[livius]

Don't forget that Binnie's tape had to be translated, so much probably depends on the word in the orginal. The translator may have selected the word states to mean "nations," but it's also possible that the original word meant "states" in the US sense of the word, which is the reason the translator used this word.

I don't know if Arabic has two different words for these concepts. The Romance languages that I translate have only one word for both concepts, and it can therefore sometimes be ambiguous, depending on the context.

[mrsmith]

That seems strange considering all the varied governments in Italian history!

Of course you're right about the language translation, and there is also the matter of translating his views- a nutcase paranoid living underground- to reality.

I think all one can conclude from the tape is that he still doesn't like us.

[GOPJ]

If the literal "state", is this OBL concept of self selected target status? Florida goes for Bush -- Florida is a target? If you have a ping list, please add me. You have an interesting take on -- on much.

The translator may have selected the word states to mean "nations," but it's also possible that the original word meant "states" in the US sense of the word, which is the reason the translator used this word.