Missed Bin Laden at Tora Bora

My guess is that this Senate report saying that the Bush administration missed a chance to capture Bin Laden at Tora Bora is mostly going to be discussed literally.

Although it may be word for word true, don't forget that this is a Senate Democrat run committee document, managed by John Kerry. Example,

"Removing the al-Qaeda leader from the battlefield eight years ago would not have eliminated the worldwide extremist threat," the report says. "But the decisions that opened the door for his escape to Pakistan allowed bin Laden to emerge as a potent symbolic figure who continues to attract a steady flow of money and inspire fanatics worldwide. The failure to finish the job represents a lost opportunity that forever altered the course of the conflict in Afghanistan and the future of international terrorism."

"Failure to finish the job" comes straight from the Kerry 04 campaign talking points.... and it's a damn shame, because the point is valid.

This will certainly generate the headlines they're seeking (to offer Dems' political cover? to undermine Republican critics?) before the Afghan surge politics begin in earnest tomorrow, but the very political nature of the report taints the usefulness of the conclusion.

...because they did let Bin Laden get away.