Analysis of the Recent Bin Laden Tape (Today on CNN)
by Tawfik Hamid
The latest recording purportedly from the al-Qaeda chief was broadcast Thursday on Al Jazeera. Osama bin Laden, in a new audio recording, threatened to kill any Americans that al-Qaeda takes prisoner if Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is executed. Mohammed is considered one of the masterminds behind the September 11 attacks.
My brief comments on Bin Laden's tape:
1- Bin Laden started by saying "Peace be upon those who follow the right path." While some in the West might think he is sending a message of peace, the reality is that this was not a message of peace. By limiting the message of peace to 'those who follow the right path', Bin Laden is actually limiting the peace offer ONLY to devout Muslims and not to westerners. In the views of Islamists, Non Muslims are Infidels who are not on the right path- Islam.
2- Bin Laden avoided using the name of President Obama in his message and he used the expression "your friend at the white house." Not using President Obama's name is a form of disrespect to the American President.
3- Bin Laden tried to relate terrorism to the US support for Israel. It would be useful if Mr. Bin Laden could explain how American support for Israel can justify the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent Muslims by the hands of the Jihadists in Algeria, Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. In addition, why are Sunnis in Iraq kills Sheia, exploding their Mosques and funerals, and mutilating their dead bodies after beheading them? Are these atrocities, Muslims against their fellow Muslims, also due to American support of Israel?
4- Bin Laden threatens to kill Americans if the US executes Khaled Sheik Mohamed however; Al-Qaeda already kills many innocent people including Americans. The threats are not adding anything new to the traditional approach of Al-Queda of killing innocents.
5- Showing any sign of fear or weakness towards Al-Qaeda will only encourage them to continue their war against the free world. In fact, using 'effective' psychological warfare against them after they release such messages can weaken their ability to continue their barbarism.