Think Again: Al Qaeda

The world's most notorious terrorist organization was never quite what Americans thought it was -- and Osama bin Laden's death doesn't mean that it's down for the count.

BY DANIEL BYMAN | MAY 3, 2011

"Bin Laden Was a Homicidal Maniac."

Yes and no. Al Qaeda's No. 1 certainly departed this world with plenty of blood on his hands. There were the thousands of Americans killed on 9/11, of course, and thousands more Muslims killed throughout the Middle East and Central and South Asia in the terrorist attacks and al Qaeda-affiliated insurgencies of the following decade. In 1998, bin Laden declared that killing "Americans and their allies -- civilians and military -- is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it."

This killer, however, often confounded those who met him. Many terrorist leaders foster a cult of personality -- Velupillai Prabhakaran, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's leader until his death in combat two years ago, was known for making his followers drink his bathwater. Bin Laden, by contrast, was by all accounts a humble and modest man. He lived an ascetic existence and assumed he would be killed -- or, as he saw it, achieve martyrdom -- long before he met his fate on Sunday. His mixture of idealism, bravery, and charisma inspired many young Muslims to take up arms and risk their lives for the ideas he championed. Perhaps the best measure of bin Laden's influence is the respect he enjoyed not only within jihadist circles, but outside of them. His status as a defiant anti-American hero extended beyond the Muslim world to Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The al Qaeda leader's piety and humility, however, should not be mistaken for naivete. Bin Laden embraced the proverb that advised, "Trust in God -- but tie your camel tight." His public statements and directives to his organization revealed a man who was as much shrewd politician as ascetic martyr-in-waiting. Within the jihadist movement, bin Laden often pushed back against the tendency toward slaughter that manifested itself in Iraq and Algeria in the mid-1990s. In such countries, so-called taqfiris -- hardliners who saw Muslims who did not adhere to their extreme views as apostates -- made war on their own societies, making the killing of civilians as much a priority as striking U.S. or local regime targets. Bin Laden counseled against this tendency and tried to use his influence to focus fighters on the United States and its allies -- although he didn't let his personal preferences stop him from embracing genuine homicidal maniacs like Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who ignored bin Laden's advice and butchered far more Iraqi Shiites than Westerners.

AFP/Getty Images

 

Daniel Byman is a professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University and director of research at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. His book A High Price: The Triumphs and Failures of Israeli Counterterrorism will be published in June.

DCHIEN

10:15 AM ET

May 4, 2011

Distributing the watch

To keep taps on Al Qaeda is going to require a more distributed "police force". Much like how NYC has its "See something, say something" policy, people in different countries will need to respond in the same fashion. We saw how individuals in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya raised awareness by creating online visibility for the resistance efforts in their countries. To effectively police Al Qaeda, a similar effort needs to exist globally.

 

ROMAN GIL

6:16 PM ET

May 4, 2011

The "Osama Is Dead Story" Has Questions For Investigation

The “Osama Bin Laden Is Dead Story” Has Many Questions That Need To Be Investigated.

Osama Bin Laden was a terrorist and deserved the death penalty. This is why the media must investigate this story instead of merely parroting the information that was provided by the government.

Based on my experience as a decorated US Army combat veteran, this story has credibility problems. I tried to post these questions in the comments section of several mass media publications and they did not get posted. A free press is essential in a free society because it has a duty to investigate what the government is doing and it must educate citizens. A free media must publish all responsible questions from the public and be open to debate. Thomas Jefferson said that given the choice between government and a printing press, he would take the printing press.

1. Why they did not show Osama’s body publicly? In 1967, Che Guevara the Communist guerrilla was captured alive wounded in Bolivia, interrogated, killed and his body was displayed to the world media. A responsible government would display Osama’s body to the media and to a panel of international physicians to prove without a doubt the death of the most wanted terrorist in the world. The government version that Osama’s head was too damaged to show the public is not credible. Morticians can prepare a body for public display. Media and international physicians would be welcome to take DNA samples from the body as total proof of Osama’s demise.

