Bin Laden's Jihad

September 11th 2001 is a day where every American is able to think back and remember exactly what they were doing.   It was the day two airplanes, flown by two Islamic terrorists, crashed into the twin towers, causing them to fall. Osama Bin Laden, a man with an appalling political agenda, fronted this attack. However, for as much news as was spread about Bin Laden in the aftermath of 9/11, there was hardly any coverage of a letter Bin Laden wrote to America a few weeks after. In this letter, Bin Laden explained exactly what motivated his actions. Through his letter, Bin Laden was able to put a voice to his Jihad and use it to recruit those of the Islamic faith around the world and rationalize his actions, to show America why they are at fault, and to frighten the Americans with war, so they comply with his wants.
This letter may have been addressed to the people of the United States, but it was intended for an Islamic audience.   Bin Laden was fully aware that after his 9/11 actions he lost a lot of his faithful Islamic followers in the west, and in other countries. Such barbaric events and the human sacrifice that occurred on September 11th did not follow the beliefs of many Islamists, who were just as appalled as the American’s were. For many Muslims, Jihad is a word for struggle or strife, especially in relation to becoming a better person spiritually. Many Muslims see all violence, with the exception being direct self-defense, as unnecessary and against their beliefs. Due to their interpretation and belief of Jihad, the vast majority of Muslim’s were revolted, and shocked by the actions taken by Bin Laden.   However, others like Bin Laden feel that Jihad is an acceptable and honourable way to defend threats to one’s right to religious practices and freedoms. In his letter Bin Laden tried to defend his actions against the Americans, by saying that they used violence first; they attacked his people first. “ …you attacked us and continue to attack us.” (par.7). Bin... [continues]

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