Meeting the polite dangerous man
Farida Shaikh is fascinated by an account of Osama Bin Laden
The Secret History of Al-Qa'ida
Abdel Bari Atwan
Saqi Books London
THE West in order to remove the terrorist threat must understand the political roots of Al-Qa'ida, now an ideology. The West also needs to brace itself to deal with their legitimate grievances, and establish meaningful channels of dialogue between the Arab Muslims and the West.
Abdel Bari Atwan, a journalist, is the Editor in Chief of Al-Qudi al- Arabi, was raised in Palestine and has lived in London for over thirty years. He does not endorse the Al- Qa'ida agenda. However, based on his first hand knowledge of visiting camps, and interviews with the key players, Atwan writes to seek, to explore, to explain and analyze Al-Qa'ida.
According to Atwan, the expansion of Al-Qa'ida was evident in the suicidal bombing of central London on 7 July 2005, which the then Prime Minister Tony Blair denied as having connection to London's total support to America's invasion of Iraq. In 2003, George W. Bush sent American troops to Iraq to fight Al-Qa'ida. Three years later Al-Qa'ida managed to forge ahead by hurting US friends through attacks on Taba and Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, Aqaba in Jordan and Constantinople in Morocco.
Combating the 'War on Terror' cost the US about $337 billion. This huge amount had taken Al-Qa'ida forward, for Iraq become the training ground --- and 'American foreign policy is the best recruitment officer Al-Qa'ida has ever had.'
In its design to modernize the Middle East, to isolate radicalism and to starve Al-Qa'ida , the West was confronted by biting effects that brought about aconian legislation in Britain and the US and a change of government in Spain.
Muslims do not hate the American people, only their foreign policy. About 33 leaders from the Arab League and South American nations met in Brazil in May 2005 to form a new alliance to combat the US global hegemony. In Europe, especially Greece and Spain, only 10 percent support the US policy in Iraq.
Moreover, Atwan declares that in the absence of an Islamic civilization it is an error to suppose that history is passing through a clash of civilizations.' It is at best a 'preponderance of pro-western corrupt dictatorship,' with little reference to democracy or productivity.
Between 1994 and 1998 Laden's London office was managed by Fawwaz, who met Atwan with the strange invitation --------- of travelling to Afghanistan to meet and interview Laden, who was then not as famous as he is now.
Amid utmost security Atwan travelled to Peshawar, crossing the border into Afghanistan under the Taliban. Once inside the Eagle's nest (the name of the Afghan Arab base at altitude of 3000 meter surrounded by snow covered caves, Tora Bora, also a base during the anti-Soviet jihad and now a place of retreat and planning), Atwan felt a sense of relief at the end of the near terror travel. The mujahedin from the Arab world who fought the Soviets and later the Americans formed Al-Qa'ida, and were named 'Afghan Arabs.'
Outside the cold and windy entrance of the cave Atwan was met by the Syrian writer and Spanish citizen, Omar Abdul Hakim, a specialist on jihad.
The writer met Osama bin Laden on 23 November in a cave 6×4 meters in size, with a library full of books on Islamic heritage and tafsir. He had a Kalashnikov on his lap. He got up, greeted Atwan in his clear soft voice. Atwan was totally transfixed by him, his warm smile and embrace made Atwan feel like a guest of honour.He was at once at ease with Osama bin Laden, who gave him the impression that he was someone very familiar ----- the essence of charisma, Atwan mused. He came from one of the wealthiest Arab families, yet he lived modestly, sans luxuries and hated money. He appeared tall and slender without any sign of physical weakness. Bearded, he wore Afghani clothes, a padded combat jacket, sometimes covered himself with Afghani woolen blankets, and tied a red scarf around his head.
He had a reassuring smile all the time, and a personality of extreme humility. He told Atwan that winter and cold was a better time to visit Tora Bora, for in summer when Robert Fisk came to interview him, the place was full of scorpions. Men outside the cave, in all seasons, stay on alert to respond to emergencies
Towards the end of the visit Atwan learnt that Osama bin Laden loved the mountains and trees. He said, 'I would rather die than live in a European state.' He showed the vast areas which were once under the Soviet control---- who were 'bombed and kicked out.' He described the Soviet fighters as 'brave' but not the Americans who pulled out of Mogadishu where the truthful Somalia leader was wrongly suspected. He confirmed the bombing of the American air base in Khobar, Riyadh, in 1996 that killed 19 US soldiers and injured 500 others. About his other operations, which were still in the planning stage, he said, 'We hope to reach ignition point in the not too distant future,' meaning the event of 11 September 2001.
Atwan's visit lasted two days. He then left for Jalalabad, absolutely fascinated by 'the psychological political and social dimensions of this group of people and their leader. 'He realized that Osama bin Laden was extraordinary and would play a significant role in the Muslim world. Extremely polite, soft -spoken, smiling and gentle, he would soon become the most dangerous man, damaging, threatening, and terrorizing the West and its economy.
The experience of meeting the man marked for the writer the beginning of interest leading to close attention to all matters on the subject, and then, the subject matter of the book. It sure is thrilling, reading this modern history!
Farida Shaikh is a critic and member, The Reading Circle.
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