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Politics

Also, They'd Like to See His Birth Certificate

Jesse Walker | 11.26.2008 9:33 PM

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Al Qaeda supporters accuse the media of an "unfair" pro-Obama bias.

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Jesse Walker is books editor at Reason and the author of Rebels on the Air and The United States of Paranoia.

PoliticsCultureWorldMediaTerrorismBarack Obama
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  1. rhywun   17 years ago

    I suppose they're going to blame Obama for their upcoming NYC bombings, too.

  2. Mad Max   17 years ago

    From the linked item:

    "In related news, Zawahiri's audio statement also appears to have created a palpable, tense confrontation between Al-Qaida and a significant cross-section of African-American Muslims. Several U.S.-based Muslim organizations immediately held press conferences or issued statements to strongly criticize al-Zawahiri and his manipulation of the words of the late Malcolm X."

    It's possible that we're seeing the influence of W.D. Muhammad, the son of Nation of Islam boss Elijah Muhammad, who switched to Sunni Islam and brought many former NOI-ers with him. W.D. Muhammad had an interpretation of Islam which was more Islamically "orthodox" than the NOI theory of whites being created by a mad scientist; and at the same time was more pro-American, emphasizing the argument that American Muslims could be loyal to their native country.

    This influence in American Islam is probably still extant in the African-American community, so that the Wahhibist, anti-American version of Islam has some competition in the struggle for hearts and minds.

  3. Osama Bin Leno   17 years ago

    Obama is also to blame for me bombing on "Showtime At The Apollo". You infidel audiences are so tough, back home my material KILLS!

  4. joe   17 years ago

    Obama's election is giving them heartburn.

    I can't believe George Bush lost the PR war to these people. They're terrorists, for Chrissake!

    Nice headline, Jesse.

  5. tarran   17 years ago

    The thing is, joe, George Bush didn't lose a prpaganda war to them so much as Al Queda and a major faction of the interventionists in the U.S. government have a symbiotic relationsship.

    Each group derives its power by the atrocious behavior of its opposite numbers. Imagine if Osama bin Laden was proposing jihad against the Vienna Boys' Choir, he wouldn't attract up many recruits. The more destructively the U.S. government behaves, the more powerful he grows. The warmakers in the U.S. government need an enemy too - the more fearsome the better.

    Al Queda is hoping to goad Obama into anger, the way they could reliably goad Bush and his men into anger. They need Obama to continue producing atrocities that can be shown in all their gory glory on Al Jazeera.

  6. Daze   17 years ago

    Pajamas Media and Al Qaeda find common ground at last. Give peace a chance!

  7. Orange Line Special   17 years ago

    Another fact-based, highly informative post from Jesse Walker! Thanks!

    However, perhaps we might discuss the difference between fact and fancy, the difference between things that have been proven and things that haven't been proved at all but are simply assumed to be true by cultists, the corrupt, and the like.

    For instance, here I am, standing alone against a horde of Flat Earthers, those who falsely assume something has been proven despite the fact that it hasn't been proven at all.

    We know which camp "Reason" is in.

  8. Ted   17 years ago

    Best explanation (following 2 you tube videos) I've seen for the total media blackout of what is the single greatest news event and domestic threat -- let's call it OBAMAGATE -- since the outbreak of the American Civil War and for the sincere prayers of the American people that the United States Supreme Court -- let's call it OUR LAST HOPE -- now to have the courage to save our great nation as we have come to know it:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1spPrzvYWRI

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8b_usFyLHQ

  9. Nemo   17 years ago

    Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the mindfuck.

  10. dr_dog   17 years ago

    Thread has gone off the rails. Nothing more to see here.

  11. jtuf   17 years ago

    tarran | November 26, 2008, 11:45pm | #

    The thing is, joe, George Bush didn't lose a prpaganda war to them so much as Al Queda and a major faction of the interventionists in the U.S. government have a symbiotic relationsship.

    Each group derives its power by the atrocious behavior of its opposite numbers. Imagine if Osama bin Laden was proposing jihad against the Vienna Boys' Choir, he wouldn't attract up many recruits. The more destructively the U.S. government behaves, the more powerful he grows. The warmakers in the U.S. government need an enemy too - the more fearsome the better.

    Al Queda is hoping to goad Obama into anger, the way they could reliably goad Bush and his men into anger. They need Obama to continue producing atrocities that can be shown in all their gory glory on Al Jazeera.

    I don't by the whole "Bush needs Al Queda" claim. The PATRIOT act was just an incremental increase in powers the feds already exercised to fight the War on Drugs. Who needs terrorist to generate fear when plenty of people willingly hand over freedoms to protect their towns from a weed.

    We should avoid atrocities, protect civilians and up hold universal rights as a matter of principle. Even so, don't expect Al Queda to change their ways no matter what we do. They thrive on conflict, so even if we make concessions, Al Queda will just find something else to take offense at. I agree that Osama bin Laden probably likes the Vienna Boys' Choir, but he would have a hissy fit if he saw the Cheetah Girls. It features women singing in public with their hair and arms uncovered. Let's face it. Making Al Queda less angry is impossible, because they are set on finding something to get angry about.

  12. Chilli Benz   17 years ago

    Question your premises. What exists, exists. What doesn't, doesn't.

  13. Brandybuck   17 years ago

    I was talking with a guy last week, who claims that Obama will not be president, because he won't be able to produce a valid birth certificate.

    Truly, no idea is so stupid some nut won't run with it.

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