BUT IF ONLY WE COULD NEGOTIATE WITH THEM - AT 9:40 A.M. ET:  Al Qaeda has a unique way of reminding us, when we need reminding, of what we're up against:

DUBAI (Reuters) - If it were in a position to do so, Al Qaeda would use Pakistan's nuclear weapons in its fight against the United States, a top leader of the group said in remarks aired on Sunday.

Pakistan has been battling al Qaeda's Taliban allies in the Swat Valley since April after their thrust into a district 100 km (60 miles) northwest of the capital raised fears the nuclear-armed country could slowly slip into militant hands.

"God willing, the nuclear weapons will not fall into the hands of the Americans and the mujahideen would take them and use them against the Americans," Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, the leader of al Qaeda's in Afghanistan, said in an interview with Al Jazeera television.

COMMENT:  No one can say that they didn't warn us.  They warned us.  Of course, the usual suspects will now come out of the woodwork to say that this is all just bluster.  I hope it is.  But I'm not willing to stake my children's future on the audacity of hope. 

June 22, 2009