This enemy of civilization, this mass murderer, this personification of the devil has, for some reason, agreed to appear by telephone connection – satellite, I presume, after passing through a number of relays to throw off detection. The reason I have for accepting his challenge is that I believe it is better for us to know our enemy than to fight an unknown antagonist.

"Are you there, Osama?"

"Yes, I am here."

"How do I or my listeners know that you are indeed Osama bin Laden?"

"Trust me. By the end of this half hour you will have little doubt that I am who I say I am."

"Well, I cannot – as you may well understand – welcome you to this program the way I do my other occasional guests who, so far, have all been decent people."

"I understand perfectly well. I am wanted but not welcome. After this is over, I will be welgone. Am I right?"

"You are certainly right. But, if you don’t mind, I’d like to do most of the questioning here. This program is not a forum for your vile propaganda. You are here to answer to the American people and to the world – otherwise, this is over right now."

"Fair enough! I accept your terms."

"First of all, where are you calling from, where are you located?"

"Good try, my friend! You may ask all the questions, but I reserve the right of not giving you all the answers. U.S. agents, spies and intelligence professionals have to earn their salaries. I am sure they would not appreciate you very much if you got my secret location that easily."

"Let me tell you something, bin Laden, they will get your location one of these days. You can be sure of that."

"So far they have done a miserable job, don’t you think?"

"Now what did I just say about who asks the questions here?"