Jihad Goes Better With al-Coke
More discoveries from Osama’s Pakistan resort…
As Osama bin Laden watched his terrorist organization get picked apart, he lamented in his final writings that al-Qaida was suffering from a marketing problem. His group was killing too many Muslims and that was bad for business. The West was winning the public relations fight. All his old comrades were dead and he barely knew their replacements.
Faced with these challenges, bin Laden, who hated the United States and decried capitalism, considered a most American of business strategies. Like Blackwater, ValuJet and Philip Morris, perhaps what al-Qaida really needed was a fresh start under a new name.
In case you’re wondering why AirTran Airways (née ValuJet) is on the clever AP writer’s mind, we invite you to revisit ValuJet Flight 592.
Terror by any other name: Osama eyed name change [AP]
I have a photo of myself, taken in Bethlehem last year, holding a can of Coke with Arabic lettering. Will post if I can find it.
@Dodgerblue: Started smoking again in Tel Aviv in 1997 – bought a pack of Winstons marked up in Hebrew alphabet.
@FlyingChainSaw: You smoke? I had no idea.
ADD: Tonight’s fun game: NPR host name generator:
I’m Chloe Ulaby-Gupta.
@SanFranLefty: There’s a reporter working for Oregon Public Radio named Kristian Foden-Vencil. An English guy. I think he has a great future ahead of him.
@SanFranLefty: Ha! I’m Malika Long-Beardsley. I do have this errant hair growing at warp speed in an area I’d rather not have it grow. If it invites friends, Imma cry.
BURR DEMING • Tom Lehrer, 1928-2025 Thank you for this, nojo. He was a wonderful talent and, by all accounts, a wonderful human…
NOJO • Tom Lehrer, 1928-2025 Oh, and there’s a Catholic church across the street. Maybe I can do a little dance for them!
NOJO • Tom Lehrer, 1928-2025 Now that I’m in NYC, plenty of pigeons to poison in his honor.
NOJO • All the Vice President's Men 2025 update: Nothing happened. And here we are!
MANCHUCANDIDATE • Weeping Angel Imagine going from hope to Fascism in less than two decades enabled by greedy ass (millionaire)…
NOJO • Nightmare at the Museum From the last time he threatened to bomb Iran, 2020. Remember that one? All a misty blur now.
NOJO • TRUMP TARIFFS UNLEASHING FURY OF CANADIANS - AND THEIR LEGENDARY SNIPERS! @ManchuCandidate: I have birthright citizenship in Cascadia, so I think I’m good.
MANCHUCANDIDATE • TRUMP TARIFFS UNLEASHING FURY OF CANADIANS - AND THEIR LEGENDARY SNIPERS! @nojo: Only the sane parts... like the West coast, New England (minus the Bruins and…
NOJO • TRUMP TARIFFS UNLEASHING FURY OF CANADIANS - AND THEIR LEGENDARY SNIPERS! @ManchuCandidate: So, can you guys annex us now?
MANCHUCANDIDATE • TRUMP TARIFFS UNLEASHING FURY OF CANADIANS - AND THEIR LEGENDARY SNIPERS! PP is done. 51st state, my ass.