Beliefs and ideology of Osama bin Laden

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Osama bin Laden, a militant Islamist and reported founder al-Qaeda,[1] in conjunction with several other Islamic militant leaders, issued two fatwas—in 1996 and then again in 1998—that Muslims should kill civilians and military personnel from the United States and allied countries until they withdraw support for Israel and withdraw military forces from Islamic countries.[2][3]

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[edit] Sharia

Like other Islamists and Islamic fundamentalists, bin Laden believes that the restoration of Sharia law will set things right in the Muslim world - or as he put it, his

hope that the revelation unto Mohammed, peace be upon him, will be resorted to for ruling. When we used to follow Mohammed's revelation, peace be upon him, we were in great happiness and in great dignity, to God belongs the credit and praise,[4]

has been noted for its simplicity.[4] He believed "the only Islamic country" in the Muslim world was Afghanistan under the rule of Mullah Omar's Taliban before that regime was overthrown in late 2001.[5]

[edit] Jihad

One of the few times his public statements have dealt with planning for anything that might be considered a political system was in a January 2004 message where he called for the establishment of provisional underground ruling councils in Muslim countries to be made up of "ulema, leaders who are obeyed among their people, dignitaries, nobles, and merchants." The councils would be sure "the people" had "easy access to arms, particularly light weapons; anti-armored rockets, such as RPGs; and anti-tank mines" to fight "raids" by "the Romans," i.e. United States.[6]

His interviews, video messages and other communications always mention and almost always dwell on need for jihad to right what he believes are injustices against Muslims by the United States and sometimes other non-Muslim states,[7] the need to eliminate the state of Israel, and to force the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Middle East. Occasionally other issues arise; he called for Americans to "reject the immoral acts of fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling, and usury," in a October 2002 letter.[8][9]

[edit] United States

Despite fighting on the same side as United States in the Soviet-Afghan war, bin Laden's hatred and disdain for United States was manifest while he lived in Sudan. There he told Al-Qaeda fighters-in-training:[10]

“ America appeared so mighty ... but it was actually weak and cowardly. Look at Vietnam, look at Lebanon. Whenever soldiers start coming home in body bags, Americans panic and retreat. Such a country needs only to be confronted with two or three sharp blows, then it will flee in panic, as it always has. ... It cannot stand against warriors of faith who do not fear death. ”

[edit] Killing of civilians

According to bin Laden's ideology civilians may be deliberately killed in jihad. This position evolved from an earlier, less violent one. In a 1998 interview he alleged that in fighting jihad "we differentiate between men and women, and between children and old people," unlike hypocritical "infidels" who "preach one thing and do another."[11] But two years later he told another interviewer that those who say "killing a child is not valid" in Islam "speak without any knowledge of Islamic law", because killing children and other civilians may be done in vengeance.[12] To another question by a Muslim interviewer about the Muslims killed in the 9/11 attack, bin Laden replied that "Islamic law says that Muslim should not stay long in the land of infidels," although he suggested Muslim casualties in the attack were collateral not deliberate.[13]

[edit] Other ideologies

In his messages, bin Laden has opposed "pan-Arabism, socialism, communism, democracy and other doctrines," with, of course, the exception of Islam.[14] Democracy and "legislative council[s] of representatives," are denounced, calling the first "the religion of ignorance," and the second "councils of polytheism."[15] In what one critics has called a contradiction,[16] he has also praised the principle of governmental "accountability," citing the Western democracy of Spain: "Spain is an infidel country, but its economy is stronger than ours because the ruler there is accountable."[17]

[edit] View on capitalism

Osama bin Laden has criticised global capitalism and called its leaders the real terrorists[18] and blamed them for the unrest in the world - including the Vietnam and Iraq Wars

And despite this brazen attack on the people, the leaders of the West – especially Bush, Blair, Sarkozy, and Brown – still talk about freedom and human rights with a flagrant disregard for the intellects of human beings. So is there a form of terrorism stronger, clearer and more dangerous than this? This is why I tell you: as you liberated yourselves before from the slavery of monks, kings, and feudalism, you should liberate yourselves from the deception, shackles and attrition of the capitalist system. If you were to ponder it well, you would find that in the end, it is a system harsher and fiercer than your systems in the Middle Ages. The capitalist system seeks to turn the entire world into a fiefdom of the major corporations under the label of “globalization” in order to protect democracy. [19]

