Four Months on Planet bin Laden
French journalist George Malbrunot spent 124 days as a hostage of Islamic fundamentalists in Iraq. The experience nearly broke him, but it also offered him stunning insights into the way jihadist groups operate. He returned convinced of one thing: America's policy is doomed.
Ref. https://207.44.245.159/article7805.htm
To even consider Bin Laden as something of a misunderstood hero is truly depraved. Yes, Bin Laden has followers and he does have legitimate reasons for acting out against the U.S. However, Bin Laden can be put in the category of the most extreme mass murderers in human history such as Hitler and Stalin, leader's whose own ideological principles and vision outweigh the loss of human life. Bin Laden has followers because he has power and wealth and the propoganda vehicle (U.S.) to persuade civilians to joining his cause, this does not mean that he is a kind of mythical Robin Hood figure who is trying to help the underpriveledged, the use of violence to gain ends that are political and ideological in nature is an act of terrorism and the world is better off without Bin Laden and the people in Washington who supported him through his atrocities in the 1980's.
Well, it seems like the Spaniard Muslims think that Bin Laden is not a friend anymore...I do believe this is a HUGE step since I have never seen that a Muslim stands openly against Osama Bin Laden.
Bin Laden fatwa as Spain remembers
MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Muslim clerics in Spain have issued what they called the world's first fatwa, or Islamic edict, against Osama bin Laden as the country marked the first anniversary of the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people.
They accused him of abandoning his religion and urged others of their faith to denounce the al Qaeda leader, who is believed to be hiding out near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The ruling was issued by the Islamic Commission of Spain, the main body representing the country's 1 million-member Muslim community. The commission invited imams to condemn terrorism at Friday prayers.
The fatwa said that according to the Koran "the terrorist acts of Osama bin Laden and his organization al Qaeda ... are totally banned and must be roundly condemned as part of Islam." ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/0...sary/index.html
QUOTE (LDS_forever @ 11-Mar 05, 9:39 AM) |
Well, it seems like the Spaniard Muslims think that Bin Laden is not a friend anymore...I do believe this is a HUGE step since I have never seen that a Muslim stands openly against Osama Bin Laden. |
Message Edited! Persephone: Removed double quote |
I think this whole debate about Bin Laden and his influence in the Islamic world is a little overblown. At present Bin Laden is not the architect of Al Qaeda's evil, he is merely a figurehead and symbol of resistance to the US. I believe the Americans are very conviniently using Bin Laden as a poster boy for their "War" on Terror. Similarly, the fact Bin Laden has continually survived US attacks is a great propaganda tool for luring potential militants to Al Qaeda and other islamic fundamental groups. He is one person who the Americans can't touch, or are unwilling to, and that provides inspiration to muslims who have suffered for many years at the hands of US/western interventions around the world.
I find his character most interesting. Hi is revered by the western media as the major force behind Islamic fundamentalist terror, commonly coined as the group Al Qaeda. However historically he has been closely associated with the Americans and the Bush republicans in particular. Bin Laden's family are vastly wealthy in oil. So much so that following Sept 11 over ten members of the Bin Laden family were specially charted out of the US within days of the hijaking. This despite US airspace officially being closed.
There is no doubt Bin Laden is an evil man who would use any means to further his idealogical beliefs. But it's also worth noting that initially he was trained and armed by the Americans and his family have since wheeled and dealed very closely out of the public eye with the Carlyle Group, including Bush Snr. There can be no doubt he is viewed as a freedom fighter in some quarters and a vile terrorist in others. Was he really the mastermind of the Sept 11 attacks? There has been no concrete evidence to suggest he was, but he will certainly claim it to increase his notoriety. And similarly the US now has a notorious target, still at large, to continue their war on terror.
DOCUMENT SUGGESTS BIN LADEN ESCAPED AT TORA BORA
A document from the U.S. military appears to contradict the Pentagon's
previous statements that it does not know whether al Qaeda leader Osama bin
Laden escaped U.S. forces at Tora Bora in Afghanistan in December 2001.
Ref. https://www.cnn.com
Osama's recruits well schooled
The typical recruit to al-Qa'ida is Western-educated and has a wealthy, professional background, according to a new study. The analysis of 500 members of Osama bin Laden's organisation has turned Western experts' presumptions about al-Qa'ida upside down.
Ref. https://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E2703,00.html