I hope I didn't come across too sarcastic.
What I find interesting about this tape (and I haven't seen it all, but only the reports that refer to it) are people's reactions.
Is it really a surprise that Bin Laden admits he attacked America because of their foreign policy? I'm not trying to rattle any cages here, or be provocative. But for goodness sake, why do you think he did it?
I know Noam Chomsky is not universally popular here, but allow me to paraphrase one of his insightful remarks. One of the ways to fight terrorism is to stop practicing it. By this I mean, it's possible to remove the drivers, the "seeds" of terrorism.
I'm not suggesting dialogue with OBL or his ilk. But to me it's patently clear that progress requires a change in the way the US handles itself abroad.
The war on terrorism can never be won. I think everyone agrees that. It's unwinnable. Every time a US bomb falls on a wedding in Afghanistan, or a hospital in Iraq, or an innocent civilian's house in Faluja, another extremist is born. Of course this is simplification, but you know what I mean.
Therefore, militarily, you can't "win the war." It's self sustaining. It's a postive feedback loop.
Therefore you (we?) need an integrated approach. Fight the terrorists that are out there. But also address the reasons they act as they do. Try to understand the underlying motivation. Sometimes it will be pure hatred. But even that has a reason. Sometimes it will be religious fundamentalist beliefs that non-Muslims should be killed. In that case, foster tolerant muslim groups. Fundamentalists and fanatics are bred in times of stress and disadvantage. There are plenty of rich and tolerant muslim countries. It is only in areas like the middle east that "terrorism" seems endemic.
Finally, try to address the Palestinian Question. This is the one, single issue that does more to create terrorists than any other. If it is solved then we make a great advance.
Mr Mephisto