Duke Professor Edits Bin Laden's Collected Writings

WRAL-TV ^ | November 10, 2005

[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.

[Kirkwood]

Know your enemy. Nothing wrong about that. Sounds like it might be an interesting book. Lots of interesting books written about Hitler, Stalin, etc.

[Crim]

Bash even...

[Fintan]

Silly me...I work for a living.

[Smartaleck]

Yeah yeah and Hitler didn't play well with others. He had issues.

[George Smiley]

You forfot to "edit" his article:

Duke Professor Edits Bin Laden's Collected Writings

DURHAM, N.C. -- Western society understands Osama bin Laden's "crap and snits" ham n pastry, professed teat
Soreness, and previous English trash from Arabic flaws,

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Bin Laden's work "makes clear this guy is a sadistic Hillbilly", Lawrence said. However, Bin Laden "completely ignored Sandy Berger. 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 terrible enema soLution?