Islamic Terrorism 101

This is Osama's critical 1996 fatwa. To understand Osama's motivations, and his followers, the 1996 fatwa is must reading. Osama masterfully blends together propaganda, Islam, and leftist politics. What is the real 'root cause' of terrorism? Based on this fatwa, Islam, anti-Americanism, exploitation of political greivances, and anti-Semitism are the main causes. Showing weakness in the face of the enemy, as President Clinton did in Somalia, was used as a recruting tool. Osama's words speak for themselves:

"But your most disgraceful case was in Somalia; where- after vigorous propaganda about the power of the USA and its post cold war leadership of the new world order- you moved tens of thousands of international force, including twenty eight thousands American solders into Somalia. However, when tens of your solders were killed in minor battles and one American Pilot was dragged in the streets of Mogadishu you left the area carrying disappointment, humiliation, defeat and your dead with you. Clinton appeared in front of the whole world threatening and promising revenge , but these threats were merely a preparation for withdrawal. You have been disgraced by Allah and you withdrew; the extent of your impotence and weaknesses became very clear. It was a pleasure for the "heart" of every Muslim and a remedy to the "chests" of believing nations to see you defeated in the three Islamic cities of Beirut , Aden and Mogadishu."

Emboldened by President Clinton's law enforcement approach to terrorism, Osama issued the 1998 fatwa with little fear of repercussions. The following quote is based in part on Sura 9.5 which I cite in an earlier post. This is an overt declaration of war. The WTC towers came down three years later.

"On that basis, and in compliance with God's order, we issue the following fatwa to all Muslims

The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies--civilians and military--is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim. This is in accordance with the words of Almighty God, "and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together," and "fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God."

Notice that the call goes out to "all Muslims." There is no nation-state involved. This is asymmetric warfare. But the disadvantage falls on the nation-state trying to fight against the Islamists. The western model is not structured to deal with threats coming from a 'religion'.

This is Osama's terror manual. Please read lesson eighteen. If any terrorist is caught, the first step is to claim torture. This is repeated several times in the lesson. As we have seen, the mainstream media is more than willing to embrace these allegations without a shred of proof other than statements by the terrorists themselves.

In the western media, these three essential bits of information have been mostly ignored. To fight the enemy, you must first know the enemy.