What does the Arab world hear through our Iraq infighting?

I ask this -- and answer it -- in my column today, after Al-Jazeera asked me to analyze the Petraeus brouhaha and beyond for an Arabic-speaking audience. These audiences have a pretty long attention span, so you can go into an issue deeper than just offering a few quick sound bites. Some of my thoughts:

"But all in all, my answer is simple, something that people around the world can relate to: It's all about the votes. It's about being 14 months out from the next presidential election.

And unfortunately, the welfare of Iraqis, the prevention of genocide and the ominous interference of Iran are not going to be key topics of concern among those flinging volleys.

It's about the Democratic Party capitalizing on dissatisfaction with the war, and the Republican Party trying to steal some thunder from the Dems' issue du jour when debating measured troop cutbacks. It's not just about Sen. Hillary Clinton accusing Petraeus of a 'willing suspension of disbelief,' but Clinton making the accusation as would-be supporters of the White House hopeful watch their televisions at home."

Honestly, what's been ringing in my head lately, though, is something Osama bin Laden said back around when the War on Terror officially began:

"In the end, the audience may be wondering about Americans' will to fight, and I would confess that, given the discourse lately, I've had similar fears, especially when reflecting upon the unified war effort of my grandparents' generation.

The network could then replay an October 2001 interview with Al-Jazeera in which bin Laden said, 'We experienced the Americans through our brothers who went into combat against them in Somalia, for example. ... There was a huge aura over America - the United States - that terrified people even before they entered combat. ... America exited dragging its tails in failure, defeat, and ruin, caring for nothing. ... America left faster than anyone expected. ... We pray to God to give us his support and to make America ever more reluctant.'

Viewers on Arab-language TV might remember that interview, and nowadays wonder if the terror leader was being prophetic."

Read the whole thing!