In 2002 Osama bin Laden wrote a letter to Americans addressing two questions: why are we fighting and opposing you? and what are we calling you to, and what do we want from you?
In regards to the first question, bin Laden gave a simple answer "because you attacked us and continue to attack us," namely in Palestine. He is frank about Israel, and U.S. involvement. Israel belongs to the Arabs and Americans should pay because they helped the Jews establish Israel. Bin Laden sites many other examples of U.S. oppression and aggression towards Muslims, like the sanctions in Iraq. Because bin Laden believes the U.S. has attacked Muslims for half a century, Americans should expect nothing but jihad from bin Laden and his supporters.
Bin Laden makes a compelling argument against Americans. He makes it clear what Americans have done and continue to do in the Middle East is wrong. It is no surprise, given the actions and policies of American policymakers, that bin Laden could cultivate such a strong hatred for Americans.
What is surprising is his interpretation of the Qur'an. In the letter he claims that Allah gave Muslims the permission to enact revenge. Thus, if Muslims are attacked they have the right to attack back. This extremely flawed logic is used by bin Laden to justify September 11.
However, the Qur'an makes no mention of this eye for an eye concept like the bible does. Bin Laden, when he talks about revenge, is referring to the concept of jihad. His use of jihad is the extreme interpretation of the meaning. The actual meaning of jihad is an internal struggle to live out the Muslim faith as well as possible.
He answers the first part of the second question by calling Americans to embrace Islam. Bin Laden also calls Americans to stop oppression and lies, which, he implies, can only be done by embracing Islam.
Bin Laden continues by intentionally riling up Americans when he writes, "It is saddening to tell you that you are the worst civilization witnessed by the history of mankind." Clearly, it does not sadden him to express his opinion of Americans. However, by using such rhetoric he serves to piss off American readers with little effort on his part. He continues the insult by thoroughly explaining why Americans are the worst civilization.
Bin Laden concludes his letter with advice to Americans. He suggests Americans should realize they are a nation without principles or manners and that Americans should stop supporting Israel (among others). He precedes to threaten Americans claiming that if his suggestions are not implemented Americans should be prepared for a fight with the "Islamic Nation." The tone of the final section is ominous because Bin Laden claims "the crusade" that Bush has started will fail miserably.
Just as bin Laden uses specific wording to illicit a response from readers or create a particular tone, Douglas Kellner argues, in an essay, that the Bush administration and corporate media manipulated rhetoric after September 11 to create a politics of fear that enabled the administration to enact atrocious laws like the Patriot Act and start two wars.
One of the ways Bush helped to create a politics of fear was through the persistent usage of the word evil. On September 11 Bush used the word evil five times to describe the terrorists. Associating terrorist with negative words repeatedly is highly effective because it leads the word terrorist to have a negative connotation.
One of the ways that the media helped to create a politics of fear was to allow right-wings militarized zealots to circulate their views on live television.
The media, combined with the fear laden rhetoric constantly employed by the Bush administration, is to blame for the climate of fear created after the September 11 attacks. This fear allowed the administration the start two wars and limited the rights of Americans through legislation of the Patriot Act.
In regards to the first question, bin Laden gave a simple answer "because you attacked us and continue to attack us," namely in Palestine. He is frank about Israel, and U.S. involvement. Israel belongs to the Arabs and Americans should pay because they helped the Jews establish Israel. Bin Laden sites many other examples of U.S. oppression and aggression towards Muslims, like the sanctions in Iraq. Because bin Laden believes the U.S. has attacked Muslims for half a century, Americans should expect nothing but jihad from bin Laden and his supporters.
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| Osama bin Laden |
Bin Laden makes a compelling argument against Americans. He makes it clear what Americans have done and continue to do in the Middle East is wrong. It is no surprise, given the actions and policies of American policymakers, that bin Laden could cultivate such a strong hatred for Americans.
What is surprising is his interpretation of the Qur'an. In the letter he claims that Allah gave Muslims the permission to enact revenge. Thus, if Muslims are attacked they have the right to attack back. This extremely flawed logic is used by bin Laden to justify September 11.
However, the Qur'an makes no mention of this eye for an eye concept like the bible does. Bin Laden, when he talks about revenge, is referring to the concept of jihad. His use of jihad is the extreme interpretation of the meaning. The actual meaning of jihad is an internal struggle to live out the Muslim faith as well as possible.
He answers the first part of the second question by calling Americans to embrace Islam. Bin Laden also calls Americans to stop oppression and lies, which, he implies, can only be done by embracing Islam.
Bin Laden continues by intentionally riling up Americans when he writes, "It is saddening to tell you that you are the worst civilization witnessed by the history of mankind." Clearly, it does not sadden him to express his opinion of Americans. However, by using such rhetoric he serves to piss off American readers with little effort on his part. He continues the insult by thoroughly explaining why Americans are the worst civilization.
Bin Laden concludes his letter with advice to Americans. He suggests Americans should realize they are a nation without principles or manners and that Americans should stop supporting Israel (among others). He precedes to threaten Americans claiming that if his suggestions are not implemented Americans should be prepared for a fight with the "Islamic Nation." The tone of the final section is ominous because Bin Laden claims "the crusade" that Bush has started will fail miserably.
Just as bin Laden uses specific wording to illicit a response from readers or create a particular tone, Douglas Kellner argues, in an essay, that the Bush administration and corporate media manipulated rhetoric after September 11 to create a politics of fear that enabled the administration to enact atrocious laws like the Patriot Act and start two wars.
 |
| Douglas Kellner |
One of the ways that the media helped to create a politics of fear was to allow right-wings militarized zealots to circulate their views on live television.
The media, combined with the fear laden rhetoric constantly employed by the Bush administration, is to blame for the climate of fear created after the September 11 attacks. This fear allowed the administration the start two wars and limited the rights of Americans through legislation of the Patriot Act.
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