CNN: In the Footsteps of bin Laden

[H2O Man]

CNN will have a two hour documentary on tonight, in which Christiane Amanpour examines Usama bin Laden's life and influence on world politics. Considering that the Cheney administration plans to make "terrorism" the central issue facing this country in the fall elections -- including pushing the lie that the American occupation of Iraq is all about fighting al Qaeda -- it may be an important program to watch.

This morning, I saw reports that polls show the general public is less inclined to believe this administration is best able to make America "safe" from its enemies. I am reminded of how American citizens came to reject the official nonsense called the Warren Report some 40 years ago. Can the same media that has been used to misinform the public in recent years now provide information that can assist the average citizen in thinking for her/himself, rather than accepting the Cheneyite's "perception management" as being the truth, the full truth, and nothing but the truth?

The CNN documentary is said to look "into the man's motivations, religious fervor, and radicalism." It includes interviews with people including family members, childhood friends, followers, and Middle East experts. I know that Peter Bergen, author of "The Osama bin Laden I Know," is one of the people interviewed on the program. I hope that Michael Scheuer, the author of "Imperial Hubris," is interviewed as well.

I think that the program could be of value in examining the man behind the myths found on both the left and right. It is my belief that if the public is aware of who bin Laden really is, and understands the conflict between our culture and his, that we will begin to elect progressive democrats this fall, and take some of the steps towards making this country, and the world, safer for everyone.

I am curious if DUers plan to watch the documentary? If so, what would they like to see addressed? What do they expect to see? What would be the most important things for this program to focus on?

Thank you for your consideration.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. I plan to watch it, only because the issue will get a fair shake from...

...Amanpour. If this were put together by Rick Sanchez or Barbara Starr, I'd dismiss it as propaganda.:thumbsdown:

[ClintonTyree]

2. Will they include the fact that the USA created Al Qaeda?

Will they include the fact that the Reagan Administration created Bin Laden and his power structure? I sincerely doubt it. There are some things the American public just shouldn't know. :sarcasm:

[Junkdrawer]

3. I wonder if they'll talk about bin Laden getting dialysis with US help...

on Sept. 10th 2001?


...

In a tale as twisted as the hunt for Osama bin Laden, CBS Evening News has been told that the night before the Sept. 11 terrorists attack, Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan. He was getting medical treatment with the support of the very military that days later pledged its backing for the U.S. war on terror in Afghanistan.

...


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/28/eveningnews/main325887.shtml

[GeorgeGist]

4. Thanks for the heads up...

I wonder if they will examine the possibility that bin Laden is as much a symptom as a leader of a cause. One Elephant in the room of course is religion but very few in the mainstream of life are willing to see it; and those who do are labelled intolerant and ignorant and non-believers. Which to me is ironic because I find God far easier to believe in the absence of the ignorance and intolerance of religion.

BTW the CNN special is scheduled for 9pm edt.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Shows like this bother me

because they so many of them are just vehicles for promoting the BushCo myth about 9-11 and Osama formerly known has Usama. If they deal with the bin Laden families links to BushCo, Osama's escape from Tora Bora or the links between al Qaeda and the CIA, then it will be worth watching. If they start showing the fat Osama videos as the real thing, then you'll know where they are coming from.

[DemonFighterLives]

6. Even with Amanpour, I don't think CNN will get to the meat of the matter

Osama wanted the US out of Saudi Arabia, which we eventually did.
Most of the terrorists came from Saudi Arabia.
The Bin Ladens were flown out of the US while no one else could fly.
Osama and friends were flown out of Tora Bora to Pakistan when "we" got too close.

I'd like the program to look into the ties of the Bin Ladens and bushco.
I think we have all been had.
:dem:

[H2O Man]

9. In Imperial Hubris

(page 241), Michael Scheuer lists "the six U.S. policies bin Laden repeatedly refers to" as causing the conflict between him and us:

1- US support for Israel in the Palestinian conflict;
2- US and other Western troops on the Arabian Peninsula;
3- US occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan;
4- US support of Russia, India, and China against their Muslim populations;
5- US pressure on Arab energy producers to keep oil prices low; and
6- US support for apostate, corrupt, and tyrannical Muslim governments.

[DemonFighterLives]

13. OMG

I find myself agreeing with him.
Is there something wrong with me?
:dem:

[Me.]

7. I Wondered When I Saw The Advert For This

If it was part of the ongoing scare tactic, though how reminding the public that he is still on the lose can benefit them beats me, but then you never know with this crowd.

*shadow government*

[burythehatchet]

8. When Wolf advertised the show with the lead

"at CNN we want you to know who your enemies are", I decided I would take a pass.

[SoCalDem]

10. Me too.. Look for lots of old "stock footage"

spliced together in a "new" show.:puke:

watch for:

scary arabs :

dressed in black on jungle gyms
shooting guns
planes crashing into WTC
plane blowing up in the desert (the trial run)
Osama...Osama..Osama
Zarqawi..Zarqawi..Zarkawi

scary footage from AlJazeera

Wolfie reporting from Jerusalem
Christianne reporting from Iran

Bush bloviating in any number of lame speeches


It's all stuff they have already shown with some commentary from Amanpour..count on it..

They are too cheap to actually hire some real experts and sit them down to have a serious discussion.. It's gotta be glitzy...listen for the "ra-ta-ta-tat" music too and the whooshing graphics :puke:

I'll pass..

[burythehatchet]

11. Its been a few weeks since I last saw the swarthy

looking men in afghan robes holding kalishnikovs climbing over a wall. That's my favorite.

[SoCalDem]

12. in jogging shoes

:)