Bin Laden

4 Pages 962 Words

A Response to “Bin Laden’s Bad Bet”


Franklin Zakaria, in his article makes a shocking point for most Americans. A year ago, America was stricken with terror. We had the curtain pulled from right in front of our eyes, and on stage we saw a tyrant, Osama Bin Laden, and his Al Queda organization. Hiding behind the curtain for years, Bin Laden planned a treacherous “play” of terror. When the time was right, and all of America was not paying attention, the curtain was drawn back and the Taliban, along with its director, proceeded to surprise the world with their “play”.

However, September 11, 2001 was not a “play”; it was an act of destruction, a plot of pure evil. Osama Bin Laden’s motive was not one only to affect the United States but the whole world. He hoped that by his feats of terror he would spark an outburst of radical movements across the Islamic world. Nevertheless, “The dog has not barked.” (Zakaria p.34) Some believe that he is hiding from fear; yet others sense that Bin Laden is hiding not in fear but in hope to resurrect another plan of mass destruction.

Fareed Zakaria gives us a history lesson to help explain his point of view on the outcome of September 11. A decade ago, many people were concerned with political Islam-“how to setup an Islamic state, implement Sharia and practice Islamic banking.” (p.34) Algeria, Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan all were terrorized by Islamic groups like the mullahs, but today they are for the most part vanquished. Again, many say that they are still in hiding, but this is where Mr. Zakaria makes an outstanding point. If these terrorist are in hiding it must be in fear, because how can a political movement achieve its goals if no one speaks its name?

“A revolution, especially a transitional one, needs ideologues, pamphlets and party lines to articulate its message to the world. It needs politicians willing to embrace its cause. The Islami...