The Ultimate Survivor (or not?)

Is Bin Laden Really Dead?

After initial reports from France that Osama bin Laden died in Pakistan last month, the Taliban has contradicted these claims. They should know, shouldn’t they?

It beggars belief that a man blamed for masterminding the September 11 attacks in 2001, that’s five years ago now, is still on the run. Let’s speak plainly. The person who organized an attack on America that led to the complete destruction of two massive skyscrapers in New York City, killing about 3000 Americans, has still evaded capture. Are we expected to believe that a man can evade capture when every satellite, every weapon, every intelligence that the Empire has, is employed in missions of seek and destroy? Is the military really after him at all?

Conspiracy theorists have probably proposed this theory, but in case you haven’t heard it, here it is again: Surely it fits in with President Bush’s agenda (an agenda of imperialism, and unilateral expansionism) to have The World’s Worst Terrorist in hiding, alive somewhere. Why? Because he’s a threat. He’s a danger, and ‘fear of the enemy’ can be employed to whatever end the White House wants. While bin Laden is at large, the USA can use him as their figurehead to fight their ‘War on Terror’. Any incursion can be labeled ‘going after the terrorists. This is how popular approval is gained; this is how Americans applauded their President taking their sons to Iraq.

Once again, those terms: war on terror, are clearly ridiculous when you think about them. War is terror. And of course, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. Nelson Mandela, after all, was called a terrorist by National Party politicians and presidents. Of course, Mandela himself didn’t attempt to blow up other people, only some elements in his group were involved in ‘real’ terror acts. How is bin Laden any different?

Well, of course, bin Laden is very different. Few moderate people could agree with this firebrand. But bin Laden does have a following among Muslims. He is a folklore hero to especially those who hate America, and America is becoming increasingly unpopular outside of America. And now he has stood up against a great and powerful enemy and inflicted terrible, terrible blows on a seemingly invulnerable enemy. And, apparently, he continues to outwit, outsmart and outplay his enemy. Tactically, that’s impressive by any standard.*

Another question is this: was the rumor of bin Laden’s death merely a ploy to get the real bin Laden to stand up, and offer another clue as to his whereabouts? If he gives a speech perhaps he will offer a few free clues as to what his intentions are. Could this have been a ploy by the FBI or CIA to fish for clues? Possible, but I think unlikely.

I believe it is likely that bin Laden’s health is suffering, living as he is in the rugged, difficult terrain of the Karakorum Himalayas. Whether he has died is anyone’s guess. But if he is alive it’s likely that we haven’t heard the last of him.

* What human being can ever justify flying planeloads of human beings into skyscrapers filled with human beings, including ‘his own’ people? The 9/11 attacks – like the holocaust – were cleverly executed acts of gratuitous insanity.