The Worst Endorsement a Candidate Can Have?

Of interest, and kind of bizarre:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/opinion/26kristof.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin

“Al Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election,” read a commentary on a password-protected Islamist Web site that is closely linked to Al Qaeda and often disseminates the group’s propaganda.

The endorsement left the McCain campaign sputtering, and noting helplessly that Hamas appears to prefer Barack Obama..... [more in the article]

“From their perspective, a continuation of Bush policies is best for recruiting,” said Professor Nye, adding that Mr. McCain is far more likely to continue those policies.

An American president who keeps troops in Iraq indefinitely, fulminates about Islamic terrorism, inclines toward military solutions and antagonizes other nations is an excellent recruiting tool. In contrast, an African-American president with a Muslim grandfather and a penchant for building bridges rather than blowing them up would give Al Qaeda recruiters fits.

During the cold war, the American ideological fear of communism led us to mistake every muddle-headed leftist for a Soviet pawn. Our myopia helped lead to catastrophe in Vietnam.

In the same way today, an exaggerated fear of “Islamofascism” elides a complex reality and leads us to overreact and damage our own interests.

I don't know what kind of commentary this is, or if the Islamist web site is actually influential, but it's food for thought.

They know their endorsement is likely to have adverse effects for whoever they back, so I believe they really don't want McCain elected or they will be hiding in the caves for at least four more years.