One of the grim fascinations about Al Queda is their public relations style. This is a global terrorist network or movement that uses the world’s media and the internet as its press office. Unlike the White House, I don’t think there’s much the media should do about that, except report it. The latest video from Osama Bin Laden, broadcast initially by Aljazeera  with excerpts shown by all other news organisations is another example of how they get their message out. The content is not hugely illuminating, although it reminds us of the bizarre ideology and impossiblist aims that fuel Al Queda. I thought the strangest thing about the tape was the implication that OBL dyes his beard. Compare the photos from the last video broadcast and the latest one:

I know TV presenters are vain, but master criminals and global terrorists aren’t supposed to care about that sort of thing are they?