Osama Bin Laden was the world’s most wanted terrorist; he masterminded the September 11 terrorist attacks and led the infamous al-Qaeda terrorist network. He thus became the symbol of Islamic terrorism as he called for attacks on the United States, its allies, and the west in general until his death in 2011. For many people event today, he remains the epitome of terrorism and its evils. However, according to the case study “Bin Laden Justifies Terrorism,” Bin Laden believed that his tactics of terrorism were morally justified, even necessary, and not merely upon the grounds of religious dogma. In the interview in the case study, he tries to use moral reasoning and equivocation to justify his practice of terrorism in response to the accusation
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This is because Bin Laden seemingly conflates the practice of terrorism with just war, which would be a legitimate means of armed struggle against oppression and injustice. As Walzer argues, terrorism cannot justify itself on traditional just war grounds. There are several reasons for this, and the main one which Walzer emphasizes is that terrorism is never a last resort. This is the case because terrorism simply does not work in itself as a means to accomplishing the ends of the terrorists, and is generally a sign of weakness. As Walzer would point out, it cannot be argued that the terrorist tactics of Bin Laden or others have been effective in changing things for the better. Indeed, Bin Laden never tried any means besides terrorism to redress his grievances. However, Walzer also makes particular note of an excuse Bin Laden employs, that everyone and every society resorts to terrorism at some time or other. As Walzer points out, that is merely cynicism and ignores the many people who have fought oppression using nonviolent means or through just war. Beyond this, as Walzer emphasizes, the terrorism of Bin Laden’s sort merely repeats the evil of the supposed oppressors, and thus he becomes an oppressor himself through his evil
This is because Bin Laden seemingly conflates the practice of terrorism with just war, which would be a legitimate means of armed struggle against oppression and injustice. As Walzer argues, terrorism cannot justify itself on traditional just war grounds. There are several reasons for this, and the main one which Walzer emphasizes is that terrorism is never a last resort. This is the case because terrorism simply does not work in itself as a means to accomplishing the ends of the terrorists, and is generally a sign of weakness. As Walzer would point out, it cannot be argued that the terrorist tactics of Bin Laden or others have been effective in changing things for the better. Indeed, Bin Laden never tried any means besides terrorism to redress his grievances. However, Walzer also makes particular note of an excuse Bin Laden employs, that everyone and every society resorts to terrorism at some time or other. As Walzer points out, that is merely cynicism and ignores the many people who have fought oppression using nonviolent means or through just war. Beyond this, as Walzer emphasizes, the terrorism of Bin Laden’s sort merely repeats the evil of the supposed oppressors, and thus he becomes an oppressor himself through his evil