2. Osama was unarmed when they shot him? Osama was a terrorist veteran of the Afghan Soviet war that was waged in the 1980s between Islamist guerrillas and the Soviet Union. Anybody with his background would have alarmed, mined and booby trapped his house. Weapons would be in his possession at all times and in every room of the house, including hand grenades. He had plenty of time to install command detonated mines everywhere outside and inside the compound. I have problems believing that the most wanted terrorist in the world was killed while unarmed. When I was in a war zone, my weapon was with me at all times and I slept with it and lots of ammo and hand grenades, could Osama be so foolish that he did not have weapons in his room?

3. There were no American casualties? This is simply not credible because attacking a compound that is occupied by dangerous men that had plenty of time to prepare for defense, makes it certain that the attackers must sustain casualties. Osama’s terrorist group specializes in suicide bombers of both sexes. They could not spare even one of them to protect their leader?

4. Why did we spend $1.5 Trillion dollars occupying and "nation building" Iraq and Afghanistan instead of targeting Osama's less than 1,000 terrorists?. We could have got Osama 10 years ago at a reasonable cost. When American troops landed in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attack, the Afghan Northern Alliance had already overthrown the Taliban government that harbored Osama. It was not necessary to occupy the country. A war using Special Forces would have been sufficient

5. Why are we still involved in the Israeli-Muslim conflict? This is the cause of the war on terror. We inherited Israel’s enemies and they struck us on 9/11. The effects of our involvement will continue until we divorce from the Muslim world and focus on killing the actual terrorists until they are finished. Our absence from the Muslim world will make Muslims eventually stop provoking us with terrorism because they will want to keep us out. It is common sense that it would be in the Muslim interest to stop terrorism against America to keep America from coming back to their lands. With America out of the Israeli-Muslim conflict, the Muslims will be free to focus on their affairs and their problem with Israel. Israel has nuclear weapons and a strong military that assures it that it can survive any war without America. The only beneficiaries of the present war on terror are the war contractors and the special interest groups.

Some possible explanations for this unusual story;

a) The government killed Osama Bin Laden but it believes that it is not necessary to provide conclusive proof of their actions because they are universally loved and trusted. This means that they are incompetent because they did not prove their story.

b) Osama Bin Laden was hooked on opium and developed a false sense of security. His followers shared this drug problem and failed to fortify and provide guards for the Osama compound.
c) The masses are so stupid that they will accept without question anything that the government and media tells them, so why bother with proof?

d) Osama Bin Laden died years ago, and now it is a convenient time to bring him back to distract the masses and continue the hugely profitable war on terror and gain mass support for a government that cannot exist without debt and financial dependency on special interest groups.

e) This story is a case that simply shows the irresponsibility and incompetence of the American government.

The $1.5 Trillion spent on the war on terror continues to pile additional debt and there is no end in sight. The money that was wasted on fighting this war with a wrong strategy could have been wisely invested by loaning it to private enterprise companies that would be protected from cheap imports. A new industrial policy like South Korea’s would reconstruct and protect a new American industrial base that would replace the industry and technology that global corporations exported to China and other Third World countries under the globalization false ideology that has ruined America and Europe and created millions of permanently unemployed people. America would be able to replace imports with nationally produced products and services. The trade losses would end and careers in science, engineering, chemistry and skilled jobs would be abundant in an industrial economy.

With a new industrial base, America would be independent of imports and global debt financing. Presently, the Federal government needs to annually beg and borrow $1.65 Trillion a year from international capital and US investors because the industrial base of the American economy is only 9%. There are not enough corporate or individual taxpayers to support the huge Federal, State and local governments, plus their armies of government contractors. In any case, the American governments must reduce their size and expenses by 40% to balance their budgets and avoid digging America deeper into debt and dependency on the kindness of creditors.

The present economic and political dependency of the American economy on debt, special interest groups and imports makes a continuation of the present globalist war on terror fatal for America. It’s a choice of nation building America before it becomes a terminal case of financial and social cancer, or continue to dig the debt and dependency grave deeper until we end like other failed world powers, including the British Empire, the French Empire and Soviet Union.

