Four Years Ago This Week

Four years ago this week, Osama Bin Laden issued his "Speech to the American People."

Having just read the contents of the speech for a class I have a midterm on Monday morning, there is an interesting quote we ought to retain as we move forward as citizens, voters, and, perhaps, policy makers.

It alludes to the fact that Salafi terrorists (including Al Queda and Hamas) are not mere madmen on the loose with stolen materiel, but, as Marc Sageman wrote in 2004, rather rational and calculated men of strategy.

Bin Laden reveals not only his paridigmatic alignment as primarily realistic, but furthermore establishes himself as a true Clausewitzian interested in the regrettable utility of war to accomplish otherwise unattainable political objectives.

In fact, Bin Laden's Central Staff in Afghanistan was arguably more precise in its determination of culminating points of victory and integration of political objectives in millitary operations than were many Western powers throughout the 20th century!

This passsage may not do these claims justice, but I encourage you to read the full text of his speech. You can find it in "Conflict After the Cold War," as compiled by Richard K. Betts (the man who will be grading the aforementioned midterm).

"Security is an indispensable pillar of human life. Free men do not forfeit their security and freedom, contrary to Bush's claim that we hate freedom. If we did, let him explain to us why we have not attacked, say, Sweden?

No, we fight because we are men who don't sleep under oppression. We want to restore freedom to our nation just as you lay waste to our nation. So shall we lay waste to yours.

Now, whereas thinking people, when disaster strikes, make it their priority to look for its causes in order to prevent it from happening again, I am amazed at you. Even in the fourth year after the events of September 11th, Bush is still engaged in distortion and deeption, and hiding from you the real causes. And thus, there is no reason for there not to be a repeat of what has already occurred...

No one except a dumb thief plays with the security of others and then makes himself believe he will be secure. Your security is in your own hands, and every state that doesn't play with our security has automatically guaranteed its own safety."