kuro5hin.org How Americans See Osama bin Laden (Op-Ed)
By dlacykusters
Thu Jun 28th, 2001 at 05:49:37 PM EST
Osama bin Laden is a name now familiar to the average US citizen. Our media portrays him as a mindless religious zealot out to destroy the United States. But, of course, terrorists never act without reason. This is a view of Osama bin Laden from a somewhat informed American. It is informative not just for Americans, but also for the rest of the world.
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What Americans Know of bin Laden
On February 26, 1993 a devastating explosion rocked the World Trade Center in New York. The country was in shock. "Bombings belong in Spain, Ireland, or Israel, not the here," we thought. Speculation swirled about who could possibly commit such a heinous crime. It would be early 1995 until Ramzi Yousef is captured in Pakistan for masterminding the bombing. Subsequent searching of his residence showed a financial tie to Osama bin Laden. This is the first most Americans heard of bin Laden. Very few Americans tied him to the deaths of American troop in Somalia a year and a half earlier.
Little was said about bin Laden until three years later. On August 7, 1998, bombs exploded in the US embassies in both Kenya and Tanzania. 224 people died and over 4500 were injured in the two attacks. Of those dead, 12 of were Americans. The bombings are immediately tied to bin Laden. Of little note to Americans was that this bombing occurred on the eighth year anniversary of the United Nations sanctions against Iraq and the ordering of US soldiers to the Middle East. Thirteen days later, the United States retaliated. Like the dual bombings, dual attacks by cruise missiles were sent to a training camp in Afghanistan and a chemical plant in Sudan. Americans are unaware of the mounting evidence that the Sudanese attack may have been unfounded. This chapter closes one month ago today. Four men were convicted of the embassy bombings.
The average American has heard little of substance about bin Laden in the past few years. A few scattered news stories about his failing health, but little else. This is what the average American knows about bin Laden. Joe American knows about the actions of a wealthy terrorist, but not his motive. Joe does not understand the context of his movement.
A Little More Background
Osama bin Muhammad bin Awad bin Laden was born in Riyadh in 1957. Osama's father, Muhammad, is leader of Saudi Arabia's wealthiest construction firm. As the 17th of 52 children, he stands to inherit over $300 million USD. Of course, that is when his father dies. He is likely to not inherit this money as Saudi Arabia has frozen all assets of Osama indefinitely. bin Laden graduated from King Abdul Aziz University in Jiddah in civil engineering in 1979 and prompted left Saudi Arabia for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan, a predominately Muslim country, was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1979. bin Laden joined a resistance movement against the "godless" USSR. This resistance, the mujahedeen, was funded in large part by the United States government. The enemy of our enemy is our friend. For the next ten years, bin Laden provided logistical and humanitarian aid to the mujahedeen. There is debate about whether he actively participated in battles. Eventually, the mujahedeen forced the Soviet Union to leave Afghanistan. This was an important turning point for bin Laden. A small group of freedom fighters had managed to beat one of the largest and most powerful armies in the world. This would later serve as a metaphor for his battle against the US.
bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia in 1989 a hero. He quickly continued his work by denouncing the Saudi government. The government was seen by many as a corrupt regime. King Faisal destroyed any hope of long-term sustainability by focusing on short-term profits for himself. bin Laden fit nicely into the familiar role of freedom fighter. For his actions, he was confined to Jiddah. Normally, such vocal opposition would be met much more harshly in Saudi. bin Laden's lineage protected him from more serious punishment.
In 1991 the Saudi government asked the United States to intervene in the Iraq/Kuwait crisis. The United States sent troops over to Saudi start the Gulf War. The Saudi government's request was not the reason the US sent troops, but it is essential to understanding bin Laden. From bin Laden and many others's perspective, this was the start of the US occupation of Saudi Arabia. This occupation continues to this day. The Saudi dissident movement seeks to oust the Saudi government. The United States troops are a major obstacle. Saudi Arabia and the US are allies. The US also has major economic ties to oil in Saudi Arabia. The dissidents knew that the US normally responds with force when their economic interests are threatened. If the dissident movement was to be successful, it first needed to get the US out of Saudi Arabia.
How I See bin Laden
Up until this point, I have tried to be objective. What follows is my own opinion and conjecture. bin Laden's cause is essentially nationalistic. He wants the removal of the corrupt government. He is not alone. Saudi dissident groups exist throughout the world, especially in large cities such as London. His main concern is for his country and his people.
The United States stands in the way of bin Laden's goals. Our financial and military ties to Saudi Arabia protect its government. bin Laden first needs to oust the US troops before he can overthrow the government. He has experience in fighting huge countries. The success of the mujahedeen's conflict with the USSR has shown him that he can win. To do so, bin Laden needs a large base of people to join in his cause. Many Saudi's, however, are somewhat comfortable in their lives. They don't want to overthrow the government. Saudi Arabia does not meet the normal criteria of a state ready for a new government. Many of the citizens derive their living from either the government or the US troops. It is against their interests to change. As such, bin Laden needs to recruit people from outside of Saudi Arabia in his goal.
bin Laden has found the perfect vehicle to gain support: religion. Many Muslims, especially in the Middle East, already have at least suspicion of the United States. The US and USSR played the Middle East like cards during the cold war with little regard to how it effected the people. The US has unilaterally supported Israel in any dispute with Arab countries. Neocolonialism by American corporations is changing the Middle East, not always for the better. bin Laden has struck a chord with many Muslims, especially those living in the Middle East. He used the existing antagonism and combined it with Islam. By invoking Jihad on August 23, 1996, he catalyzed the more extreme Muslims of the world. He further combined religion into his own nationalistic cause when, in February 1998, he issued a declaration with several extreme Muslim groups that Muslims should kill Americans (including civilians) anywhere in the world. Osama bin Laden has taken his nationalistic campaign global by exploiting Islam.
I believe Osama bin Laden is a freedom fighter, fighting against the corrupt Saudi regime. His current war with the United States is a strategic move, the first step in overthrowing the Saudi government. Osama bin Laden has successfully abused Islam to achieve his own, nationalistic goals. While I support his goals, I disagree with the means. Religion has frequently been warped to suit the goals of extremists. What he does not realize is the long-term effects of his plan. Americans, in large, know nothing of Islam. What we do not know, we fear. For most Americans, bin Laden has replaced this ignorance with the conception that Muslim means terrorist. If all Muslims are terrorists, then stationing US troops in the Middle East is even more important. Americans will feel that we need to protect the Middle East from the Muslims (as illogical as that sounds). In the United States, bin Laden has found a different enemy than the USSR. His actions are setting back his own goals. |
