Bin Laden’s writings suggest we defeated him a long time ago
There’s some interesting information about Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida in an Associated Press story based on writings by bin Laden taken from the compound where Navy SEALs killed the terrorist leader last month. Add it up, and it seems we had marginalized bin Laden and, in his view, won the battle of ideas long before we finally killed him:
As Osama bin Laden watched his terrorist organization get picked apart, he lamented in his final writings that al-Qaida was suffering from a marketing problem. His group was killing too many Muslims and that was bad for business. The West was winning the public relations fight. All his old comrades were dead and he barely knew their replacements.
Faced with these challenges, bin Laden, who hated the United States and decried capitalism, considered a most American of business strategies. Like Blackwater, ValuJet and Philip Morris, perhaps what al-Qaida really needed was a fresh start under a new name.
“Al-Qaida,” in bin Laden’s mind, was that it wasn’t evocative enough of a struggle of America versus all of Islam — a notion that President Bush refuted from the very beginning of the war on terror:
The problem with the name al-Qaida, bin Laden wrote in a letter recovered from his compound in Pakistan, was that it lacked a religious element, something to convince Muslims worldwide that they are in a holy war with America.
Maybe something like Taifat al-Tawhed Wal-Jihad, meaning Monotheism and Jihad Group, would do the trick, he wrote. Or Jama’at I’Adat al-Khilafat al-Rashida, meaning Restoration of the Caliphate Group.
As bin Laden saw it, the problem was that the group’s full name, al-Qaida al-Jihad, for The Base of Holy War, had become short-handed as simply al-Qaida. Lopping off the word “jihad,” bin Laden wrote, allowed the West to “claim deceptively that they are not at war with Islam.” Maybe it was time for al-Qaida to bring back its original name.
Bin Laden may have thought it was “deceptive” of America to say it wasn’t at war with Islam as a whole, but it seems Muslims found us more persuasive. That runs counter to the idea promulgated on the anti-war left that we were losing the battle for Muslim hearts and minds by taking the fight to the terrorists.
In fact, bin Laden believed it was al-Qaida, not the U.S., that was losing hearts and minds in Iraq:
In one letter sent to [deputy Ayman al] Zawahri within the past year or so, bin Laden said al-Qaida’s image was suffering because of attacks that have killed Muslims, particularly in Iraq, officials said. In other journal entries and letters, they said, bin Laden wrote that he was frustrated that many of his trusted longtime comrades, whom he’d fought alongside in Afghanistan, had been killed or captured.
And while our search for bin Laden took more than nine years — long than that, if you count President Clinton’s efforts — it seems we had long since succeeded in rendering him ineffective:
Using his courier system, bin Laden could still exercise some operational control over al-Qaida. But increasingly the men he was directing were younger and inexperienced. Frequently, the generals who had vouched for these young fighters were dead or in prison. And bin Laden, unable to leave his walled compound and with no phone or Internet access, was annoyed that he did not know so many people in his own organization.
Any chance this changes the minds of those who claimed Bush had ignored bin Laden and that it took Obama to nab Osama?
Probably not.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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78 comments Add your comment
DollarDawg43
June 24th, 2011
2:53 pm
“Bush himself while president said he wasn’t interested in or think much about Osama. Just let it go with trying to credit Bush with anything.”
You don’t expect any sitting President to totally play his hand on something this critical do you? Sure, President Bush said it. Whether or not it was factual or a smokescreen can be debated for years.
None of our past three Presidents ever came out and specifically said we were targeting OBL. Do you think any of them were stupid enough to provide him with such valuable propoganda? He would have used threats like that to inflame that part of the world even moreso than it already was/is.
Like them or not, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama handled this as well as possible. Instead of slamming any of them, they deserve credit for approving an unrelenting search for OBL. They all devoted resources to action, not words.
Terrell
June 24th, 2011
2:53 pm
My question is why would he leave this kind of information? It seemed like he knew he was going to get caught. It seems like he wanted this to happen. Look at the suicide bombings that many have made for their cause. Doesn’t strike you odd that the guy who put together the 9/11 attacks didn’t have any technology to keep up with what was going on? This more and more feels like a set up.
Grizz,
Kind of harsh you think? We can agree to disagree, not saying that I am at all happy with everything so far, but I don’t go insulting you for being conservative, which I believe at times does have its place. The thing with economics is that it’s not an exact science. I read what you typed about the Atlanta economist that said their pplan would save us billions. The problem is we don’t know what it would’ve done. We can only predict and estimate. Everybody wants a quick fix and that’s understandable, but the quick fixes, as we have seen do not work. Whether you aree with Obama’s plan or not you can’t expect one term to fix problems that took years to build. I don’t just blame Bush, Obama or Clinton or any other president. I’ve grown from that. Having to work in a government office it’s frustrating when there is a change in adminstration because different budgets are created which affects the current plans that the office may have had.
