historiblogography

In the Mind of Insanity

I've read surprising little analysis of Osama bin Laden's particular brand of dangerous bufoon. But this quote could be telling of Osama really believes it:

 
"We are continuing this policy in bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy. Allah willing, and nothing is too great for Allah," bin Laden said in the transcript.

He said the mujahedeen fighters did the same thing to the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s, "using guerrilla warfare and the war of attrition to fight tyrannical superpowers."

"We, alongside the mujahedeen, bled Russia for 10 years until it went bankrupt and was forced to withdraw in defeat," bin Laden said.


If Osama actually thinks he "bled Russia" to the point where it went "bankrupt" he might have invented a mythic hero in himself that could explain his arrogance. If Russia had actually decided that Afghanistan was worth a total commitment of resources there would be no Osama today. If Osama really believes he faced the full force of Soviet might he is entirely mistaken.

posted by Michael Benson @ 8:13 PM