Imperial
Hubris by Michael Scheuer, 2004, Excerpts
An appreciation of
the Muslim perspective – this does not mean acceptance – allows the West to
gauge bin Laden’s appeal and staying power. His name is legend from Houston to
Zanzibar to Jakarta, and his face and sayings are emblazoned on T-shirts, CDs,
audio and videotapes, posters, photographs, cigarette lighters, and stationary
across the earth.
In a world where
Muslim leaders are mostly effete kings and princes who preach austere Islam but
live in luxuriant debauchery; or murderous family dictatorships, like Iraq’s
Hussein’s, Egypt’s Mubaraks, Libya’s Qadahfis, and Syria’s Asads; or coup
installed generals holding countries together after politicians have emptied
the till, bin Laden and al Qaeda have won the aura of Robin Hood. Bin Laden is
not a ruler, and therefore not tainted with tyranny and corruption. Osama bin
Laden presents the inspiring spectacle of one who, by his own free choice, has
forsaken a life of riches and comfort for one of hardship and danger, has left
the life of luxury to the trenches, the trenches of jihad.
Bin Laden also killed
more than three thousand Americans on 11 September 2001, and with that act –
defying the mighty in deed as well as word – completed the composite picture of
a classical Islamic hero. What the West sees as tragic brutality practiced by
despairing or deviant individuals is perceived in much of the Muslim world as a
heroic act of self-sacrifice, patriotism, and worship, an act to be greeted not
with condemnation and revulsion, but with awe, respect, and a determination to
emulate.
A coalition that
includes Russia, China, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Yemen; the
dictators of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Kuwait, and Egypt; the titans of
nineteenth-century colonialism in the Middle East, Britain, and France; and the
state of Israel makes bin Laden look like a prophet of old, as his supporters
or sympathizers believe they see the truth of his argument that America wants
allies only among those willing to oppress Muslims and eliminate Islam.
VP
Joe Biden, Sep 2012
“Osama bin Laden is
dead and General Motors is alive!”
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