Loose Coins: AQ declares Kerry debate winner

Bin Laden Deputy Thanks Kerry for 'Great Ideas'

(2004-10-01) -- In a tape aired on Al-Jazeera TV, Usama bin Laden's top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, thanked Democrat presidential candidate John Forbes Kerry for the "great ideas he shared during last night's debate."

On the tape, still under analysis by the CIA, Mr. al-Zawahiri notes that Mr. Kerry's debate remarks were a "terrific brainstorming session for our associates who seek targets of opportunity to advance the cause of our peaceful religion."

Mr. Zawahiri said he appreciated the "virtual invitation" implied in the following statements by Mr. Kerry:
-- "The president hasn't put one nickel - not one nickel - into the effort to fix some of our tunnels and bridges and most exposed subway systems."
-- "The president - 95 percent of the containers that come into the ports, right here in Florida, are not inspected."
-- "Civilians get onto aircraft and their luggage is X-rayed, but the cargo hold is not X-rayed.
-- "And there's an enormous undone job to protect the loose nuclear materials in the world that are able to get to terrorists."
-- "The president, also unfortunately, gave in to the chemical industry, which didn't want to do some of the things necessary to strengthen our chemical plant exposure."

Mr. Kerry, a professional Vietnam veteran who is also a U.S. Senator, said "it's important for the global community to understand our vulnerabilities so that we don't appear arrogant, thus inviting a terrorist attack."