Since the 11th, many of America's policies have come under the influence of the Mujahideen, and that is by the grace of Allah, the Most High. And as a result, the people discovered the truth about it, its reputation worsened, its prestige was broken globally and it was bled dry economically, even if our interests overlap with the interests of the major corporations and also with those of the neo-conservatives, despite intentions.[20]

However, there are two solutions for stopping it. The first is from out side, and it is to continue to escalate the killing and fighting against you. This is our duty, and our brothers are carrying it out and I ask Allah to grant them resolve and victory. And the second solution is from your side. it has now become clear to you and the entire world the impotence of the democratic system and how it plays with the interests of the people and their blood by sacrificing soldiers and populations to achieve the interests of the major corporations.[21]

He also blamed the owners major corporations for killing John F. Kennedy[22].

So in answer to the question about the causes of the Democrats' failure to stop the war, I say: they are the same resaons which led to the failure of former president Kennedy to stop the Vietnam war. Those with real power and influence are those with the most capital. And since the democratic system permits major corporations to back candidates, be they presidential or congressional, there shouldn't be any cause for astonishment – and there isn't any – in the Democrats' failure to stop the war. And you're the ones who have the saying which goes, “Money talks.” And I tell you: after the failure of your representatives in the Democratic Party to implement your desire to stop the war, you can still cary anti-war placards and spread out in the streets of major cities, then go back to your homes, but that will be of no use and will lead to the prolonging of the war.[23]

[edit] Jews, Christians, and Shia Muslims

Bin Laden is profoundly anti-Semitic, and has delivered many warnings against alleged Jewish conspiracies: "These Jews are masters of usury and leaders in treachery. They will leave you nothing, either in this world or the next."[24] He has also made at least one clear denunciation of Christians: "Every Muslim, from the moment they realize the distinction in their hearts, hates American, hates Jews, and hates Christians. This is a part of our belief and our religion."[25]

Bin Laden's videos and interviews say nothing about Shia Muslims, but he is reported to have disapproved of attempts by people like Hassan al-Turabi "to make common cause with Shiites." Al-Qaeda ideology classes in Afghanistan listed Shia along with "Heretics, ... America and Israel," as the four principle "enemies of Islam".[26] At the same time, bin Laden's organization worked with Shia. While in Sudan, "senior managers in al Qaeda maintained contacts with" Shia Iran and Hezbollah, its closely allied Shia "worldwide terrorist organization. ... Al Qaeda members received advice and training from Hezbollah."[27] where they are thought to have borrowed the techniques of suicide and simultaneous bombing.[28] Because of the Shia-Wahhabi enmity, this collaboration could only go so far. Iran was rebuffed when it tried to strengthen relations with al Qaeda after the October 2000 attack on USS Cole, "because Bin Laden did not want to alienate his supporters in Saudi Arabia."[29]

In May 2008, bin Laden criticized Hassan Nasrallah because "He welcomed the Crusader forces" into Lebanon in reference to UNIFIL presence after the 2006 Lebanon War. Moreover, he went on to state that "By doing do, he confirmed the claim by Sabih Tufayli, former Hizbullah secretary-general, that Kofi Annan came to Lebanon [to facilitate] an agreement between Hizbullah and the Zionists, and this is why [Nasrallah] refused to accept [the assistance of Sunni] mujahideen."[30]

[edit] Music

bin Laden opposes music on religious grounds. Despite his love of horse racing and ownership of racing horses, the presence of a band and music at the Khartoum race track so annoyed him that he stopped attending races in Sudan. "Music is the flute of the devil," he told his Sudanese stable-mate, Issam Turabi.[31]

[edit] Environmentalism

Osama bin Laden, and his aides have, on more than one occasions, denounced America for damaging the environment.

You have destroyed nature with your industrial waste and gases more than any other nation in history. Despite this, you refuse to sign the Kyoto agreement so that you can secure the profit of your greedy companies and*industries.[32]

Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's aide said global warming reflected

how criminal, brutal and greedy the Western Crusader world is, with America at the top[33]

[edit] Technology

On the subject of technology, bin Laden is said to have ambivalent feelings - being interested in "earth-moving machinery and genetic engineering of plants, on the one hand," but rejecting "chilled water on the other."[34] In Afghanistan, his sons' education reportedly eschewed the arts and technology and amounts to "little other than memoriz[ing] the Quran all day".[35]

[edit] John F. Kennedy Conspiracy Theory

bin Laden, endorses the conspiracy theory that John F. Kennedy was killed by the "owners of the major corporations who were benefiting from its (Vietnam War) continuation"

