[IWE] Gary Shandling - Strategic Thinker.

[D. Scott Katzer]

I didn't see him on Maher, but a reader gives his impression on 
Sullivan's blog:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/is-bin-ladens-s.html

"Last night on Bill Maher, the comedian Gary Shandling, of all people, 
synthesized the connection between our current economic crisis and 9/11 
and the Iraq War in a way I have not heard:

On 9/11, Al Qaeda had no expectation of a traditional military victory 
against the United States.  The point of the attack was economic -- to 
draw the U.S. into expensive and protracted foreign wars that would 
deplete our resources and destabilize our government.  By invading Iraq, 
George Bush became the happy idiot to assist Al Qaeda in this goal. Now, 
Sarah Palin and John McCain take the leaders of Al Qaeda at their word 
when they say Iraq is the major front in the war on terror.

[...]"

That's certainly a possibility that people should be considering.

I personally don't think that bin Laden thought we would attack him in 
Afghanistan in a serious way.  I'm sure he suspected cruise missiles and 
the like, but didn't expect an invasion.  But, he and they were quick to 
adjust to the changing circumstances.

There's no doubt that being tied down in Iraq is weakening us 
strategically.  McCain's and Palin's talk of "victory" shows that they 
haven't, or can't, think about the big picture in anything other than 
mid-20th Century terms.

Cheers,
Scott.