Legal Commentary

Leadership al-Qaeda Can Believe In

By TChris

Websites that support al-Qaeda view John McCain as the better presidential candidate, according to a story in the Washington Post.

Al-Qaeda is watching the U.S. stock market's downward slide with something akin to jubilation, with its leaders hailing the financial crisis as a vindication of its strategy of crippling America's economy through endless, costly foreign wars against Islamist insurgents. And at least some of its supporters think Sen. John McCain is the presidential candidate best suited to continue that trend.

"Al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election," said a commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah, which is closely linked to the terrorist group. It said the Arizona Republican would continue the "failing march of his predecessor," President Bush.

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There's little doubt McCain would continue the failed policies of the Bush administration -- policies that undermine American influence and prestige in the rest of the world, that grow enemies, and that divert resources the country needs to rebuild its infrastructure. That might be good for al-Qaeda, but it would not be good for the United States.

[T]he comments summarized what has emerged as a consensus view on extremist sites, said Adam Raisman, a senior analyst for the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors Islamist Web pages. Site provided translations of the comments to The Washington Post.

"The idea in the jihadist forums is that McCain would be a faithful 'son of Bush' -- someone they see as a jingoist and a war hawk," Raisman said. "They think that, to succeed in a war of attrition, they need a leader in Washington like McCain."

Let's not give al-Qaeda's members the leader they want in Washington.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on October 22, 2008 (boomark / email).