July 29, 2004

Is It Still a July Suprise If We Knew It Would Happen?

Earlier this month, The New Republic published an article revealing that the Bush administration had been exerting pressure on Pakistan to capture a "high-value" al Qaeda target around the same time as the Democratic Convention. Well it seems that pressure may have paid off.

Of course, high-value isn't the same as famous. The terrorist in question -- wanted in connection with the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Africa -- is hardly a household name, so this may not be a public relations coup for the Republicans (and I doubt it will distact much from important stories like Kerry in a funny blue suit). Nevertheless, the timing is something that should be examined. Did Pakistan capture him because of White House pressure, or is this just a coincidence? And if White House influence is indeed the reason, why haven't we been exerting this sort of pressure all along?

I'll be curious to see how this plays out in the news cycle. My bet is the story gets some play only to get lost in the post-convention Kerry love fest. The Democrats have been building incredible momentum these past four days (even Andrew Sullivan is caught up in it). Capturing a terrorist that no one has heard of isn't going to be enough to trip that up.

Posted by Palabris at July 29, 2004 05:43 PM
Comments

Wow. That so many Pakistani officials would be willing to risk a ten-year prison sentence to attest to this pressure is quite amazing. Or is it a passive-aggressive snub to the administration that's on their backs?

Posted by: talker at July 30, 2004 11:07 AM

This administration can "find" Bin Laden three nights before the election without the American public noticing. It's that bad.

Posted by: Osama Bin Forgotten at August 2, 2004 07:00 AM

I don't know - I thought the blue suit was ah'right. It's better than a flight suit or - god forbid - a birthday suit. Who do you think jerks off more: Kerry or Bush?

Posted by: Blue Suit Lover at August 2, 2004 12:42 PM

I think the things that make these "captures" less provoking is that they're made by Pakistanis, not good ol'fashioned American teenagers. The newsreels are short on crewcut white boys bringing down the evil brown wreakers of holy terror. Kind of makes you wonder if such an event has EVER happened. Or, at least it makes ME wonder that...

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