It's my opinion that the sky is blue. It's my opinion thatsalami is a meat. It's my opinion that Osama bin Laden attacked theUnited States on Sept. 11, 2001 because he believes we have beenwaging a war against Islam.
What's wrong with those statements? They're not opinions at all,they're facts. You can support them with such overwhelming evidencethat nobody can argue with them.
Wait, wait, isn't that third one an opinion? After all, how dowe know why he did it?
Easy: because he told us.
In November of 2002, The Observer printed a translation of binLaden's "letter to America," a 4,000 word document described byMiddle Eastern journalists as authentic and "an extraordinaryglimpse into his mind."
It could not be made any clearer: "Why are we fighting andopposing you? The answer is very simple: Because you attacked usand continue to attack us." The majority of the letter is then madeup of cataloging the United States' "crimes" against Islam.
But you're not allowed to present that evidence in America. Ifyou do, you're "Anti-American," part of the "hates-America Left,"or an "Osama apologist." You can't state the simple fact of, "Hey,this is what he said." Doing so is tantamount to an endorsement ofhis warped worldview.
Really it's just a technique to try to scare people intoshutting up. "Hey! Stop speaking truth to power! There's a wargoing on here! We can't have people questioning thegovernment!"
But no, I won't shut up, no matter how loud the Bill O'Reillysof the world yell it. I've brought up this subject before and it'stime to nail it into the ground. The ignorance here is enormous andultimately dangerous.
The public must know truth as it decides who it wants to fightthis war for it.
We must uncover the reality of our enemy and stare him in theeye, soul-to-soul, if we are to defeat him.
Sun Tzu, the ancient author of The Art of War, wrote, "If youknow the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of ahundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for everyvictory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neitherthe enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."
This is a key philosophy to keep in mind in all forms ofconflict.
And it's one that we as private citizens must embrace as well.We must have accurate information about bin Laden so that we candetermine which possible leader -- John Kerry or George W. Bush --can more effectively win over hearts and minds in the MiddleEast.
Given Bush's track record, can one make a strong case that heacknowledges the reality of who bin Laden is? Foolishly using theword "crusade" after 9/11? Calling Ariel Sharon "a man of peace"with, according to the Washington Post, "Israeli tanks and troopscontinuing to enforce a tight cordon around the West Bank's majorcities"? Taking actions -- Iraq -- that lead to tens of thousandsof unnecessary Muslim deaths?
In the three years since 9/11, Bush has further radicalized andinflamed the Muslim world with his words, attitudes, andpolicies.
That statement's an opinion, but with four moreyears of Bush there could be enough evidence to make it anindisputable fact.
Write to David at
swimminginbrokenglass@gmail.com
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