Osama Bin Laden died one year ago.\u00a0 Kudos to the Obama administration for leading the efforts which seized the terrorist leader.\u00a0 Kudos to the Bush administration for implementing the effective strategy.<\/p>\n
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On this day my desire is to revisit why Bin Laden attacked us.\u00a0 I must tell you now, this will not be politically correct.\u00a0 We will water down nothing, but we will also be respectful and factually accurate.\u00a0 The Intramuralist believes that political correctness often evades wrestling with the complexity of the truth.\u00a0 Hence, that will not happen here.\u00a0 Wrestling is wise.<\/p>\n
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Let\u2019s allow for little interpretation.\u00a0 Here are Bin Laden\u2019s own words:<\/p>\n
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\u201cEvery Muslim, from the moment they realize the distinction in their hearts, hates Americans, hates Jews and hates Christians. For as long as I can remember, I have felt tormented and at war, and have felt hatred and animosity for Americans.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Osama Bin Laden pursued the obliteration of America and Americans based on his Islamic faith.\u00a0 Not all Muslims believe that.\u00a0 Bin Laden did.\u00a0 He hated Americans, Jews, and Christians.\u00a0 His hatred was directly tied to Islam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI’m fighting so I can die a martyr and go to heaven to meet God. Our fight now is against the Americans.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He believed that his efforts were blessed by God, that God would look upon his intentional, vengeful killing as appropriate and necessary.\u00a0 He believed he would go to heaven, meet God, and that encounter would somehow be good.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn today’s wars, there are no morals.\u00a0 We believe the worst thieves in the world today and the worst terrorists are the Americans.\u00a0 We do not have to differentiate between military or civilian.\u00a0 As far as we are concerned, they are all targets.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He considered Americans terrorists.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I have no insight into the intelligence of the fully-named Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden.\u00a0 He studied econ, business, and possibly also civil engineering and public administration; attainment of a college degree is disputable.\u00a0 Regardless, the Intramuralist will continue to assert that wisdom and intelligence are two totally distinct attributes.\u00a0 I do not see any semblance of wisdom in Bin Laden.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bin Laden advocated hate, vengeance, and murder; those are not compatible with wisdom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Allow me to say that first part again:\u00a0 Bin Laden loudly and vocally advocated hate, vengeance, and murder.\u00a0 He justified that support based on his interpretation and application of Islam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hence, I ask the following:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Does the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, encourage violence?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How far-reaching was Bin Laden\u2019s interpretation of that violence?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And as Americans, does our political-correctness in how we currently address insane acts of violence prompted by any<\/em><\/strong> religious interpretation impede our ability to wisely wrestle with the truth?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In July of 2009, 4 men in the Bronx plotted to bomb 2 synagogues and shoot down an American military aircraft with a missile.\u00a0 When authorities and then media became aware of the criminal machinations, very little attention was publicly articulated in regard to the religious background of the 4 men.\u00a0 While in prison for either theft, drug-related, or other charges, each converted to Islam while incarcerated.\u00a0 There was significant evidence that \u201cIslamic fanaticism\u201d stoked their strategy.\u00a0 In other words, their religion was relevant to their crime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The question that our country continues to struggle with this day, is:\u00a0 how relevant was the religion of Osama Bin Laden?\u00a0 And if relevant, is such still in fierce opposition to the serenity and stability of America today?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The war on terror, dear friends, is not yet over.\u00a0 That\u2019s what we need to remember today. Sadly, we also need to remember that still tomorrow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n Osama Bin Laden died one year ago.\u00a0 Kudos to the Obama administration for leading the efforts which seized the terrorist leader.\u00a0 Kudos to the Bush administration for implementing the effective strategy. On this day my desire is to revisit why Bin Laden attacked us.\u00a0 I must tell you now, this will not be politically … <\/p>\n