It seems Al
Gore has a new recruit, Osama bin Laden.
In his latest audio tape, OBL states the U. S. and its industrialized
allies are responsible, through their economic policies, for the condition of
the world’s climate. It affects
everyone, he states and therefore everyone should have a certain level of
outrage – enough to boycott the U. S. economy, not to use violence.
News
outlets have seized on this latest message as OBL’s attempt to broaden al
Qaeda’s appeal. They claim the messages
intent is to tap into the outrage against the West and the U. S. in particular,
while pushing a boycott – no violence.
Shortly before this latest alleged bin Laden tape, al Qaeda claimed
ultimate responsibility for the attempt to bomb Northwest Flight 253 on
Christmas Day – it is too much to hope that al Qaeda would give up violence in
pursuit of their goals
A basic
question, is al Qaeda concerned about climate change or globalization? Climate change-no, globalization-more likely
as they see this as a tool of Western expansion into traditional Muslim lands. It is much more likely that OBL is spinning
up a new target for al Qaeda, a target that is softer than airports, Western
multi-national corporations. The very
nature of these companies must seem attractive to al Qaeda, they are symbols of
the West – a favorite target, and attacks on corporations will certainly
disrupt Western economies and cause reactionary and costly solutions to this
latest terrorist outrage. It will also
bring great joy to the so-called Arab Street and bring more recruits to the al
Qaeda cause. This is not to say that the
anti-globalization forces would join al Qaeda, they would not be unhappy
though. Perhaps OBL will tackle animal
cruelty next.
The main
point to remember is that al Qaeda has goals – it is not climate change –it is the
conquest of all previously held Muslim lands/expulsion of Western forces,
return of the Caliphate, etc. and a tactic, that tactic is violence directed at
the vulnerable seams of Western symbols.
They will not give up these goals or the violent tactics they use in
hopes of achieving them.
Bin Laden
Audio Tape
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/29/AR2010012901463.html
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