Letters to the Editor

• Norman Podhoretz compared with Osama bin Laden

  [Read the article: Face of a psychopath]
  [Read more letters about this article: Here]

  If you look at Podhoretz's life, and compare it to Osama bin Laden, the parallels are breathtaking. From childhood onwards they follow the same paths with the same experiences, and reach are the same conclusions. Even to the extent they both see themselves as liberators and stalwart defenders against anti-Semitism!

  Childhood and developmental years:

  NP: Born 1930. Raised Jewish during WWII and the ensuing revelations about the holocaust. His childhood was filled with news of humiliation and persecution of Jews. Attended Jewish theological Seminary, and top universities.

  OBL: Born 1957. Raised Muslim during a period of extreme strife in the ME. Childhood news contained the repeated defeat and humiliation of Arab Muslims by Israel, and coups and wars often instigated by puppets of Western powers throughout the ME. Attended elite schools and was greatly influenced by the teachings of the Muslim Brotherhood.

  NP: As a young man took up the cause of Zionism, towards the formation and defense of a Jewish homeland which would be an ally armed by the US government, fighting antisemites, and especially the Islamic people of the ME.

  OBL: As a young man took up the cause of pan-Islamicism against western influence in the ME, including Israel and puppet regimes. Fought beside the mujahedeen in Afghanistan which was armed by the US government, against the Soviet Union.

  Forming Radical Movements:

  NP: After rising to prominence and influence due to his pro-Israeli work and ability to maneuver in US government, formed the NeoCons. His followers tended to share his background, being Jewish from liberal backgrounds, but highly militant. The NeoCon goal was not merely defending Israel and US interests in the ME, but to actively leverage military supremacy and seek out wars of aggression to redraw the map of the ME.

  OBL: After rising to prominence and influence due to his work in Afghanistan and his connections to wealth and power in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, formed al-Qaeda. His followers tended to come from similar backgrounds, being Islamic often from wealthy Saud families, only highly militant. Al Qaeda's goal was not merely defending Afghanistan, but to actively use guerrilla warfare against super powers, to seek out confrontation with non-Islamic military forces in the ME, and drive the out in order to redraw the ME map.

  Gulf War I:

  NP & OBL: Relations between the US and former puppet Saddam Hussein had deteriorated, and his invasion of Kuwait prompted the first Gulf War and his defeat by US & Coalition forces. NP and the neocons wanted to go much further, and invade Iraq, and then go further to redraw the ME map, but were rebuffed by moderates. OBL was alarmed to see non-Islamic and especially large numbers of US troops throughout the ME and in large numbers in SA, and offered to raise an army of 12,000 to defend SA and end military dependence on the US, but was rebuffed by moderates in SA.

  1990’s exile:

  NP: With Clinton's moderate FP attempting to bring peace in the ME and endorsing a two state solution, NP and his neocons were politically outcast. However, they continued to have hardliner supporters in both the US and Israel ,and continued to agitate and grow their support among out-of-power conservative Republicans and religious fundamentalists, often at odds with the goals of the Clinton Administration who the neocons disparaged.

  OBL: During the same period, with relative moderates ruling Saudi Arabia and much of the ME, and overtures of peace towards Israel, OBL and his al Qaeda were outcast and literally exiled. OBL relocated to Afghanistan where he continued to raise support for AQ, and continued to agitate for pan-Islamic militancy. He continued to have support among many out-of-power conservative Sauds and others in the ME, especially religious fundamentalists, at odds with the moderates across the ME, whom AQ disparaged.

  Escalation of violence:

  NP: The neocons were out of government, but still had influence, which they applied to maximalist punitive measures against Iraq, and towards Israel maintaining a maximally militant policy of retaliation against Palestinians and neighbors. Neocons justified that as retaliation and self defense against aggressors, citing Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait and attacks on Israel. Massive casualties resulted, especially among civilians, both in Iraq and Palestine, causing pan-Islamic alarm and outrage.

  OBL: Al Qaeda was in exile from SA, but still had a base in Afghanistan and tremendous support in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, and other Islamic nations. AQ continued to advocate jihad against foreign troops and influence in the ME. AQ justified that as retaliation and self defense against aggressors, citing the massive civilian casualties in Iraq, Palestine, and particularly the US troop presence in SA and throughout the region. AQ’s attacks on US targets alarmed and outraged western powers.

  That was a time of seeming relative peace and prosperity, though neocons and al Qaeda continued to advocate for all-out warfare, and hostilities gradually escalated.

  Bush presidency and 9/11

  NP: Finally achieves his goal as the Bush Administration takes office, with many key positions staffed by neocons, and Bush comes into office with a plan to invade Iraq and “finish the job” his father began. Neocons have long advocated the invasion or Iraq, not to mention Iran and others to redraw the map of the ME.

  OBL: Finally achieves his long held goal of attacking the USA directly and causing major casualties. Has long advocated all-out war to end Western influence and redraw the ME map.

  Rhetoric:

  Rhetoric and methods:

  Neocons and AQ portray the other as fascistic and bent on intolerant domination of the ME, making commonality impossible.

  Both prefer extreme militancy and believe retaliation should always be escalatory. Their rationale being their own side is more determined and capable, and the other side will eventually surrender if enough force is used. Neocons know conventional warfare and cold war tactics, Al Qaeda knows guerrilla warfare and cold war tactics.

  Permalink Friday, June 22, 2007 03:39 AM