That Shrinking Feeling

Here is raising things to another level: Bin Laden branded `virtually impotent'

Seemingly taunting Osama bin Laden, President Bush's homeland security adviser said Sunday the fugitive al-Qaida leader is "virtually impotent" beyond his ability to hide away and spread anti-American propaganda.

The provocative characterization came just days after bin Laden attracted international attention with the release of a video in which he ridicules President Bush about the Iraq war and reminds the world that he not been captured.

Ahead of the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes, White House aide Frances Fragos Townsend made a clear attempt to diminish the influence — or the perception — of the man who masterminded those attacks.

"This is about the best he can do," Townsend said of bin Laden. "This is a man on a run, from a cave, who's virtually impotent other than these tapes."
In appearance on two Sunday talk shows, she used the "virtually impotent" reference both times, suggesting the language was chosen with careful purpose.

"We know that al-Qaida is still determined to attack, and we take it seriously," Townsend said. "But this tape appears to be nothing more than threats. It's propaganda on their part."

Hmmm...I'm not sure what the point of this was exactly. Maybe someone thinks having a Western woman belittle bin Laden will get him so angry he will make a mistake (just like Galahad suggested in regards to the killer rabbit in Monty Python and The Holy Grail), but it doesn't seem likely. I guess the Bush admin felt they should respond to the bin Laden video in some manner...but I can't say this inspiring stuff.