In the Vietnam War, the leaders of the White House claimed at the time that it was a necessary and crucial war, and during it, Rumsfeld and his aides murdered two million villagers. And when Kennedy took over the presidency and deviated from the general line of policy drawn up for the White House and wanted to stop this unjust war, that angered the owners of the major corporations who were benefiting from its continuation. And so Kennedy was killed, and al-Qaida wasn't present at that time, but rather, those corporations were the primary beneficiary from his killing. And the war continued after that for approximately one decade. But after it became clear to you that it was an unjust and unnecessary war, you made one of your greatest mistakes, in that you neither brought to account nor punished those who waged this war, not even the most violent of its murderers, Rumsfeld[36]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Michael Scheuer, Through Our Enemies' Eyes, p. 110
  2. ^ BIN LADEN'S FATWA
  3. ^ Online NewsHour: Al Qaeda's 1998 Fatwa. PBS. Retrieved on 2006-08-21.
  4. ^ a b Lawrence Wright (2006). The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. Knopf, p246. ISBN 037541486X. 
  5. ^ Osama Bin Laden, Bruce Lawrence (2005). Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama bin Laden. Verso, p143. ISBN 1844670457. 
  6. ^ Osama Bin Laden, Bruce Lawrence (2005). Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama bin Laden. Verso, p230. ISBN 1844670457. 
  7. ^ Messages to the World, (2005), p.xix, xx, editor Bruce Lawrence
  8. ^ Oct. 6, 2002. Appeared in Al-Qala'a website and then the London Observer Nov. 24, 2002.
  9. ^ Osama Bin Laden, Bruce Lawrence (2005). Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama bin Laden. Verso, p166. ISBN 1844670457. 
  10. ^ Lawrence Wright (2006). The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. Knopf, p187. ISBN 037541486X. 
  11. ^ Messages, (2005) p.70. Al Jazeera interview, December 1998, following Kenya and Tanzania embassy attacks.
  12. ^ Messages, (2005), p.119, October 21, 2001 interview with Taysir Alluni of Al Jazeera
  13. ^ "The main targets [of 9/11] were the symbols of the United States: their economic and military power. ..." from Interview published in Al-Quds Al-Arabi in London Nov. 12, 2001 (originally published in Pakistani daily, Ausaf, Nov. 7, 2001
  14. ^ Messages, 2005, p.218. "Resist the New Rome, audiotape delivered to al-Jazeera and broadcast by it on 4 January 2004
  15. ^ Messages to the World, (2005), p.208-9. "Quagmires of the Tigris and Euphrates," October 19, 2003, videotape delivered to al-Jazeera.
  16. ^ New York Review of Books, 9 March 2006, "Their Master's Voice" by Max Rodenbeck, review of Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama bin Laden
  17. ^ Messages, (2005), p.227. "Resist the New Rome", audiotape delivered to al-Jazeera and broadcast by it on 4 January 2004
  18. ^ Bin Laden slams global capitalism in new video
  19. ^ Transcript
  20. ^ Transcript
  21. ^ Transcript
  22. ^ Transcript
  23. ^ Transcript
  24. ^ Messages, (2005), p.190. from 53-minute audiotape that "was circulated on various websites." dated Feb. 14, 2003. "Among a Band of Knights."
  25. ^ Messages" (2005), p.87. Al Jazeera interview December 1998, following Kenya and Tanzania embassy attacks
  26. ^ from interview with Ali Soufan - a Lebanese Sunni FBI agent - by Wright, Wright, Looming Tower (2006), p.303
  27. ^ 9/11 Commission Report, p.240
  28. ^ Lawrence Wright (2006). The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. Knopf, p174. ISBN 037541486X. 
  29. ^ 9/11 Commission Report, p.240
  30. ^ Bin Laden Calls on Muslims to Confront Arab Regimes, Wage Jihad to Liberate Palestine
  31. ^ Lawrence Wright (2006). The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. Knopf, p167. ISBN 037541486X. 
  32. ^ Full text: bin Laden's 'letter to America' | World news | Observer.co.uk
  33. ^ Osama bin Laden's aide Ayman al-Zawahiri rants on global warming - Mirror.co.uk
  34. ^ Lawrence Wright (2006). The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. Knopf, p172. ISBN 037541486X. 
  35. ^ Lawrence Wright (2006). The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. Knopf, p254. ISBN 037541486X. 
  36. ^ Transcript
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Osama bin Laden