden wants credit for Christmas Day bombing plot.” According to American intelligence reports, there is no evidence that Bin Laden had anything to do with the failed attack.

Indeed, Bin Laden’s specious call for attention seems to indicate a very happy truth: the formerly fearsome rogue has never been more powerless. Consider, first, that Bin Laden is claiming credit for a failed attack. A leader in any kind of position of power would want to distance himself from as badly executed a plot as the Christmas Day bombing. Next, ponder that in the nine years following the atrocities of 9/11, not one successful Al-Qaida-directed plot has been initiated on our shores. Even in cases where appalling acts of mass murder have been “achieved” – London, Madrid – the perpetrators were by and large malignant natives of England and Spain, not minions of Bin Laden.

Rather than the blood-curdling and terrifying warnings of an all-powerful dark leader, Bin Laden’s latest ramblings are little more than the pathetic cries of marginalized, powerless has-been.

Maybe Tora Bora wasn’t so important after all?

via Bin Laden takes responsibility for Christmas Day airline bombing plot – latimes.com.