DR. BRUCE LAWRENCE (Duke University): He was talking
about the end of World War I, the defeat of the German powers,
the powers allied with them, and also the Ottoman Empire.
He was referring to the humiliation of the Ottoman Empire,
which was the dominant Muslim power in the world up through
World War I. And in the aftermath of World War I, it was
carved up into separate states: Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and
Palestine. And for him, this is a humiliation, not just
for the Ottoman Empire but for the whole Muslim world.ABERNETHY: Professor Al Faruqi, what other complaints did you hear in Bin Laden's statement?
DR. MAYSAM AL FARUQI (Georgetown University): He addressed specifically the issue of Palestine and Israel. The issue of U.S. troops in Arabia and the Iraqi problem. The sanctions on Iraq, which have caused the civilians' deaths in Iraq, and the presence of U.S. troops in Arabia.
ABERNETHY: And these things are problems because they remind him of the colonial days, the loss of dignity, the loss of control?
AL FARUQI: The loss of control over one's faith.
The Arab world was basically taken -- the whole Muslim world
-- was taken over by colonial powers that ruled over it
and dismantled the old regimes, the old social structure
and replaced it with something completely different. And
that was felt as a loss of control, and that has continued
with present issues in Iraq, in Palestine, in Arabia. The
presence of U.S. troops in Arabia is seen as the symbol
of the loss of control over the heart of Islam in Arabia,
not being able to defend ...ABERNETHY: Holy ground.
AL FARUQI: The holy ground, not being able to defend one's self there.
ABERNETHY: Bruce Lawrence, to what extent do you think Bin Laden's grievances are shared by most other Muslims?
LAWRENCE: I think they are shared because of his language and because of his appeal to grievances that echo not only the aftermath of World War I but what he often refers to as the Zionist Crusader Alliance, referring back to the Crusades in the 11th and 12th centuries and linking that with Zionism in the middle of the 20th century.
ABERNETHY: Do you think that's shared by most -- Do you think most Muslims see it that way?
LAWRENCE: Yes, I think we need to change policies,
but we also need to acknowledge that we have done some things
right. We need to build not only a coalition of interest
but also a coalition of values, and to do that means we
look at some of the judgments we've made, particularly in
the foreign policy area towards Palestine, and towards Iraq,
and towards the Indian subcontinent. We need to rethink
how we relate to rulers, not all of whom share our values
even though right now their interests and ours coincide.
I think we have to remain committed and we have to seek
peace with justice and also order with equity if are to
get through and win this war morally, and not just militarily.