I equate all this to the old Nintendo System. You couldn’t save your games with a memory card so if you press Reset you have to start all over to beat the game. Now just imagine applying that to government. You have a conservative presdient replaced by a liberal (to a certain extent) president and that is the same effect. You have a plan in place that if left alone may work or may not, and then you change that plan in mid swing for another plan that may or may not work, so you’re back basically at square 1.
Tundra Dude
June 24th, 2011
2:54 pm
The Telegraph, UK 21 May 2011
The bin Laden hunter: ex-CIA man had bin Laden in his sights 10 times
(snipped)
During his 22 years in the CIA – three and a half as head of a 18-man Osama bin Laden unit – he told his bosses at Langley on 10 occasions that he had a clear opportunity to kill or capture the terrorist chief. On all 10 he was told to hold his fire.
Terrell
June 24th, 2011
2:54 pm
Grizz
I meant being a conservative has it place at times. Not me insulting you. If you misread please excuse me.
Grizz
June 24th, 2011
2:56 pm
I was in intelligence for 22 years, we laid out plans that some went out for 20+ years, getting the people in trusted positions, getting the commanders, getting the sources and in some cases the growers and distributers. It is not like waking up one day and say I am going to get this person. It is stretegic, that is why it is called special opps. Heck, Reagan may have got Osama but I can assure you, it was not Obama..
Tex
June 24th, 2011
3:06 pm
OBL the terrorist was birthed by Carter, trained and funded by Reagan, turned against the US by Bush I, made Public Enemy #1 by Clinton, hunted by Bush II, and finally caught by Obama. They all deserve to be mentioned when we talk about Bin Landen because they all contributed to the problem in one way or another. Trying to give all the credit to one of them isn’t fair to the others.
Grizz
June 24th, 2011
3:07 pm
Terrell, I own a business that is doing quite well. We have tried things that did not work and changed course in short order, that is why we are in business and have no debt. The entitlements and foreign spending is going to ruin this country. It is time to take the spending away from the federal government and return it back to the states. The federal government needs to return to their original constitutional charter, reduce our tax burden and make the country competitive again. If the states want to tax the heck out of people to give it to the lazey, people will move and the lazy will have to go to work or starve, period..I pay over 48% of my earnings to the federal tax, state tax, property tax, gas tax and sales tax. For what ? That is how his great country got started, the british over taxed the US and we said no, thiat is how this country may end. We are going broke and the citizens of this country can not take on any more tax burden…
cwilli
June 24th, 2011
3:13 pm
Not one of you have a clue what Clinton, Bush or Obama had planned when it came to Osama, given that the situation was more or less handed down to each administration and keep in mind these men do not work alone they have advisors. The case of the war Clinton nor Obama started anything seems to me only trying to bring fathers, son’s, brothers and uncles and some grandfathers, mothers, daughters, sisters home. Our military who fights for our freedom each and every day so I can write on this blog. But I know they want to come home, they have families but willing to give there life up so we can have freedom. Now is it a good idea I really don’t know but what I do know I have to have enough faith in those we put in office to run this country. You fuss about Obama but who is next it will be the same thing by the time whom ever takes over gets started nothing will be accomplished. It takes more than four years and you know that but because it’s Obama if he couldn’t turn things arouond in 12 months oh he needs to go. Well good luck with that.
Grizz
June 24th, 2011
3:17 pm
CWILLI, you are correct, the entire system is broken, and it takes two miles of ocean to turn an aircraft carrier. We need to go back to the original constitutional charter of the federal government, Military and infrastructure. Put the rest back into the states hands.
Cammad
June 24th, 2011
3:23 pm
It scares me to death that there are still so many Obama lovers willing to out themselves in a forum like this. Are you people serious? Is your cable out? This President has singlehandedly ripped apart the fabric of this nation in less than 3 years. He talks of creating jobs and then implements every policy imaginable to put roadblocks up which prevent that very thing. Our national debt is $14mm, banks have been regulated to the point that no person or business can obtain financing, unemployment is 10% and gas is $4 due to lack of domestic production and the fabled “green” policies. What do you have to do to convice people that you’re an inept leader? Seriously, what more could be done to wake the citizenry up to the fact that we are circling the commode here? This is a guy who hasn’t submitted a budget in two years for political reasons and can’t commit to any spending cuts even in the face of crushing, crippling national debt. Obamacare is both corrupt and unaffordable and this guy wants to raise the taxes of his citizens so he can lay more beaurocracy and failed government programs on a poulation that is already taxed to the teeth. All you liberals can think about is taking from the wealthy and the big corporations. For what? So we can implement another cash for clunkers program that has nearly bankrupted the used car market? Maybe so we can throw in more social benefits for that segment of society that chooses to lay around the house and pick their nose while you and I go out and earn a living? This model has been tried repeatedly, and it simply doesn’t work. I get that times are tough, but if we the people don’t wake up from this lazy slumber that we are currently in we will permanantly slip into mediocrity as a nation.
DollarDawg43
June 24th, 2011
3:25 pm
It will never work Grizz. It makes too much sense.
stranger in a strange land
June 24th, 2011
3:47 pm
Elliot @ 2:35 – i go to parties sometimes until 4. It’s hard to leave (and then go vote) when you can’t find the door.
