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The Daily OrangeBin Laden video reminds U.S. of failure
By Travis Anderson
Posted: 9/12/07, 10:22 PM EST Section: Opinion
Last Friday, Osama bin Laden released his latest video recording after three years of media silence.
Bin Laden's videos usually contain threats and indicate an attack somewhere in the world. However, his latest release was different. There was no outright call for al-Qaeda supporters to attack the West.
His message, though toned down, spoke volumes about the resurgence of al-Qaeda in the world.
"The image we have of bin Laden as ineffective is flawed," said SU political science professor Mehrzad Boroujerdi. "The presence of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Afghanistan, Morocco, etc. shows that he and the propaganda machine is effective."
SU Political science professor Daniel Hayes believes the tape was more about bin Laden maintaining relevance and "seeking to mobilize supporters."
"It highlights the inability of the current administration to capture bin Laden," Hayes said.
Al-Qaeda's operational capacity and bin Laden's ability to command seems obvious. While President George Bush loses more of his ability to accomplish policy objectives, bin Laden is still around and retains competence to organize violence against the West.
"The message put forth was a message stating, 'Look, I am alive and well,'" said Khurram Mehtabdin, a senior international relations and political science major. "The difference in his appearance from his last movie was he appeared to be more relaxed, an example being his dyed beard. These subtle differences speak volumes in terms of the message he was trying to give off."
When asked if Bush and bin Laden, albeit at opposite ends, were both forms of extremists, Boroujerdi said, "Bush and bin Laden whistle the same extremist tune."
Some are more hesitant to group Bush and bin Laden in the same category.
"I wouldn't argue that to that much of an extreme," Mehtabdin said.
With the release of the new tape this past weekend, bin Laden has proved to be something more than just a thorn in the side of the current administration. The capture or death of bin Laden can be remembered as one of the first pledges Bush made at the onset of the war on terror. We shouldn't be surprised that he has failed to achieve this pledge, just as he has failed at so many others.
Boroujerdi said the United States' failure to capture bin Laden is an embarrassment. The actions that followed this failure did far more than embarrass America.
"The U.S.' actions in Iraq have been a galvanizing cause for radicals," he said.
"The premise for this war was flawed and based on half truths, and I think bin Laden spoke about it to demonstrate that he is still alive," Mehtabdin said.
The shortcomings of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East are clear to anyone that has access to a newspaper or television. The new bin Laden tape emphasizes the policy's inadequacy.
Our government is incompetent. It has been for a long time. We desperately need to regain our standing in the world. Capturing bin Laden would seem to be the obvious answer. Unfortunately, it's been obvious for years and has yet to be accomplished.
Both Bush and bin Laden say their ultimate goal is peace, but the way they go about it is absurd. Peace cannot be achieved through violence. This is something that both sides would do well to realize.
Travis Anderson is a weekly columnist. He can be reached at tranders@syr.edu.
Bin Laden's videos usually contain threats and indicate an attack somewhere in the world. However, his latest release was different. There was no outright call for al-Qaeda supporters to attack the West.
His message, though toned down, spoke volumes about the resurgence of al-Qaeda in the world.
"The image we have of bin Laden as ineffective is flawed," said SU political science professor Mehrzad Boroujerdi. "The presence of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Afghanistan, Morocco, etc. shows that he and the propaganda machine is effective."
SU Political science professor Daniel Hayes believes the tape was more about bin Laden maintaining relevance and "seeking to mobilize supporters."
"It highlights the inability of the current administration to capture bin Laden," Hayes said.
Al-Qaeda's operational capacity and bin Laden's ability to command seems obvious. While President George Bush loses more of his ability to accomplish policy objectives, bin Laden is still around and retains competence to organize violence against the West.
"The message put forth was a message stating, 'Look, I am alive and well,'" said Khurram Mehtabdin, a senior international relations and political science major. "The difference in his appearance from his last movie was he appeared to be more relaxed, an example being his dyed beard. These subtle differences speak volumes in terms of the message he was trying to give off."
When asked if Bush and bin Laden, albeit at opposite ends, were both forms of extremists, Boroujerdi said, "Bush and bin Laden whistle the same extremist tune."
Some are more hesitant to group Bush and bin Laden in the same category.
"I wouldn't argue that to that much of an extreme," Mehtabdin said.
With the release of the new tape this past weekend, bin Laden has proved to be something more than just a thorn in the side of the current administration. The capture or death of bin Laden can be remembered as one of the first pledges Bush made at the onset of the war on terror. We shouldn't be surprised that he has failed to achieve this pledge, just as he has failed at so many others.
Boroujerdi said the United States' failure to capture bin Laden is an embarrassment. The actions that followed this failure did far more than embarrass America.
"The U.S.' actions in Iraq have been a galvanizing cause for radicals," he said.
"The premise for this war was flawed and based on half truths, and I think bin Laden spoke about it to demonstrate that he is still alive," Mehtabdin said.
The shortcomings of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East are clear to anyone that has access to a newspaper or television. The new bin Laden tape emphasizes the policy's inadequacy.
Our government is incompetent. It has been for a long time. We desperately need to regain our standing in the world. Capturing bin Laden would seem to be the obvious answer. Unfortunately, it's been obvious for years and has yet to be accomplished.
Both Bush and bin Laden say their ultimate goal is peace, but the way they go about it is absurd. Peace cannot be achieved through violence. This is something that both sides would do well to realize.
Travis Anderson is a weekly columnist. He can be reached at tranders@syr.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Seth Church
posted 9/14/07 @ 3:05 AM EST
I wonder why you have to go to extremists within our borders to write an article on those outside (Osama Bin Laden). Anyone who has such extreme bias as to blind one's self to the diferences between a terrorist and the elected president of the United States must have views so far out there that they should not be relevant to the average reader. (Continued…)
John Roberts
posted 9/17/07 @ 8:21 AM EST
It's disappointing as a former member of the SU faculty, but still interested observer of all things Syracuse, to find an article like this in the school newspaper and even find that certain faculty members are willing to participate in this sort of name calling regarding the president. (Continued…)
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