Decoding bin Laden's Latest: An Odd Congruence from the Daily Kos is a must read. Osama's complaints since 9/11 have been remarkably consistent and they are not groundless:

The author cites Michael Sheuer's list of Osama's complaints in his book Imperial Hubris.

(1) Unquestioning U.S. support for Israel, especially U.S. support for Israel's heavy-handed treatment of Palestinians.

(2) The presence of U.S. troops on the Arabian Peninsula. Bin Laden and his sympathizers view this presence as an occupation.

(3) The U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, and now of Iraq.

(4) U.S. support for what bin Laden considers to be the suppression of Islamic minorities in Russia, China, and India.

(5) U.S. pressure on Arab energy producers to keep the world markets awash in sufficient oil to keep oil prices low for the U.S. and other Western powers. Bin Laden believes that more oil revenues should be allocated for the benefit of Arab peoples.

(6) Closely related to (5) above, U.S. support for what bin Laden asserts are apostate, corrupt, tyrannical governments in the Islamic world, as in Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf, Egypt, and North Africa.

Irrespective of whether or not you agree, these are not frivolous complaints.

The author warns us not to underestimate Osama bin Laden:

Bin Laden is a serious and wily adversary who knows how to manipulate the Arab "street." He is intelligent and well-informed-- clearly far better informed about the U.S. and the West than the apparatchiks and their bosses in the current White House are informed about him and his region of influence. Bin Laden thinks strategically and takes the long view; he is tactically flexible and is not afraid to retreat to attain an ultimate strategic advantage. Unfortunately for the U.S., he probably has a 40 point I.Q. advantage over the current occupant of the White House.

In short, we should not risk underestimating bin Laden by dismissing him out of hand as "crazy" and "evil."

Do read the article.