New book about Osama and his "philosophy"

Has anyone seen this book? Not much info available yet, that I've found. His ideas sound like just a whole bunch of fun.

We’d have to make a few changes around this forum, though, since freedom of expression doesn’t seem high on his “To Do List.”

And then those who don’t believe in God/Creator/Higher Power will just have to start re-thinking.

But, he does seem to agree with a few U.S. citizens when he says, “The West must ‘stop your oppression, lies, immorality and debauchery that has spread among you’ and has become the ‘worst civilization witnessed in the history of mankind.’ ”

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Messages of Bin Laden published
By Francis Harris
LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH
November 20, 2005

Osama bin Laden wants the United States to convert to Islam, ditch its constitution, abolish banks, imprison homosexuals and sign the Kyoto climate treaty.
The first complete collection of the Saudi's statements published last week portrays a world in which Islam's enemies will take the first steps toward salvation by embracing the "religion of all the prophets."
"Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama bin Laden" is billed as the first accurate compendium of the terrorist leader's words, threats and ruminations from 1994 to 2004.
Its editors have rooted out many statements they identified as forgeries and retranslated to correct "horrendous" errors.
Bin Laden's terms for America's surrender appeared after the September 2001 suicide attacks and include demands that amount to the abandonment of much of Western life.
Alcoholic drink and gambling would be barred, and there would be an end to women's photos in newspapers or advertising.
Any woman serving "passengers, visitors and strangers," presumably anyone from airline flight attendants to waitresses, would also be out of a job.
The West must "stop your oppression, lies, immorality and debauchery that has spread among you" and has become the "worst civilization witnessed in the history of mankind."
Verso, the publisher, said it expected criticism for publishing the thoughts of a terrorist, but denied that the volume would be the terrorist equivalent of Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf."
Verso spokesman Gavin Browning said that disapproval "is something that we're anticipating."
"The idea is to have an annotated, scholarly collection of bin Laden's words," he said. "Until now, his words have only been available in poor translations or sound bites."
Mr. Browning emphasized that publishing bin Laden's views did not imply any approval of them by the publishers.
The book's introduction is written by professor Bruce Lawrence, who teaches Islamic studies at Duke University and describes the terrorist as "one of the best prose writers in Arabic."
Many past translations of the words of bin Laden have been "horrendous" and often wrong, he said.
In the book, the terrorist responsible for killing nearly 3,000 civilians on Sept. 11, 2001, says that killing the innocent is wrong.
In bin Laden's world, a global conflict is under way between the Muslim community and nonbelievers.

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Does anyone not think this guy and every friggin' one of his followers has to be eliminated? I seriously doubt "heart-to-heart" talks and psychology will do any good.

If you ever had doubts there is true Evil in the world, I offer OBL for your consideration.

[PoBoy321]

[ QUOTE ]

Does anyone not think this guy has to be eliminated? I seriously doubt "heart-to-heart" talks and psychology will do any good.

[/ QUOTE ]

The thing is that while OBL certainly believes all of this stuff, he's far from alone and simply eliminating him won't change the tide of anti-Westernism in the Middle East.

Excellent point. I'll go back and edit.

[PITTM]

why is philosophy in quotations? do you not believe that this is actually his philosophy?

rj

[ QUOTE ]
why is philosophy in quotations? do you not believe that this is actually his philosophy?

[/ QUOTE ]
I enclosed philosophy because I do believe he considers his comments and writings to be a philosophy. However, his definition of the word differs considerably from mine.

I don't consider the man to be a philosopher. If he were, I believe he'd be debating his beliefs with the Imams.

He's a fanatic who believes he understands the teachings of Mohammed as no one else can. He's the guy on the parade field with 5,000 other guys who thinks he's the only one in step. Everyone else is wrong.

A thinking person does not do, have done, or condone acts of terrorism. His actions, and those of his followers, are not those of freedom fighters. They are evil acts by evil people, not philosophers.

