Richard Haas on the Middle East

As is known, this man became a Middle East expert by accident: he was a Republican who worked for the Bush Sr. campaign and was rewarded with a job at the NSC although he never had any Middle East training (he will probably dispute that by saying that he did consume a few Middle East meals here and there).  So yesterday, the Council on Foreign Relations hosted him to offer his sharp insights on the death of Bin Laden.  Watch out: it is really earth shattering and explosive.  After thinking deeply (Westerns think before they talk, unlike Arabs according to Robert Fisk), Haas said that the death of Bin Laden represents a "blow" to Al-Qa`idah.  Reporters on the scene rushed to their computers and cellphones and sent the deep insight to their editors.  Wow.  Who would have known?  I now feel I need the insights of Haas to understand the Middle East.