A 6,000 word letter written by AlQaeda’s top deputy, Ayman Zawahiri to Iraq’s top insurgent leader, Abu Musab Zarqawi (you know, the guy that beheads people), was released yesterday by the U.S. government.

It is characterized as a "calm" critique of how Zarqawi was waging war in Iraq. The Washington Post quotes a U.S. official describing Zawahiri as, "He comes down like a ton of bricks on what has happened tactically,"

This is a great letter for the U.S. to have intercepted. There was a lot of reticence to disclose the whole thing, but in the end, it shows what our enemies are thinking, and what they want.

It is posted on the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The Department lists the highlights as follows:

• The centrality of the war in Iraq for the global jihad.
• From al Qa’ida’s point of view, the war does not end with an American departure.
• An acknowledgment of the appeal of democracy to the Iraqis.
• The strategic vision of inevitable conflict, with a tacit recognition of current political dynamics in Iraq; with a call by al-Zawahiri for political action equal to military action.
• The need to maintain popular support at least until jihadist rule has been established.
• Admission that more than half the struggle is taking place "in the battlefield of the media."

They think the U.S. is going to cut and run. Zawahiri tells Zarqawi to prepare for that eventuality and to be ready to exploit the power void (in other words, take over). They use the word, "Vietnam".

Things may develop faster than we imagine. The aftermath of the collapse of American power in Vietnam-and how they ran and left their agents- is noteworthy. Because of that, we must be ready starting now, before events overtake us, and before we are surprised by the conspiriacies of the Americans and the United Nations."

So there you have it folks, just like we have been warning the "peace movement" all along: if we leave now, the terrorist will win.

Cindy Sheehan & Co. want us to re-do the mistake of Vietnam. Our enemies our counting on it.

This letter is amazing. It shows how our enemies are not "stuck on stupid". They understand the importance of the media, how attacking fellow Muslims could backfire, and continues to bank on the strategy that the U.S. will eventually cut and run.

Compare this letter, to what is actually going on in Iraq (as reported by Michael Yon), and ask yourself, "what side do I want to be on?"

Some Americans will side with the letter.

you will see this Halloween season is right here.

Do NOT go there if you have a weak stomach.

You have been warned.

The Astros deserve better than the crap the Chronicle editorial board is dishing out:

The omens going into this series couldn’t be more promising. The winning game against the Braves put the team on the front page of The New York Times and won Houston a new legion of believers around the country.

That’s an omen? I didn’t get the memo about this, but apparently the New York Times — instead of telling us what happened yesterday — is now an all-seeing oracle.

The 18-inning affair displayed the strengths that have allowed the Astros to rise from a 15-30 grave in May to become October contenders for baseball’s world championship.

Guess who etched the tombstone on that grave.

Lance Berkman, slowed by a pulled muscle, reached deep and found the swing that sent a grand slam over the left field wall when the team was down 6-1.

Knee surgery, guys.

It also doesn’t hurt to have three of the league’s strongest starting pitchers in Clemens, Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettite, tonight’s starter.

Does it hurt to spell Andy Pettitte’s name correctly?

In an otherwise uninspiring sports fall…

Maybe if these guys would peel themselves away from the New York Times front page once in a while, they’d notice that the Texas Longhorns are doing pretty well, two other Texas teams are in the Top 25, and the Rockets beat Philly to start the preseason.

Chron editors, stick to things you know about. Like international diplomacy, leftovers and plagiarism. 

The University of Texas at Austin continues its descent into madness (hat tip: Russell and McCullough):

"The UT Austin Office of the Ombudsman just changed its name to Office of the OmbudsPERSON."

I thought this hypersensitive, gender identity mindset vanished after the Monica Lewinsky affair, when feminists lost whatever credibility or moral authority they had previously manufactured through media manipulation and academic intrigues. However, it appears that in some obscure corners of academe, feminists are still wearing the pants of the family. What’s next at UT? Bevo-ette?

BTW: This story seems to be a manifestation of the PC angst percolating just below the Burnt Orange surface, which was chronicled here last spring: Something stirs in the 40 Acres.

Because we like you.