CNN.com - U.S. rejects�bin Laden tape's 'truce' offer - Jan 20, 2006

CNN.com - U.S. rejects�bin Laden tape's 'truce' offer - Jan 20, 2006: "'Clearly the al Qaeda leaders and other terrorists are on the run. They're under a lot of pressure,' White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. 'We do not negotiate with terrorists. We put them out of business.'"

I can't clearly agree or disagree as I would imagine they would be and are under pressure. They can still do damage, afterall you can still catch the occassional wiff of a fart in a windstorm.

Now I subscribe entirely to "We do not negotiate with terrorists. We put them out of business."

The tape is quoted as saying "Our mujahedeen were able to overcome all the security measures in European countries, and you saw their operation in major European capitals" at one point. The Europeans were not and probably are still not taking the threat as seriously as they should. Even so, you cannot guard against everything. As callous as this sounds, they didn't do so bad following up and chasing the idiots. Also, each time they accomplish something regardless of large or small, there are fewer of them afterward. They don't have what it takes to do these things daily (luckily), as activity like that would just make them all the more vulnerable.

Unfortunately, these pant loads are around for the long haul. Are we up to the task? We damned well better be.