Osama Bin Laden's seductive new avatar

Until recently the public pronouncements by Al Qaeda have primarily consisted of frothing-at-the-mouth threats against the American “infidels” and “dogs”.

In a video this week, transcripts of which are available from various sources, including MSNBC, Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden attempts to flesh out a political ideology, a justification for Al Qaeda’s brand of terrorism.

Democratic governments are controlled by the money bags of corporations, which is why, argues Laden, John F. Kennedy was killed when he was trying to get the US to pull out of Vietnam:


--- And you’re the ones who have the saying which goes, “Money Talks.”And I tell you: after the failure of your representatives in the Democratic Party to implement your desire to stop the war, you can still carry anti-war placards and spread out in the streets of major cities, then go back to your homes, but that will be of no use and will lead to the prolonging of the war ----


Laden also makes common cause with environmentalists


------ 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 corporation in the White House insists on not observing the Kyoto accord --------


And appeals to Christians to convert to Islam, attempting to point similarities between the two faiths.


In his new avatar, Laden did not directly threaten the American people, instead focusing on convincing his listeners that they and the Muslims were on the same side, all victims of the capitalist system.

---- as soon as the warmongering owners of the major corporation realize that you have lost confidence in your democratic system and begun to search for an alternative, and that this alternative is Islam, they will run after you to please you and achieve what you want to steer you away from Islam -----


To my mind, this avatar of Laden could be far more seductive to the young and impressionable in the West and other parts of the world. Laden’s new view of the world combines religious fundamentalism, with hot issues like anti-globalization and environmental concerns.