Bin Laden throwing in the towel on Iraq?

Most of the press reports on the communications intercepts between Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi have focussed upon the threat of new attacks against the US outside of Iraq. While not downplaying the seriousness of potential new attacks from Zarqawi and his band of ruthless killers, these communications -- if genuine -- may reflect bin Laden's strategic recognition that Al Queda's mission in Iraq has failed and that Zarqawi and his remaining forces should redeploy elsewhere before they are captured or killed.

This is not to say that the Zarqawi can't or won't pull off more horrors like yesterday's horrific murder of 122 innocent Iraqis in Hilla, but it may be the best indication that at least in Osama's judgement, the battle for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people has been lost.

Here's hoping that Osama is right...