An al-Qaeda Internet want-ad: Will the global economic

crisis win recruits for Osama bin Laden?

 

 

Die Zeit, Germany

The Financial Crisis, Osama bin Laden and His Prophecy

 

"What does it mean now, that Osama bin Laden can claim that he and his prophecy were right - that it was possible to defeat the Great Satan?"

 

By Ulrich Ladurner

 

Translated By James Jacobson

 

October 8, 2008

 

Germany - Die Zeit - Original Article (German)

If Osama bin Laden is still alive, these days are happy ones for him. He must be saying to his supporters: "You see, our mortal enemy is dying!" Everyone will nod approvingly and go on greedily absorbing all the news from the United States. Every subsequent crash on the stock market will illicit the words: "Allah is Great!"

 

 Osama bin Laden's 1996 Fatwa against the United States.

 

Since the United States is experiencing a crisis of monumental proportions, Osama must genuinely feel that his prophecy has become a reality. More than a decade ago, he set out to vanquish America and its villainous puppets in the Arabian Gulf - nothing more, nothing less. Back then this must have appeared like folly, because the U.S. was at the zenith of its power and Osama and his people were considered nothing more than a fanatical gang of murderers.

 

Today we are witnessing the rapid decline of the United States, a trend which some consider to be irreversible. Osama has victory in his sights. Whether that's true or not shouldn't be debated here. This is about recognizing that this is the view of Osama bin Laden. This is about catching a glimpse of the world of ideas espoused by these fanatics. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Recruitment goes on for al-Qaeda …

 

As al-Qaeda planned the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it had in mind the pursuit of three goals. First: kill as many people as possible. Second: Set in motion this mass murder that would have maximum media impact; and third: provoke the United States to retaliate. Al-Qaeda obtained the first two goals on the day of the attack. The third objective was obtained three days later, when the U.S. attacked Afghanistan. Here, al-Qaeda hoped, American forces would be bled to death. After all, a superpower had already suffered a bitter defeat in Afghanistan.

 

Soviet troops marched into Afghanistan in 1979 and ten years later, in 1989, they were beaten back. Then in 1991, the Soviet Union fell apart. The Holy Warriors were now convinced that they had defeated the "evil empire." This conviction is widespread in Afghanistan and Pakistan - and is the basis of what has become al-Qaeda's strategy. "Why shouldn't something that succeeded once, succeed again!"

 

Of course, the Soviet Union didn't fall apart because of defeat in Afghanistan, and of course, the Afghan mujahedin could never have defeated the Red Army without the strong assistance of the United States - but for Islamist fanatics, the victory over the Soviet Union remains a propaganda resource with tremendous impact. So the question before us is therefore: What does it mean now, that Osama bin Laden can claim that he and his prophecy were right - that it was possible to defeat "the Great Satan"? It's clear that this will inspire his followers and instigate them to further pursue their homicidal craft.

 

But how is America's dramatic weakness received in the Muslim world? What lessons are people taking from this? Are they thinking, perhaps, that now is the time to overthrow the potentates that so antagonize them by remaining in America's favor? Which forces will be set loose in the Islamic world by America's downfall? One will have to pay careful attention to this in the period to come.

 

CLICK HERE FOR GERMAN VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US October 10, 6:59pm]