Delusions of Adequacy

Wretchard thinks Usama's new tape is nothing less than a surrender:

It is important to notice what he has stopped saying in this speech. He has stopped talking about the restoration of the Global Caliphate. There is no more mention of the return of Andalusia. There is no more anticipation that Islam will sweep the world. He is no longer boasting that Americans run at the slightest wounds; that they are more cowardly than the Russians. He is not talking about future operations to swathe the world in fire but dwelling on past glories. He is basically saying if you leave us alone we will leave you alone. Though it is couched in his customary orbicular phraseology he is basically asking for time out.

I certainly hope so; and it would put the lie to the natterers who insist that by killing thousands of his foot-soldiers and capturing or vaporizing his closest lieutenants, we are naively playing into Usama's shrewd Master Plan. But be that as it may, I doubt we'll be hearing the President say "Mission accomplished" anytime soon.