Reply #48: Bin Laden's alleged latest video and history

[JDPriestly]

A couple of reasons to question whether Bin Laden made this most recent video.

In this latest video, Bin Laden claims he decided to strike the twin towers after seeing the damage done to the Lebanese towers in the Israel/Lebanon conflict in 1982. In 1982, however, Bin Laden was just getting involved in Afghanistan and in the fight against the Russians.

http://www.worldhistory.com/binladen.htm

Nothing in his actions at that time would indicate that he was thinking about Lebanon or Israel, much less attacking the twin towers in the U.S. If he had been so concerned about Israel and Lebanon, wouldn't he have spent his money in Lebanon instead of in Afghanistan?

Reagan viewed Bin Laden as a useful tool against the U.S.S.R. Reagan apparently began officially funding Bin Laden's activities in Afghanistan around 1985. Russia withdrew from Afghanistan some years later, and Bin Laden was preoccupied with fighting the Russians until they left.

http://www.cqs.com/binladen.htm

Previous stories have said that Bin Laden's anti-U.S. activities mostly started after the Gulf War and our stationing of troops in Saudi Arabia at that time. The statements in this latest video about Bush Sr. are somewhat consistent with what is known about Bin Laden. But, the Bin Laden speaking in this video seems to be concerned about things like fair elections and dealing with governments of military and hereditary leaders, not about establishing an Islamic state. That strikes me as odd and inconsistent with Bin Laden's ideology.

Alternatively, if this video is authentic Bin Laden, are we to believe that he is becoming more western in his thinking? I would like to hear what other people think about this.