[PITTM]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
why is philosophy in quotations? do you not believe that this is actually his philosophy?

[/ QUOTE ]
I enclosed philosophy because I do believe he considers his comments and writings to be a philosophy. However, his definition of the word differs considerably from mine.

I don't consider the man to be a philosopher. If he were, I believe he'd be debating his beliefs with the Imams.

He's a fanatic who believes he understands the teachings of Mohammed as no one else can. He's the guy on the parade field with 5,000 other guys who thinks he's the only one in step. Everyone else is wrong.

A thinking person does not do, have done, or condone acts of terrorism. His actions, and those of his followers, are not those of freedom fighters. They are evil acts by evil people, not philosophers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats an interesting "philosophy" you've got there...

rj

[InchoateHand]

So philosophy is that which YOU think is "good?"

Great, real portable!


By the way, this is an interesting book, of which I am yet to read the entire document. To any other readers of Arabic (I am certain I am 100% alone on this board, OBL writes in very sophisticated, charmingly anachronistic, pun-laden prose. Worth checking out the originals).

[ QUOTE ]
By the way, this is an interesting book, of which I am yet to read the entire document. To any other readers of Arabic (I am certain I am 100% alone on this board, OBL writes in very sophisticated, charmingly anachronistic, pun-laden prose. Worth checking out the originals).

[/ QUOTE ]

Then you agree with his "philosophy? What is it that you find so "charming?" I'd truly love to hear.

And yes, you probably the only person on this board who reads Arabic. So what? You want a plaque? Maybe the mods will deign considering a special title under your s/n. Would that please you?

[ QUOTE ]

Thats an interesting "philosophy" you've got there..

[/ QUOTE ]

It pleases me that you're pleased.

[MMMMMM]

[ QUOTE ]
Osama bin Laden wants the United States to convert to Islam, ditch its constitution, abolish banks, imprison homosexuals and sign the Kyoto climate treaty.
The first complete collection of the Saudi's statements published last week portrays a world in which Islam's enemies will take the first steps toward salvation by embracing the "religion of all the prophets."
"Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama bin Laden" is billed as the first accurate compendium of the terrorist leader's words, threats and ruminations from 1994 to 2004.
Its editors have rooted out many statements they identified as forgeries and retranslated to correct "horrendous" errors.
Bin Laden's terms for America's surrender appeared after the September 2001 suicide attacks and include demands that amount to the abandonment of much of Western life.
Alcoholic drink and gambling would be barred, and there would be an end to women's photos in newspapers or advertising.

[/ QUOTE ]

I recall having repeatedly posted, over some years, that one of bin-Laden's demands in order for al-Qaeda to stop attacking the U.S., is that the U.S. to convert to Islam; and that bin-Laden's grievances/goals/demands are primarily religious in nature, going much further than merely relating to U.S. troops leaving Saudi Arabia and the ceasing of US support for Israel. Those are significant tactical goals indeed, but are not the raison d^etre for al-Qaeda, nor for other Greater Jihadists. Their aims are far higher, in the metagame sense.

Some posters have argued that al-Qaeda's goals are not all that unreasonable, and that al-Qaeda would likely leave us alone if only we would leave Saudi Arabia and cease supporting Israel. But as I have observed repeatedly, all you have to do is listen to them in their own words to know that there is much more to all of this than mere demands for such tactical concessions.

This is a religious war, first and foremost, promulgated by extreme fanatics. Their supreme goal is nothing less than forcibly converting every nation on Earth to their brand of Islam and bringing all of humanity to bow under rigid Islamic law, starting with the Middle East and spreading outwards, after they have re-established the Caliphate. Nothing short of death will dissuade these fanatics from prosecuting this undertaking to the fullest extent that their powers may allow.

The Greater Jihadists are not foes that may be reasoned or negotiated with. Now that bin-Laden's words have been collected and painstakingly transcribed, hopefully more will come to realize the essential nature of this foe.