Osama and Oborne

I have just read Peter Oborne's column with some dismay. His argument is that of a bleeding heart re-designing bin Laden's image in a falsely heroic manner. I wonder what Peter would say about the traumatic events in Jack the Ripper's early development that would exonerate him from the evil he committed. Indeed, Usama was not all bad, but he was the inspiration-in-chief and a financier of the 9/11 assassinations.

If dear Peter wants to see something positive come of all this, he should request bin Laden's al Qaida successors to make a conciliatory move. Not bloody likely. I cannot understand why Peter is putting such a spin on bin Laden's topping. Sure, we in the US supported Arab and even non-Arab dictators and partly because they could control or at least manage the fanatics. Peter says we should study the root causes of the al Qaida psyche and blame the Americans for the Middle East situation. I say no, Peter, take it a step further, and look into al Qaida and it coterie of jihadists obsessed with Islam and determined to bring the world into line with its precepts.

Perfect we are not; far from it. But we have taken serious exception to the terrorism of al Qaida and its affiliates. We believe we are open minded and of course, Peter would seem to disagree. Mind you, Peter, we do not submit our children to an education consisting almost exclusively of memorizing religious texts. We preach tolerance, although we are not tolerant. Bin Laden preaches intolerance and backs up his message with brute force.

By softening his message a bit toward the end, Peter gives the impression that he is not convinced of his own argument; that he has to put out a column but has not yet resolved the issues he is discussing. It is time for the West to stand up and be counted for what we are rather than cater to the whims of charismatic fanatics seeking to hasten their journey to Paradise. Join us, Peter, in preparing for a better future while mindful of Theodore Roosevelt's pragmatic advise, 'talk softly, but carry a big stick'.