The Long & Winding Road to 9/11/2001
Much has been made about ABC's prime time fictional mini-series "The Path to 9/11" and how it opens with an unflattering, distorted picture of the Clinton years. In arguing for a more realistic portrayal, I heard one commentator state that by rights the show should have opened with Oliver North and the Iran-Contra Affair. That was a thought stimulating suggestion, but it is as wrong as the so called docudrama.No, the roots of 9/11 arguably go back to the story is Abraham and his sons Ishmael and Isaac. Still, I trust we are best served by looking for the key foot paths that lead to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 in the 20th Century. Consider the following.
Saudi Arabia: To enhance its position and consolidate its power in the material world, the Saudi Royal family consummated a marriage of convenience to what at the time was a fringe, rigid, dogmatic, authoritarian sect, that was not even considered Muslim by many at the time, the Wahhabis. These ultra orthodox so-called religious leaders have indoctrinated many generations of Saudis into an extremely narrow world view based upon rigid adherence to their hateful interpretation of the Koran. This world view is the underpinnings of Osama bin Laden's' extremist ideology.
Egypt: The assassination of Anwar Sadat for the "sin" of making piece with Israel by the Muslim Brotherhood (founded in 1928) is another example of how far these "true believers" will go to ensure that those who do not share their twisted sense of Islam will be made to pay with their lives. Is it little wonder that Ayman Al-Zawahiri, bin Laden's mentor, was involved in this plot? It is no coincidence that the Brotherhood has very close ties to Saudi Wahhabis.
These are the ideological roads that lead to 9/11. What they have in common is a rigid worldview that believes their way is the only true way of Allah. This mindset is a reaction against modernity and what they perceive as the wickedness of the rest of the world. Any who have a different view of reality are to be punished. They believe "you are either with us or against us." This is a classical case of authoritarianism vs. liberalism.
Unfortunately, recent events in the world appear to be making this message more appealing than ever before to desperate Muslims. The question for the rest of us is this. What can we do to bring these preachers of hate and architects of destruction to justice, while helping to ensure that their thousands of disciples and sympathizers find a path to peace?
QuestionItNow - Still In Iraq
posted by DTW 06 at 9/11/2006 11:30:00 PM
2 Comments:
In pointing out the origins of Wahabi power in Saudi Arabia, and the beginning of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, you do get at the root of the idealogy that led to 9/11. However there is a religious/cultural factor (those two are rarely separate in the Islamic world) to consider as well. Non-Muslims with superior fire power and organization on Muslim soil will automatically be seen by some as occupiers. It is a simple matter of honor, or pride, if you can understand that better. Westerners are a classic reminder of everything that Arab countries have NOT achieved and can NOT accomplish.
They also threaten the very religious/cultural union I mentioned earlier. Many Middle Eastern believers fear that the end of the traditional system will mean the end of Islam. The fact that this fear is most likely unfounded does not occur to them. I'm not sure how we can convince them otherwise.
I have often heard that the whole Islamic fundamentalist movement is a reaction against the modern world. Rapid change and globalization are scary things for many people in the world to face. It is often far too easy to grasp for simple black and white, good vs. evil answers in an increasingly complex and confusing world.
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