After visiting Israel, an Iraqi Parliamentarian, Mithal Al-Alusi, faces death threats.

I knew that Mithal Al-Alusi (an Iraqi member of Parliament) was controversial before I sat down with him: but I had no idea how open and transparent he would be. The man has traveled from Iraq to Israel twice – for counter-terrorism conferences.

Between his first and second trip, his two sons died in an attack that was targeting the minister. It seemed clear to me, from his answers that because his sons were dead – he had lost the one thing that meant the world to him. And he was going to take his belief: that Iraq and Israel can learn from each other all the way to the end – even if it meant he, eventually would be killed.

It was one of those rare interviews – where the back and forth flowed perfectly. I could not believe the answers that I was getting to my questions.

Why did you travel to Israel first in 2004, I asked …

“My God, Why not,” he answered… “Let me tell you – nobody knew I was Iraqi, because I look like them. So they told me sometimes because of my language, from – where are you? I said, from Iraq. Are you sure you’re from Iraq? Oh … well, welcome to Israel,” he said to me.

I was so stunned at some of his answers it would take me a brief moment to ask the next question.

“How many times have they tried to kill you,” I asked.

“14 … I think … it will be 15 … it doesn’t matter” he replied.

It will be 15 – I’m quite sure.

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A frame grab from new video featuring an audio statement from Osama bin Laden to the people of the West about Israel's 60th anniversary.

Peter Bergen
CNN National Security Analyst

Less than a day after Republican presidential candidate John McCain promised that if he won the presidency Osama bin Laden would be captured or killed by 2013, a message from al Qaeda’s leader appeared on jihadist websites reminding the world that he is alive and well.

Bin Laden’s audiotape message commented on the recent 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel; promised that he would fight for the liberation of Palestine, and told his Muslim listeners that they have a duty to help in that effort.

Was the audiotape an attempt by bin Laden to remain relevant by pushing on the issue that remains a hot button for most Muslims? After 9/11 some commentators said that the Palestinian issue was something that bin Laden had recently adopted in order to appeal to a wide range of Muslims. This is false.

When al Qaeda’s leader declared war on the United States publicly for the first time in August 1996
part of his rationale concerned the Palestinian issue:
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David M. Reisner
360° Digital Producer

During a speech to the Knesset, Pres. Bush compares calls to talk with unnamed terrorist groups a 'foolish delusion.'

Hey Bloggers,

Wanted to get your thoughts on something that President Bush said today when adressing Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Israel’s 60th anniversary celebration in Jerusalem.

Some are saying the President launched a sharp but veiled attack on Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats, suggesting they favor “appeasement” of terrorists in the same way some Western leaders appeased Hitler in the run-up to World War II.

The president did not say Obama’s name directly (or any other Democrat for that matter) but White House aides privately acknowledged the remarks were aimed at the presidential
candidate and others in his party. Former President Jimmy Carter has called for
talks with Hamas.

“Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals,
as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all
along,”

“We have heard this foolish delusion before… As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939,
an American senator declared: ‘Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all
of this might have been avoided.’ We have an obligation to call this what it is
– the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by
history.”

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