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MILITARYREVIEW
September-October 2004
incredible misunderstanding of theevents of World War II. He has nocomprehension of World War II,Operation Olympic, or U.S. PresidentHarry S. Truman’s decision to use theatomic bomb to shorten the war.
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Bin-Laden’s reference to World War IIand his manipulation of Islamic his-tory and the law shows how he takespieces of history and alters them to justify his arguments. He views theJapanese self-sacrifice and kamikazeethic from a jihadist perspective.Bin-Laden’s vehement anti-Semitism is a staple of many Islamicmilitant groups but also shows hisfixation on Israel and the demonizingof Jews, partly because of the Wah-habi doctrine by which he wasraised. It is not to Bin-Laden’s advan-tage to reveal Muhammed’s relation-ship with the Jews in Medina, wherethere was a societal compact be-tween Muslims and Jews to live asone community. It is also not in Bin-Laden’s interest to mention that earlyChristians helped sustain early Islam.One must also remember Bin-Laden’sreligious education is steeped in theteachings of Wahhabism. Wahhab-ism’s founder, Muhammed binAbdul-Wahab, in
Kitab al-Tawheed
wrote, “The ways of the people of the book (Jews and Christians) arecondemned as polytheist.”
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Abdul-Wahab’s Islam is far more intolerantthan 7th-century Muslim doctrine.Bin-Laden’s focus is on incitement atall costs, and he prefers a simple ex-planation of a world in which Mus-lims are perpetual victims and self-examination is discouraged.
Ismail
: What impact did the Brit-ish and American strikes on Baghdadhave on anti-American sentiments inthe region, and [do you] see militaryresponses curbing [your] terroristefforts?
Bin-Laden
: Praise Allah, whatmust be understood regarding thisquestion is that the Muslim nationsafter this attack are nations that arenot in control of its destiny. Our en-emies roam freely and with conceitthrough our homes, lands, and airspace. They strike [Muslims] withoutseeking anyone’s permission andespecially during this attack. . . . Thecurrent [Arab] regimes are in a deepconspiracy [with the adversary, andhave lost the] ability to do anythingagainst this obscene occupation. Forit is up to Muslims, particularly theAhl al-Hal Wal-Aqd [those leadersthat loosen and bind communities];those of truthful Ulama, believingmerchants, and heads of tribes mustimmigrate for Allah’s sake and findfor themselves a place where theycan raise the banner of [offensive] jihad. To make their umma [commu-nities] aware of [the importance of]preserving their religion and dignity,otherwise all shall be lost. They mustreflect on what has happened to ourbrothers in Palestine . . . the Pales-tinian nation used to be famous forits agricultural prowess. . . . Thisnation today has made refugees un-welcome and rejected around theworld. . . . Why is there no responsewhen the Holy Mosque in Jerusalemis under attack, what will make 1.2billion Muslims move? This is some-thing that is incredulous that must beaddressed. . . . Anyone believing that[America will not] strike is living in afantasy.
Assessment
:
Bin-Laden’s refer-ence to immigrating to a place wherea banner of jihad can be raised isintended to encourage Muslims to join him in Afghanistan. Playing onIslamic history once again, Bin-Ladendescribes how Muhammed wasforced to leave Mecca to go toMedina, where he established thefirst Muslim society. Bin-Laden takesthis hijra (withdrawal) out of context.Muhammed was ordered to leaveMecca to spare Muslims from geno-cide. Bin-Laden also convenientlyexcludes how Muhammed peacefullyinteracted with non-Muslims inMedina and how he attempted toconstruct a single community madeup of Muslims, Jews, and other non-Muslims.Bin-Laden’s idea of migration andwaging offensive jihad was alsoused in the 1970s and 1980s by anEgyptian terrorist group called Takfirwal Hijrah whose followers left Cairoand traveled to remote regions of southern Egypt to wage war againstEgyptian authorities. No doubt Bin-Laden and his Egyptian ideologue,Ayman Al-Zawahiri, have discussedmany Islamic militant movements andtheir tactics.Bin-Laden’s reference to truthfulUlama (religious scholars) comesfrom his belief that any cleric whodoes not espouse Bin-Laden’s reli-gious view is being paid by Arabregimes. He considers the SaudiCouncil of Ulama a mouthpiece of the government. Bin-Laden admiresmilitant Saudi clerics like Sheikh SafarAl-Hawali, whose sermons about aninevitable clash between Islam andthe West are widely disseminated bycassette tape. Al-Hawali’s diatribes,which appeal to many young Saudistudents, offer an alternate and mili-tant explanation to the perceived im-potence of the Saudi regime duringOperation Desert Storm. Al-Hawali’sradical speeches include diatribesabout a worldwide conspiracyagainst Islam by the United Statesand Israel.There are indications that the reli-gious and political views of the 15Saudis among the terrorists who at-tacked the World Trade Center wereshaped by Al-Hawali’s tapes. An-other popular militant Saudi cleric,Skeikh Salman Al-Auda, has writtena book,
The End of History
, whichhighlights the decay of Western civi-lization and uses Muslims to accel-erate the collapse of the West.
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Ismail:
Will there be a response tothe cruise-missile attacks on Af-ghanistan of 1998?
Bin-Laden
: With Allah’s grace wehave formulated with many of ourbrothers around the globe the WorldIslamic Front for the Jihad Againstthe Jews and Crusaders. The Front’sorganization and coordination iscoming along in an exceptional man-ner. It will have a wider ability tomove and achieve victory for thefaith and take revenge on the Jews,Christians, and Americans.
Assessment
:
Bin-Laden’s re-sponse demonstrates his patienceand unwillingness to strike withoutcareful planning and coordination.This is not the answer of an impul-sive person.
Ismail
points out to Bin-Ladenthat there have been no operationscarried out since the announcementat the World Islamic Front.
Bin-Laden
: [This organization]has not gained firm roots, and itsmembers come from varied back-grounds around the world. Theyhave wide activities within the move-ment. It is also not necessary to
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