Cammad @ 3:23 – we love you man for going out there and working like a job and stuff …
(I’m really hungry – wonder where my food stamps are)
Brent
June 24th, 2011
4:12 pm
stranger, you actually read all of these? We probably wouldn’t agree on much but I do like the Joe Walsh reference
Common Sense
June 24th, 2011
4:22 pm
For those that want to give Bush no credit for Osama’s death, does that mean that Kennedy gets no credit for the Moon Landing?
Or will you continue to embrace your hypocrisy?
MrLiberty
June 24th, 2011
4:23 pm
Logical Dude – oops, my bad. Obama, Osama. tomato tomahto. You know what I mean.
MrLiberty
June 24th, 2011
4:28 pm
Again, our country has allowed its worthless presidents to do exactly what OBL had hoped they would to and the result is thousands of dead servicemen, a world that nearly completely hates us for our policies of death, destruction, and occupation, and an economy in ruins due to overspending on worthless and unnecessary wars (that clearly will have no end).
Osama won, dead or alive his victory will be recorded in the history books right along side the destruction of Alexander’s empire in Afghanistan, the Soviet Empire in Afghanistan, and now the American Empire in Afghanistan.
Try as you might, you can’t spin our reality Kyle. America and american freedom and liberty LOST this one BIG TIME,
Junior Samples
June 24th, 2011
4:56 pm
There, there, you’re soaking in it.
bin Laden was killed during President Obama’s watch.
Admit it.
Sinking in yet?
Lil' Barry Bailout
June 24th, 2011
5:30 pm
Terror by any other name: Osama eyed name change
By MATT APUZZO
The Associated Press
———————————————
Look for Mr. Apuzzo to be “spending more time with his family” real soon.
Lil' Barry Bailout
June 24th, 2011
5:59 pm
MrLiberty
June 24th, 2011
4:28 pm
Again, our country has allowed its worthless presidents to do exactly what OBL had hoped they would
———————————-
OBL wanted us to kill thousands of his buddies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and western Pakistan, dismantle al Qaeda worldwide, unite with peace-loving nations to get all this done, and finally double-tap his azz and dump what was left of him in the sea?
Interesting strategy.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Thee Magnificent!!! mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
June 24th, 2011
6:06 pm
Torture is what led to bin laden.
obozo couldn’t find his a@@ with both hands and a flashlight, just sayin..
MrLiberty
June 24th, 2011
6:33 pm
Lil’ Barry Bailout – You spin it any way you want. His words are clear and he will have the last laugh as our country and its economy lie in ruins thanks to our unnecessary strategy of destruction, occupation, and endless war.
Lil' Barry Bailout
June 24th, 2011
6:35 pm
SS, Medicare, Medicade, and multitudes of other parasite maintenance programs are what will destroy our economy. OBL had nothing to do with them.
David Green
June 24th, 2011
6:50 pm
No matter how ya spin it Kyle Bin Laden was far more successful the he himself realized and conservatives like yourself are willing to admit.
1) Bin Laden convinced Bush to Commit America to two open ended and never ending wars {if the neo cons have their way} in spite of the fact that he {bush} knew they could not be paid for with his tax cuts and would eventually lead to a stagnant economy.
2) That in spite of the pedestal Americans place the Constitution and the Bill of Rights the majority would be willing to fore go their liberties as soon as their security was threatened.
The real advantage American has is technology for its people are soft – unwilling to sacrifice like previous generations, mushy headed and (in spite of the protestations to the contrary from the worshipers of fairy tales aka Christians). The average Conservative American is quite simply AMORAL and quite willing to allow their government to use their tax money to support the leaders of other countries who mistreat and murder their own people as long as they dance to whatever political tune our leaders are playing.
In reality Osama Bin Laden provided the stage and conservatives have dancing to his tune ever since yet are so blind that they cannot see that their righteous is as filthy rags.
GW
June 24th, 2011
6:57 pm
Why do some of the Republican bloggers on here hate people so much.
Lil' Barry Bailout
June 25th, 2011
7:10 am
David Green: In spite of the pedestal Americans place the Constitution and the Bill of Rights the parasites would be willing to forego someone else’s liberties as soon as their own handouts were threatened.
———————
Fixed.
Just Saying..
June 25th, 2011
10:17 am
Cammad-
Actually believe in a democracy – or just just keep saying you do? Can you remember the exact moment you became a minority? How does it feel?
independent thinker
June 26th, 2011
4:40 am
Yeah that’s why George W, kept reading My Pet Goat on 9-11 and gave up at Tora Bora- Mission Accomplished -right?
A voice of reason
June 27th, 2011
9:39 am
We should clarify. Bush did not get Osama. Obama did not get Osama. No action Obama personally took did in any way help get Osama. Yes, he gave the green light on the mission to take him down, but I believe that every American citizen in the history of the country would have done the same. SEAL Team 6 got Osama. Period.