Posted on 11/10/2005 4:48:02 PM PST by NCjim
Western society misunderstands Osama bin Laden because only "scraps and sound bites" have portrayed him in the past, says a Duke University professor who has compiled and edited the al-Qaida leader's writings.
Some of bin Laden's letters have been inaccessible, and previous English translations of them from Arabic have been flawed, said Bruce Lawrence, a religion professor and authority on Islam and medieval religion.
But the picture that comes out of the comprehensive and annotated collection of bin Laden's writings, "Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama bin Laden," shows the terrorist chieftain has considerable talent to challenge the beliefs of others, Lawrence said.
Bin Laden's work "makes clear this guy is a sophisticated, cool customer. He's not just a crazed religious fanatic," Lawrence said.
His skill at literary argument shows up partly in bin Laden's skillful twisting of the Quran to support his form of radical Islam, Lawrence said.
"For bin Laden, it's all about religion, and it's geopolitics wrapped in religion," he said.
Bin Laden refers to the Palestine-Israel conflict often, usually in the context of a U.S.-led attack on the world's Muslims, Lawrence said. Another regular theme is what bin Laden calls atrocities committed by the Christian West against Iraq.
"What's really fascinating when you read all these letters together is, it shows how obsessed bin Laden has been about Iraq," Lawrence said. However, Bin Laden "completely ignored Saddam Hussein," mentioning him perhaps twice in letters, Lawrence said.
The edition, published by Verso Books, is due to reach stores next week. Lawrence said he has been surprised by the stir it already has generated. One newspaper likened the book to publishing Charles Manson's song lyrics, Lawrence said.
But friends in the Marine Corps and State Department regard the work as valuable, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at wral.com ...
NC ping ... more Looney Toons at Duke.
What in the world further need we understand?
Unnngh!
Al Capone used to visit and donate to Catholic relief missions in Chicago. He was a thug, but he wasn't stupid.
Duke is opening an Islamic Center. Could you just puke?
I could, if I thought about it very hard :-). At least it's not a state university!
"it shows how obsessed bin Laden has been about Iraq,"
Because throughout the late 1990's the UN with collaboration with the Iraqis, and in order to get rid of sanctions, created the "million dead Iraqi babies" myth, a myth than gained great traction in the chattering classes of the Western left.
You don't hear them talking about that much now.
I'm sure it's a valuable work because it is always wise to know as much as possible about your mortal enemy. You might be able to tell which way he's going to jump next, for interest. During WWII, Americans and British were studying everything they could find on Hitler for that reason. It's unpleasant, but someone should do it.
Just what we need...another "professor", who hates the West, President Bush, and obviously himself. /dripping sarcasm
"His skill at literary argument shows up partly in bin Laden's skillful twisting of the Quran to support his form of radical Islam"
It shows the bias of the "editor" that he can't take Osama's not uncommon view that he isn't twisting, but an originalist.
If this editor edits out comments like Osama calling Kofi Annan a "criminal" he's coming from a left American expectation.
Did you even read the article?
"The difference is, this guy's a terrorist, and he's done horrible things, and he's public enemy No. 1 for good reasons," Lawrence said. "But can we win the war of hearts and minds without understanding what we're fighting?"
And Hitler was a great painter.
Look, I don't know of very many people (Al Franken excepted) who care about "understanding" this clown. I just want him dead. Or proof that he's dead - I suspect he may already be buried under a few tons of rock and sand.
But rather, WHY UBL's obsession with.. Iraq. Just from the clip, it would make it appear that Saddam took orders from Osama.
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