October Surprise?

The American military announced today that U.S. soldiers have eliminated Abu Qaswarah, also known as Abu Sara, the second in command of Al Quaeda in Mesopotamia who directed the group’s operations in northern Iraq, the area of the country that remains the most troubled by extremist Sunni insurgents.

Insurgent Abu Qaswarah was killed on October 5 in the Mosul area in north Iraq in an operation led by American forces. Acting on intelligence, the operation was led to a building where Abu Qaswarah was staying with some associates. The extremists opened fire on the American forces and the Americans returned fire, killing five of them, the military said.

What does this have to do with the upcoming presidential election? This event could be the near equivalent of the economic nosedive America has taken in the last few weeks. This event, if correctly spun by the right-wing pundits and McCain surrogates, could threaten to strenghten the Arizona Senator's claims that he is the one best suited for president. After all, wasn't he the one who supported the war in Iraq? See, nobody ever listens to the Maverick. I prefer jumping off a bridge to seeing the smug mug of the "Pitbull bitch" and hearing her nerve grating accent slamming the I-told-ya-so down my throat, dog-gonnit.

Prepare for the shitstorm, buy a big umbrella and read the entire story posted by The New York Times here.