Wow. Subtle Much?

Ashcroft today, raising the fear flag high. It's going to be a long, hot and dangerous summer. But here, from the transcript of his remarks, we get a glimpse as to the true threat:

After the March 11th attack in Madrid, Spain, an Al Qaida spokesman announced that 90 percent of the arrangements for an attack in the United States were complete.

The Madrid railway bombings were perceived by Osama bin Laden and Al Qaida to have advanced their cause. Al Qaida may perceive that a large-scale attack in the United States this summer or fall would lead to similar consequences.

Be very, very afraid, see? And whatever you do, don't forget that what Osama really wants you to do is vote for Kerry, see? If you do that, you traitor, the terrorists win.

We've been waiting for this to evolve, to grow from the talk-radio/op-ed echo chamber and make its way into official statements. Today was the day.

Let's not lose sight of the true situation, however. Al Qaeda and the dozens, if not hundreds, of Baby Al Qaedas that threaten us today have in George W. Bush their greatest advocate. He continually plays into their strategic goals (as had his administration bought Iran's ruse hook, line and sinker), providing them with the greatest recruitment propaganda available: by invading and occupying an oil-rich Muslim, Middle-Eastern country, Bush has turned bin Laden's 90's era fiery propaganda and rhetoric into post-millenial prophecy. In so doing, he has raised bin Laden's "stock" in a way that would not have been possible without the Iraqi invasion.

It should also be noted that, in order to assume his own self-styled messianic mantle of rule, Bush needed to turn a criminal network (al Qaeda) and it's lead thug (bin Laden) into the Very Face of Evil. Regardless of the level of destruction brought to Lower Manhattan on September 11th, the foes we faced that day, and continue to face today, are no more the Embodiment of Evil than Bush is the Leader of the Forces of Good. Without a super-villian, a superhero is just some foolish guy in tights. Without turning the terrorists into Evildoers, Bush would be revealed as nothing more than the crass opportunist he has been in pushing himself as the One.