Roman Gil
http://roman-gil1.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/roman.gil1
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TODDBURME

4:47 PM ET

May 7, 2011

Al Qaeda's Confirmation

I am not sure why they did this. It does not gain them anything and with the crazy media we have in the US, the controversy could have gone on for months if not years. Whether or not Al Qaeda thought of him as their leader is not as important as how useful his continued fight was for recruiting. Now that it is confirmed that he was just a man and hiding like he was, it will make it harder for his loyal followers to continue to feel that they are changing the world with their actions.

 

TAYLORWILSON

5:13 PM ET

May 11, 2011

Confirmation Doesn't Make Sense

I would also agree that it doesn't make any sense for Al Qaeda to confirm the assassination.

If these guys are so smart, that was the dumbest move yet.

If Bin Laden had any remaining value to the cause, it makes no sense to bail the Americans out of a potential media nightmare due to the lack validation from credible third parties that Bin Laden was indeed killed and dead.

Just saying he was still alive would have put all the world's attention back on the U.S., potentially giving Al Qaeda more room to operate amidst the media circus that could go on for years.

Taylor

Toronto Mortgage Broker

 

ALAN BUCKLE

8:33 AM ET

May 15, 2011

bin Laden

Remember that he stated that he decided on the 9/11 attack when he watched Israeli jets rocket high rise buildings in Beirut. (He also stated that he had achieved more of his objectives when the estimates of the costs to the USA of the resulting wars and security programmes were made public!)

He thus decided on a similar attack on the USA - a simple decision that is a very easy step; he may haveorganized the initial human infrastructure, but it requires a splendid flight of imagination to consider that he was the 'master mind'. I strongly doubt that the organization of the 'project' would - or could be under his control. You have to look deeper.

He is now raised to the level of a symbol.

We can only wait;

The progress of the Palestinian people could be related?

 

GREGORY M

9:44 AM ET

May 15, 2011

Is A Celebration Just?

I think that it was good news for just about everyone from all over the world that is not affiliated with terrorist groups that Osama Bin Laden had been assassinated - but at the same time you have to wonder if a celebration is just? Is taking down just Osama really worth celebrating? Not only is Al Qaeda still in tact; but there are many wealthy affiliates of Al Qaeda; people and groups who have so much money to spend on weapons that can bring terrorism alive. Lets not even mention terrorists that are willing to die for the "cause" of killing Americans and other innocent people; all to prove a point and show they are willing to die to kill others.

I remember seeing all of the soldiers celebrating on television and I remember thinking it was great that they accomplished taking out Osama - but now there is a terrorist group in Al Qaeda that surely wants to retaliate. I almost fear that this may make things worse!

Not to undermine the work of our great soldiers that put their lives on the line for us - just a concern for thought.

I guess negatives always come with the positives!

 

SOUTHERNBREEZES

1:18 PM ET

May 17, 2011

Hey conspiracy theorists - he's dead!

Jeez, do you also believe that there never was a moon landing? And American Idol is rigged!! Dear God, No!!

I especially like comments such as, "Osama Bin Laden died years ago, and now it is a convenient time to bring him back." Pay attention to the news buddy, Al Qaeda confirmed his death. Wait...it's a sign that the US government is disguising themselves as Al Qaeda!

Please pay attention to the news and read non-conspiracy websites before you go ranting and raving all over these well-produced articles.

 

PERSON_GUYZ

4:11 AM ET

June 2, 2011

A responsible government

A responsible government would display Osama’s body to the media and to a panel of international physicians to prove without a doubt the death of the most wanted terrorist in the world cat illnesses and symptoms. The government version that Osama’s head was too damaged to show the public is not credible.

 

MARC ABBOT

9:10 AM ET

June 2, 2011

Not only is Al Qaeda still in

Not only is Al Qaeda still in tact; but there are many wealthy affiliates of Al Qaeda; people and groups who have so much money to spend on weapons that can bring terrorism alive. Lets not even mention terrorists that are willing to die for the "cause" of killing Americans and other innocent people; all to prove a point and show they are willing to die to kill others. I tried to post these questions in the comments section of several mass media publications and they did not get posted. A free press is essential in a free society because it has a duty to investigate what the government is doing and it must educate citizens. A free media must publish all responsible questions from the public and be open to debate. Thomas Jefferson said that given the choice between government and a printing press, he would take the printing press.