Somewhere, bin Laden must be smiling

The bitter irony would be if Iraq survives intact but European hegemony is shattered and an ideological trough estranges continents. Without lifting a pinkie, Saddam Hussein has thrown global fellowship into chaos and put nations at each others throats: Western Europe scolding Eastern Europe, transatlantic sniping between capitals, the citizenry protesting against their governments in unprecedented numbers. And somewhere, Osama bin Laden must be smiling. Only a bit player to the events unfolding around Iraq — albeit a catalyst to it — bin Laden, if alive, will undoubtedly be thrilled by the clash of civilizations that’s unfolding. Not the clash that he’d sought, pitting Muslims against infidels, but useful enough in the political fracturing and polarizing of factions within Western civilization, ally turning on ally in internecine wrangling that can only weaken the enemy while promoting hatred of America. Saddam may not be a friend of Al Qaeda — no evidence of a linkage exists despite the best efforts of Colin Powell to connect the dots at the Security Council — but he’s strengthened bin Laden’s hand and softened the target by pulling the world apart precisely when it needs to stand together against terrorism. Full Story