The Videotape That Will Bring Down Bin Laden

Osama bin Laden has used videotapes as the mainstay of his publicity campaign to convince the Muslim world of the worthiness of his cause and the necessity of his methods. His videotapes had made him a subject of folklore.

But finally a videotape has proven to be his undoing.

A videotape found in a house in Jalalabad was released by the Pentagon today, and this tape erases any doubts about bin Laden's involvement in the Sept. 11th attacks. Prominent American Muslim organizations like the Council on American and Islamic Relations (CAIR) have come out stating that there can be no more doubts about bin Laden's involvement in the dastardly attacks. CAIR also expressed its horror at bin Laden's comment that the act itself had benefited Islam.

The tape is probably better than anything the American administration could have wished for. It not only indicates that bin Laden had intimate knowledge about the planning of the attacks, but also was more aware of the details than the actual perpetrators themselves. The tape clearly suggests bin Laden's role as the mastermind behind the attacks.

The tape also gives an insight into the moral character of bin Laden. His callous attitude toward innocent casualties is appalling. How can someone claim to be a devout Muslim and yet be so insensitive to human pain and suffering?

One of the most disturbing elements of the bin Laden phenomenon is his popularity among disenfranchised Muslims. He uses just causes to justify unjust methods and systematically corrupts the interpretation of Islamic ideals such as adl (justice) and jihad (just struggle). He glamorizes terrorism and is clearly a disastrous role model for Muslim youth in search of dignity and social justice.

Bin Laden's use of the concept of jihad is false, and is a gross misinterpretation of Islam. Jihad is not a war by any means against unbelievers. The theory of jihad (struggle in the path of God) forbids violence except when 1) Muslims are not allowed to practice their faith (freedom of religion is threatened) 2) when people are oppressed and subjugated (in pursuit of freedom) and 3) when people's land is forcibly taken from them. Islam specifically forbids suicide (Quran 4:29) and the killing of civilians, women and children (Bukhari: Book of Jihad).

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