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Who is responsible for starting the recent fire across the Lebanese forests? The Syrian Regime 28.2% The pro-Syrian allies 25.6% The Israelis 21.8% No one 15.4% Others 5.1% The pro-Gov coalition 3.8% Total Votes: 156

Osama Bin Laden: Changing Course?
By Yousef Salama, Staff Writer

Toronto, Canada − For the past decade, Osama Bin Laden has eluded capture, terrorized the minds of the Western world and has quite simply been the most-vilified human on the planet. But after his speech on September 6, 2007, might he be turning heads in his favour? Might he be showing some sympathy for those hurt by globalization? Might he be compassionate about the environment?

Till now, many of Bin Laden’s words and images have been riddled with threats to the West and the continued mass killings of Westerners throughout the world for their repeated ignorance of Islam and their involvement inside the corrupt network of Middle Eastern governments. But after a nearly three-year absence, Bin Laden has intrigued the minds and ears of his supporters and his enemies this past week. With his drastically altered rhetoric, this speech appeared to have been Bin Laden’s attempt to appeal to the American population currently disenfranchised with current U.S. policies on hot button issues such as the environment and the global economy. Although this new approach can be seen as just another example of “playing to the crowd”, the apparent shift in emphasis may actually be the result of Bin Laden’s realization of the futility of his previous strategy. Now, with President Bush announcing troop withdrawals from Iraq, it appears that both sides have begun to understand the ineffectiveness of their positions.

Bin Laden now appears to challenge western leaders on the real issues that are affecting society today. He talks about global warming, famine in Africa, human freedom and the destruction and inequality caused by capitalism. His words are passionate, intelligent and sympathetic; he shows his knowledge of history and his keen awareness of recent events:

“And with that, it has become clear to all that they are the real tyrannical terrorists. In fact, the life of all of mankind is in danger because of the global warming, resulting to a large degree from the emissions of the factories of the major corporations; yet, despite that, the representative of these corporations in the White House insists on not observing the Kyoto accord, with the knowledge that the statistic speaks of the death and displacement of the millions of human beings because of that, especially in Africa.”1

Much of Bin Laden’s discussion appears to be within the lines of a grassroots activism. The overarching theme of this address was one of inspiration; well at least an attempt at inspiring the masses. Through his discussion of historic events, Bin Laden attempts to provide a concise explanation for the turmoil facing the world today, and in doing so, he highlighted the potential for global change. Essentially, his speech seems almost Marxist in rhetoric. What is being argued is that the collective body of the subordinate majority is able to overthrow the dominance of the elite minority, thus freeing the masses from their chains. This was quite evident when Bin Laden referred to the tax-free system under an Islamic government. Although implicit, it was a remark directed at the most heavily tax-burdened Americans, the middle class, articulating an alternative to their current situation:

“This is why I tell you: as you liberated yourselves before from the slavery of monks, kings, and feudalism, you should liberate yourselves from the deception, shackles and attrition of the capitalist system.”2

“It has now become clear to you and the entire world the impotence of the democratic system and how it plays with the interests of the peoples and their blood by sacrificing soldiers and populations to achieve the interests of the major corporations.”3

“If you were to ponder it well, you would find that in the end, it is a system harsher and fiercer than your systems in the Middle Ages. The capitalist system seeks to turn the entire world into a fiefdom of the major corporations under the label of “globalization” in order to protect democracy.”4

“The reeling of many of you under the burden of interest-related debts, insane taxes and real estate mortgages; global warming and its woes; and the abject poverty and tragic hunger in Africa: all of this is but one side of the grim face of this global system.”5

“So it is imperative that you free yourselves from all of that and search for an alternative, upright methodology in which it is not the business of any class of humanity to lay down its own laws to its own advantage at the expense of the other classes as is the case with you, since the essence of man-made positive laws is that they serve the interests of those with the capital and thus make the rich richer and the poor poorer.”6

Bin Laden goes further in his address to the U.S. nation by discussing the connection between war and economics. He contends that the only rationale the U.S. has in entering into a war in the region is purely profit-based. He demonstrates this point by referring to the assassination of the late President Kennedy, asserting that the motive was rooted in the economics of war. In addition, he makes mention of the lame duck Democratic congress recently elected in the U.S., arguing that they were elected on the platform of troop withdrawal, yet have failed to make good on their promises. By linking corporate profit gains to the death of American soldiers in Iraq, Bin Laden attempts to pierce the hearts of the American people, and in turn gain sympathy and support for his cause.

“In the Vietnam War, the leaders of the White House claimed at the time that it was a necessary and crucial war, and during it, Rumsfeld and his aides murdered two million villagers. And when Kennedy took over the presidency and deviated from the general line of policy drawn up for the White House and wanted to stop this unjust war, that angered the owners of the major corporations who were benefiting from its continuation.”7

“So in answer to the question about the causes of the Democrats’ failure to stop the war, I say: they are the same reasons which led to the failure of former President Kennedy to stop the Vietnam War. Those with real power and influence are those with the most capital. And since the democratic system permits major corporations to back candidates, be they presidential or congressional, there shouldn’t be any cause for astonishment – and there isn’t any – in the Democrats’ failure to stop the war. And you’re the ones who have the saying which goes, “Money talks.”8

After years of repeated threats on the western world, has Osama Bin Laden really changed course and adopted a new ideology? Is he trying to appeal to a new generation? Or has he finally begun to understand the ineffectiveness of his original position? Ultimately it is the latter of the three. He has realized the weak position the American public is in. The economy has cooled off, millions of Americans are losing their homes and many more are out of jobs. The world has opened its eyes to the problems in Africa and in Iraq.

He may be trying to accomplish what George W. Bush has done best while sitting in the oval office − manipulate the American public when they are at their knees, crippling with fear. Bin Laden is trying to offer them a reason for why things have gone horribly wrong, domestically and globally, while squarely blaming the Western governments as the culprits. It is too bad for him that his image is already tarnished beyond belief. But stranger things have happened before; George W. Bush did get re-elected, didn’t he?

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