Reflections on Osama Tapes

Did it strike anybody else as curious that the C.I.A. took less than five hours yesterday to authenticate the bin Laden tape? In years past, when bin Laden would release a tape, it often took the C.I.A. two or three days to comment, sometimes even longer. But, yesterday, the tape was released mid-morning, eastern time, and by mid-afternoon the C.I.A. had pronounced its decision that the tapes were the real thing.

It also didn't take much time for the Bush administration to have spokespeople out there talking to the cable "news" shows about how this proved the need for everything Bush has done and showed clearly why the Democrats should not regain control of anything.

Very convenient! Just at the time when some people were beginning to understand that this president sucks, the White House was handed a new tool to change the subject. This was even better than going to an orange alert since nobody could accuse the White House of forging the tape...

Or could they?

No, even I doubt that. But, I certainly don't doubt that the quick decision by the C.I.A. to authenticate it was encouraged by the White House.