Ed: I can see that. Tell me more.

Osama: Saddam loyalists all ran away to fight again another day, and they have a score to settle with America. There are a few million of them, they know Saddam yet lives and he also has some scores to settle. They no longer have a state to fight for but they still have a hated enemy to defeat. A conventional army would be useless, so they are organizing in Iraqi cells. When their fight is over in Iraq next year, they are willing to go wherever enemy is, to continue fight. We have people there, training and helping them, bringing them along on small operations. We have been holding them back some, but not for much longer.

Ed: Why do you think they will have won sometime next year?

Osama: American political winds. They began stirring with last funding request. Iraqi resistance will ratchet up. American security efforts will be increasingly undermined and rank and file Iraqis will turn on them too. Non Iraqi civilian contractors will die and retreat. American military casualties will double, and then triple, until American people refuse to support their leadership in a losing proposition. If I am wrong in my understanding, we will attack America at home again, and that will be straw that breaks will of people to sacrifice further for leadership goals. The American people will find new leaders who will talk to us as we are talking now. It is an election year, no?

Ed: Why are you so focused on terrorist tactics? Isn't there another way?

Osama: Of course there is! Dialogue. Which has been rejected by America since beginning. With no dialogue, terrorism is most effective way for poor to fight rich. We just as soon kill or cripple a soldier or a pilot before he is trained, whether he is four years old or twenty. We know we are in a war that lasts for generations. Why shouldn't we reduce forces that will be fighting our children?

It is not moral question America pretends it to be. A suicide bomber is just a military pilot without a plane. Rich countries put their terrorists in latest multi- million dollar aircraft and terrorize people on ground anonymously, and fly mission after mission of terror. Martyrs use one bomb and look their victims in eyes. They do not return to attack again a few hours later. They rest. They are more honorable than sky terrorists.

Ed: I never thought of it that way.

Osama: Why would you? You have been taught all your life that way of rich is moral and ways of poor are immoral. In fact, you are secretly taught that all opposition to rich is immoral or illegal, so thought of resisting never crosses your minds.

In rich countries you are taught to live, fight and die for well concealed lies, in name of patriotism and freedom. You wised up some during Vietnam and forgot most of your lessons when it was over. You have an expression that says; those who do not learn from their mistakes are destined to repeat them. Forgetting your lessons has become a cultural identifier in West. We haven't forgotten ours and we don't repeat them. This gives us a tremendous advantage in fighting rich. We can operate on shoestring budgets and prefer it. We are your proof that money isn’t everything and you will ignore that proof, as you have been taught to do.

Ed: That is not necessarily true. Americans began to question authority back in sixties. Some never stopped doing so and it is becoming fashionable among their children and grandchildren. This time there is no generation gap to take edge off truth. Whatever becomes of old America, a new America is giving birth to global consciousness that has been so lacking.

Osama: I will pray for this - that there will be no fighting among our grandchildren. I have enjoyed talking with a reasonable American. It is something I would like to do again, if you don't mind. I suspect you know enough to stay clear of our likely targets, so you can answer your phone.

Ed: Oh yes, I know where not to be for foreseeable future and I am warning others, especially those in target zones.

Osama: Keep at it. It will save a few lives and you will be blessed. I'll call again when desire strikes me. Should anything happen to me, a friend will call you.

Ed: I understand. If anything should happen to me, you will be talking to someone else. Thanks for calling. I look forward to next time.

Ed: Did you ever get nukes you wanted?

Saddam: Not ones I originally wanted for my missiles. But I have bought quite a few neat little portable models. Osama split an order with me.

Ed: You've been talking with Osama? I thought you were enemies.

Saddam: Like I was saying, Operation Iraqi Freedom changed a lot of things. We will probably never sit and drink tea together, but our conversation has been cordial and productive. He doesn't need half funding that frozen assets represent, but I told him I'm ready to contribute anything he doesn't want traced. Did I tell you I am rich?

Ed: I believe you did. What does Osama think of your disguise?

Saddam: He thought it was clever. He asked if I'd send him my surgeon.

Ed: Did you?

Saddam: Yes. They met at a Swiss hospital a couple months ago. I asked him to send me a picture. He hasn't sent one.

Ed: So how come you didn't leave Iraq when President Bush said you could have safe passage out?

Saddam: He would have tried to kill me. And I'm not used to being told what to do. You understand. I thought it would be much safer if I waited a while and I thought it would be good to be seen by friends in Iraq. If I had left when President suggested, it would have looked like I was a coward, a scared rabbit. Why would I want to do that? Friends needed my moral support and I wanted to give it - can't just run out on my friends. Would President Bush do that?

Ed: Not on his special friends anyway. So what is Osama doing for you?

Saddam: You have heard that there are now members of Al Qaeda fighting in Iraq? They bombed U.N. headquarters last month. I heard they are moving in a few thousand each month. They are well trained so they don't need a lot of them to get work done. They could hardly wait to get to Iraq. My friends are in touch with them and they will be attacking with increasing frequency. The non Iraqi civilian workers will have to leave, over next few months, for lack of security. There won't be any Iraqi police in a few months either.

Ed: I got a hunch just following daily news that could be case.

Saddam: Ed, my dinner is on table, so I'll call you back in a few weeks. We'll discuss news.

Ed: Thanks for calling, Saddam. I look forward to hearing from you again.