IMPERIAL HUBRIS AUTHOR 'ANONYMOUS' SUGGESTS BIN LADEN IS SEEN AS 'A GREAT MAN'

The author argues that the West underestimates the power that bin Laden holds over all Muslims because he is seen throughout the Muslim world as a man of true faith battling against the unbelievers who invade Muslim lands and who seek to destroy Islam. Other Muslims may not like his tactics, but in large part they agree with his arguments about American policies in the Middle East. Despite attempts by the Bush administration and others to portray al Qaeda as far outside mainstream Islam--seeking to return the world to the seventh century--Anonymous argues that bin Laden does not frame his position in opposition to western values or western customs, but rather opposes the policies that have been advocated repeatedly by the United States in the Middle East--often siding with tyrannical dictators over more popular movements, all the while claiming to support democracy in the region; looking first and foremost at the economic benefits ("cheap oil") of policy decisions rather than considering the effect that our policies will have on the people of the region; and, attempting to promote a peaceful solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict while continuing to sell armament and munitions to Israel.

It is the position of Anonymous that until we begin to take bin Laden as a serious, rational person with a deep religious belief rather than as some sort of 'madman', we will not be able to defeat the al Qaeda threat. It is also his position that we must begin to change our policies toward the Middle East and begin a legitimate dialogue about the American relationship with the region. He argues that we must find alternative energy sources, and reduce our dependence on Saudi oil (an argument much like that of Robert Baer, Sleeping With the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude). Finally, he proposes that we must get serious about our war against the terrorists. It is his belief that the Iraq war was nothing more than a distraction from our battle against al Qaeda, and in fact a great recruiting tool for bin Laden. Anonymous believes that we must come to the realization that war means death--essentially that we must decide 'better them than us' and get on with it. This part of his argument leaves me a bit disillusioned, but I appreciate the rest of his opinions about the future and our battle against al Qaeda.

'Anonymous' has been outed by several media outlets as CIA analyst Mike Scheurer. The CIA has recently required that Scheurer submit requests for interviews, and what he is likely to say to the interviewer, to his superiors before he can be interviewed in the future. Since this policy was enacted, Scheurer has not received permission for any interviews. One of the last interviews prior to the new policy was with The Guardian of London. You can read his interview here.