Are Both the US & Osama Losing?

Thomas Friedman's column today makes a startling assertion: yes, Osama is losing, but so are we.  Osama is losing because he no longer controls a country, no longer has a religious (Taliban) cover and because al-Qaida is killing more Muslims than Americans, and has been doing so for some time.  Muslims may be perfectly willing to accept terror strikes against non-Muslims, but against their own is another matter.  Yet the US, Friedman argues, is failing to transform the Muslim world's shattered political culture; military and intelligence services still dominate, and nascent efforts to liberalize Muslim societies are not going very well.  Partly this is because 43 & America are "radioactive," says Friedman.  His pessimism may go too far: most Afghans and Iraqis live better and freer lives thanks to US intervention.  Their voices may be largely ignored in our media, but they count over there.  So take heart.  All things considered I'd rather be in 43's shoes than Osama's.
Friedman: Osama at the Kit Kat Club