Osama Bin Laden's Latest Threat: What Does He Really Want from Obama

Osama Bin Laden never expected Americans to elect an African American as their President.

And the fact that the father of the new guy is a Muslim compounded Bin Laden's troubles. Recruitment of jihadis started to dwindle after that election.

Laden is not used to an American President who totally ignores him and his threats. The new guy even when talking about terrorism, refuses to acknowledge Laden as the unquestioned leader of terrorism.

That was not the case before. Whenever he threatened USA, Bush or Cheyney will jump up with their ""Axis of evil" type of rhetoric. And that was exactly what Laden wanted.

That afforded Laden the unique opportunity to portray an Islam under siege by Christians led by "Pope" Bush. What more was needed to attract unemployed Muslim youth to his fold?

But things have changed much to his disadvantage lately. Pakistan, who is hiding him, is under increasing pressure by Obama to co-operate in the fight against terrorism. And they may capitulate to US wishes and may hand Bin Laden over ultimately.

With US army making deeper inroads into the Afghan mountains and drones making effective hits at terrorist holdouts, Taliban and Al Qaida are being driven to a corner, not to speak of the daily weakening in strength as members get killed regularly.

As our Attorney General Eric Holder said, chances are that even if Pakistan finally hands Bin Laden over to us, he would have killed himself by that time.

So what Bin Laden badly needs now is a breakthrough. And what more convenient than getting one of his top guys killed by USA so that the dead guy can be projected as a martyr in the Islamic cause.

He knows very well that just because he threatened, USA will not stop a death sentence on Khalid Bin Mohammed. So it is an attempt to save his own skin by sacrificing his own lieutenant.

He thinks that when he threatens USA like before, Republicans will suddenly jump up with renewed calls for military tribunal and death sentence and that Obama will acquiesce to that demand not to give Republicans any advantage on the home turf.

But what Laden forgets is that there is something called a judicial process in this country. It is the judicial process, military or civil, and not the President who decides the fate of his friend.

So Bin Laden's dreams of getting his friend to be killed as a martyr on the sly and thus resurrecting his terrorist outfits may not work if the judiciary decides only life imprisonment and not capital punishment in his friend's case.

Unless he can garner the old glory as the protector of Islam, chances are that he will be handed over by the Pakistan to USA, if not alive, dead.

By issuing threats in advance, he thinks he can capitalize on the eventual death sentence for his friend, he can show he is still in control to his dwindling disciples and prevent further desertions by them. He can thus revive his old "Islam is in danger" war cry to rally new recruits, and force Pakistan from handing him over to USA.

After all his friend was in American hands for so long now and trial for treason against USA and murder of American citizen were foregone conclusions. Why didn't he make these trial-related threats before?

Despite his mention of too American captives getting killed in revenge, at this time there is only one known US person held by the Taliban.

So the warnings are a last ditch, desperate attempt for his own survival, as his captors are gradually gaining on him. He knows very well that unless something drastic happens in his favor in Pakistan, his days are numbered.