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Anonymous imperial hubris

发布时间:2017-04-23
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  1. This book, originally published anonymously, was later revealed to have been authored by Michael Scheuer, a CIA veteran, who tracked bin Laden from 1996 to 1999. It perhaps proved difficult for him to ignore the well deserved fame under the guise of anonymity.
  2. The author impresses us with his analysis on what the GWOT conflict is all about. He claims in his analysis of the failed campaign to reign in Al Qaeda, the main attribute is that the Intelligence Community failed to advice the American presidents correctly. It calls for courage to accept the mistakes made by one's own. Even the diehard critics will have to grudgingly give the author his due for his boldness and analytical clarity.
  3. The author attributes the Muslim world's hatred of USA to what America does in the Middle East region. He contends that the Muslim world is not offended by the democratic ideals America believes in but by America's Foreign Policy towards that region. The blame lies, he says, on America's protection of corrupt Muslim regimes, the unwavering support for Israel and the total disdain for the Palestinians. He predicts that unless American leaders recognize this fact and make amends, even moderate Muslims will join the bin Laden camp.
  4. Particularly critical of the war in Iraq, which he calls ‘an avaricious, premeditated, unprovoked war against a foe who posed no immediate threat but whose defeat did offer economic advantages', the author claims that the war was like a ‘Christmas gift' to bin Laden. Firstly, it distracted the US military objective from the war against Al Qaeda, but more importantly, it provided global jihadis an alternate failed state, from which to operate, that is even more a safe haven than Afghanistan. Attacking and occupying the second holiest place in Shi'a Islam provided credibility and substance to bin Laden's reason that the jihadis are left with no option but defend their holy land with their lives against a ‘kafir' bent on destroying Islam.
  5. In his critique of the war in Afghanistan, the author predicts that the Taliban will not be defeated; it will simply bide its time for the eventual withdrawal of coalition troops and the inevitable collapse of Karzai's government in Kabul. Four years later, we still see difficulties in the region for the American troops.
  6. Deriding the simplistic depiction of bin Laden as “evil” and “hating freedom”, the author suggests that the United States should stop looking at bin Laden as a “madman.” He calls bin Laden a competent leader and says that unless America stops treating him like a lunatic, and recognizes him as an articulate and convincing leader of the Muslim jihad, he will never be defeated. In this he bows to the great adage - “know thy enemy”. At the same time, while warning against typecasting, the author is also guilty of generalizing to a great extent and seems to paint the Muslim world with a broad brush. He sees the entire Muslim world hero worshipping Osama bin Laden as someone who stands up against the American empire. He seems to forget the many Muslims, who condemn bin Laden's motives and his use of violence.
  7. The selective friendship with oil rich Arabs who matter to America has also incurred the author's wrath. The actions of the Saudis, who he blames for inciting a dramatically hard-line ideology of annihilating all non-Muslims, and their American supporters, come in for some hard criticism, as does the elevation of Northern Alliance warlords to de facto governors of Afghanistan.
  8. The author recommends that in GWOT the solution to the problem lies in the use of relentless force against the terrorists. But here his solution seems flawed- the problem with fighting wars is to leave behind enduring peace in the region, so that violence doesn't beget violence. Ironically, the mistake that he blames Bush administration for seems to be finally what the author himself recommends.
  9. The author's strident tones and the repetition which he uses to drive home his central theory, sometimes seem jarring. The book also has a smattering of rhetoric, like the reference to Evangelical ideology, which the author believes is similar to fundamental Islam. He also suggests that democracy is like a destiny and may not be achieved out of choice. Leaving such rhetoric unsubstantiated with hard facts and reasoning makes his line of thinking questionable and appears prejudiced.
  10. That the book has found favour with the mentor of Al Qaeda, who has all the reasons to gloat over the perceived American failure, can be best portrayed by the taped message from bin Laden on 07 Sep 2007. He said “if you would like to get to know some of the reasons for the losing of your war against us, then read the book of Michael Scheuer in this regard.”

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