OBL as statesman

This LA Times piece argues that OBL is trying to remake himself as a statesman. It’s an interesting analysis that seems to tie together many of the issues myself and others have had with the tape. My once criticism is that the author talks about how Hezbollah, PLO, the IRA developed political wings. However, all also provided social services, which is what gave their political ideology cachet amongst the people they were attempting to represent. OBL has yet to do a positive thing for the Muslim community.