Osama Bin Laden (War on Terrorism)

Rating:
Summary: Introducing young students to Osama bin Laden
Review: I was most interested in seeing what the War on Terrorism volume on Osama bin Laden would have to say about the figure behind the terrorist attacks of September 11. I think back to how Hitler, Mussolini and other Axis leaders were portrayed during World War II, in terms everything from propaganda posters to Looney Tune cartoons, and it becomes clear that these are different times, a different war, and a different enemy. The main difference is that this is not a war between specific nations and peoples, so the use of derogatory epithets and images that was prevalent in World War II to show the Germans and the Japanese cannot be used this time around. This is not merely a nod towards political correctness or collective guilt over the Japanese internment camps, because when you are dealing with millions of followers of Islam around the world there are practical implications to suggesting that all Arab Islamic fundamentalists, or all Muslim, or all Arabs, are terrorists.

Consequently, Nancy Louis is faced with the task of helping young readers to understand Osama bin Laden. Louis begins with a brief account of what happened on September 11 and how the focus of the investigation by the U.S. Government came to rest on "one man living in a cave thousands of miles away in Afghanistan." In answering the question "Who is Osama bin Laden" Louis takes pains to emphasize that most followers of Islam neither practice nor endorse his militant fundamentalist beliefs. This main part of this book focuses on a biography of bin Laden, looking at how this son of a self-made Saudi billionaire became a militant who helped train Arabs to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and turned to terrorism when Saudi Arabia allowed American troops to be stationed there during the Gulf War. After a section devoted specifically to why bin Laden hates America, Louis covers both al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The final sections of the book cover the efforts of these groups to target America for terrorist attack and ends with a reproduction of bid Laden's FBI Most Wanted poster. In keeping with the tone of the book. Louis concludes with the warning that "It will take more than bin Laden's elimination to end his dark legacy of terror."

Nancy Louis does a solid job of providing young readers with basic information about Osama bin Laden and his terrorist organizations and activities. While this book does not go into great detail, it does cover all of the bases. It also has the virtue of presenting bin Laden's rationale for his beliefs and actions instead of just condemning them out of hand. Whether Osama bin Laden is dead or alive at this point in time does not detract from the value of this volume, which is to reveal the mind of the enemy. The metaphor of al-Qaeda being like a monstrous snake or serpent misses the point that it is probably more like the hydra, the mythical monster where cutting off one head meant it would grow two more in its place. Consequently, young readers will get from this volume some understanding of the basic ideology of the terrorists and not just biographical information about their leader. I would also recommend the "Behind the Terror" volume in this series, in which John Hamilton examines related issues such as anti-colonialism and religious fanaticism.