Videos vs. Bombs: America is Safer

George C. Landrith

As al Qaeda’s pre-Election surprise, Osama bin Laden sent America a videotape. John Kerry immediately crowed that it proved he would be a better president. The rest of us were left wondering what Kerry was thinking. I’ll put this as simply as possible so even Kerry can understand. When al Qaeda wanted to influence Spain’s elections earlier this year, it planned and carried out an elaborate attack with a dozen bombs exploding simultaneously in train stations in Madrid, Spain. Hundreds were killed and thousands injured. When al Qaeda wanted to influence America’s elections, bin Laden could only send a videotape. Apparently, the terrorists do not believe they can pull off a major attack in the United States to influence the American election. So they were left to send a poorly produced videotape. Of course, there is more to do to ensure America’s safety. But on this day, it was a videotape, not bombs.

Bombs and death in Spain versus a videotape in the United States. President George W. Bush must be doing something right. Yet, Kerry sees even this videotape as evidence of gross failure. I haven’t conducted a formal poll, but I can easily predict the results of this one. Which would you prefer – (a) bombs killing and maiming thousands all across America, or (b) a videotape of bin Laden calling America the great Satan? The answer is obvious to everyone but John Kerry. Even children know that “Sticks and stones (or bombs) may break my bones, but names (and videotapes) will never hurt me.”

Somehow Kerry views the videotape as evidence of failure. To people with brains, however, it is a sign that Bush has effectively taken the war to the terrorists and weakened them. While terrorism is still a grave threat, on this day all they could do is send videotapes. Ask yourself if September 11th would be an important historical date if rather than killing 3000 people and knocking down buildings bin Laden had merely sent us a really nasty and mean-spirited video.

This is the first video we’ve seen of bin Laden in almost two years. There is good reason for that – Bush has relentlessly pursued him forcing bin Laden to live deep in a cave somewhere. He can’t even communicate with his minions for fear of detection by U.S. forces.

Does Kerry really believe everything he says? Not likely. Kerry is not unusually bright, but he is not so dimwitted as to believe most of his silly utterances. He simply hopes most Americans will look past the absurdity and be impressed with the serious look on his face, the tone of certitude in his voice and his carefully coifed hair.

How else do you explain a man who says he has had only one, consistent position on Iraq when, in fact, he has had more positions on Iraq than Baskin Robbins has flavors of ice cream? Even Dan Rather and the New York Times laugh at that line. How does one explain a man who says that voting against funding the troops would be “irresponsible” and that “no Senator” would even consider doing such a thing and then a few weeks later both he and his running mate irresponsibly vote against funding the troops. Kerry said “no Senator’ would do such a thing – but two who did are running for President and Vice President. To make matters worse, Kerry said he was “proud” to have voted so irresponsibly. How can we take this man seriously?

John Kerry asserts we are not safer today than on September 11th. Yet, the most recent bin Laden videotape proves America is safer. On September 11, 2001 when bin Laden wanted to express his rage towards America, he attacked us on our soil and killed 3,000 of our countrymen. On October 29, 2004, when bin Laden wanted to express his hatred, he sent us a videotape. There is still more to do to make sure America is safe from terrorism. But at least on the weekend before the election, all bin Laden could do was send a video. Bush is obviously making America safer. Only a fringe lunatic would argue that America is not safer.

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Mr. Landrith is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was Business Editor of the Virginia Journal of Law and Politics. He had a successful law practice in business and litigation. In 1994 and 1996, Mr. Landrith was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's Fifth Congressional District. He served on the Albemarle County School Board. Mr. Landrith is an adjunct professor at the George Mason School of Law. He is recognized as an authority on constitutional law and jurisprudence, federalism, global warming, and property rights.

george@ff.org