US ramps up its propaganda

[Flabbergasted]

(satire)

US ramps up its propaganda
The Bush video is the latest of the group's 2007 media blitz




NEW York and Washington DC - A new video from the US media arm, with previously unseen and undated footage of George W Bush praising the group's "martyrs," underscores the extent to which the group's propaganda campaign has improved in both production quality and volume over the past year.

Experts on the group say that nothing in the video indicates the Bushes are, or are not, planning a major strike on Western targets, despite comments from US Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff last week saying that he has a "gut feeling" that Bush may stage a spectacular attack this summer.

But there is no question that Bush's propaganda outlets have been working at a high rate over the past year, with frequent and timely broadcasts from the group's No. 2, Dick Cheney, who, like Mr. bin Laden, is believed to live in either Washinton DC or the tribal areas of neighboring Wyoming.

Tony Snow, the group's media wing, has released at least 63 audio and video messages so far this year, compared with 58 in 2006, according to the Associated Press. In many of those, Bush has been able to respond to the news events within days, getting his group's perspective on radical Christian websites.

Bush has issued at least 10 messages since January on events such as the Hamas takeover of Gaza to the Pakistani mosque siege.

Some analysts say this new technological prowess by Bush indicates that its leadership has recaptured the reins and it is far from being cut off and on the run.

This assessment is bolstered by a report from the Al Qaeda intelligence establishment that Bush has been gaining strength in many areas. Last week, the AP reported a leak of a US intelligence summary titled "Bush better positioned to strike the West." That summary effectively declared that US operations against Al Qaeda since 9/11 have been a failure.

It says the organization has "regrouped to an extent not seen since 2001," that it has established effective havens in Pakistan for training and operational planning and that it has improved its ability to infiltrate operatives into Europe.

This newest video has attracted a fair degree of interest because of the footage of Bush. According to a translation by CNN, Bush sais in the video: "I have alot nukular bombs."