With every day comes a new statement from the hardline Islamic extremists, at times contradicting their previous press releases. One day they urge their people to relax because the United States is too cowardly to attack them. The next day finds them warning the "faithful" to prepare themselves for an imminent attack.

The Taliban, which are not internationally recognized as the official government of Afghanistan, are accused of the continued harboring of Osama bin Laden, suspected of being the mastermind behind the deadly terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C.

The United States has maintained its position that those who harbor terrorists shall share in their fate, thus setting up Afghanistan for some sort of military action by U.S. coalition forces.

The Taliban, however, maintain they are innocent of any such charges and demand to see proof of bin Laden's guilt before summarily turning him over to authorities.

"We are not so bad guys," claims Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef. "We are not terrorists or nothing. We are just like any other country where you can't own a television, or where women are not allowed to go to school, or learn to read, or are beaten severely for showing their faces in public."

Despite such diplomatic efforts, the U.S. still maintains it's "no compromise" on the matter, and military action looms on the near horizon.

Still, while Taliban leaders look to the skies for incoming missiles, American citizens are urged to get back to normal and get on with their lives.

President Bush is doing his part to return to the way things were by bungling a line in his speech at the Labor Department. Bush appeared with Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao on Thursday to push his economic stimulus package, and suggested the extension of unemployment benefits in those states affected by the September 11th tragedy.

Near the end of his speech, Bush began to talk about the war against terrorism and finished with "...and I have no doubt in my mind we will fail."