The word crusade may be construed as having the same meaning that it did in the Middle Ages. However, it is much less "loaded" in current common usage. I have heard of crusades against hunger, AIDS, illiteracy, etc. As someone said earlier, the Arab world does not seem to be reacting negatively to its usage, rather its the folks on this board with a partisan axe to grind.

As for Georgie's "Dead or Alive Statement," my impression (based on some knowledge of Western history) is that it is used in reference to criminals/suspects for whom deadly force could be legally used in the course of apprehending them. Considering that Bin Laden has been a primary suspect in various acts of terrorism (and in fact hasn't he already been indicted for some), I don't find anything outrageous in Bush's statement. But then again, i am not in the camp of people who continue to judge Bush on according to their exaggeration of his words rather than his deeds.