--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Osama bin Laden's own words stated he has…" description: "\"Osama bin Laden's own words stated he has a war against the United States. He declared that American civilians should be considered as combatants.\" — C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d91/cofer-black-35978_bin-laden_osama-bin-laden-s-own-words-stated-he-ha_561984.png" --- # Osama bin Laden's own words stated he has a war against… ![“Osama bin Laden's own words stated he has a war against the United States. He declared that American civilians should be considered as combatants.” quote by Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d91/cofer-black-35978_bin-laden_osama-bin-laden-s-own-words-stated-he-ha_561984.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d91/cofer-black-35978_bin-laden_osama-bin-laden-s-own-words-stated-he-ha_561984.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d91/cofer-black-35978_bin-laden_osama-bin-laden-s-own-words-stated-he-ha_561984.png) > “Osama bin Laden's own words stated he has a war against the United States. He declared that American civilians should be considered as combatants.” [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bin Laden claimed the U.S. is an enemy and that civilians count as combatants, blurring war ethics. **In simple terms:** He said the U.S. is a target and civilians are combatants. Key Takeaway Recognize propaganda and challenge dehumanizing rhetoric. Themes war ethics propaganda terrorism Mood cautious critical serious Type political ethical analytical When to use this quote - policy analysis - counterterrorism training - media literacy - public debate Key Concepts just war theory human rights information warfare Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling civilians as combatants affect moral decision‑making? - What responsibilities do leaders have when framing enemies? A Different Perspective The statement oversimplifies complex geopolitical conflicts and may be used to justify violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-civilians-3878043/) [Bin laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bin-laden/) [Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/) [Considered Combatants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considered-combatants-4656686/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laden/) [Osama bin laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/osama-bin-laden/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Stated War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stated-war-4656687/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The nature of the new war places a high premium on other factors, such as the ability to quickly obtain information from captured terrorists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-gonzales/the-nature-of-the-new-war-places-a-high-premium-on-other-factors-such/) [Alberto Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-gonzales/) > [Tonight, savagery in the streets of Iraq. Ten Americans die in a single day, four of them civilians murdered, mutilated and dragged through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/tonight-savagery-in-the-streets-of-iraq-ten-americans-die-in-a-single/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [For us to ignore by inaction the slaughter of American civilians and American soldiers, whether in nightclubs or airline terminals, is simply not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/for-us-to-ignore-by-inaction-the-slaughter-of-american-civilians-and/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It is vital that Iraq and the United States together send the clearest possible signal that those who commit acts of violence against American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-skelton/it-is-vital-that-iraq-and-the-united-states-together-send-the/) [Ike Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-skelton/) > [Iraq is a strange country. Where else can American civilians like me be protected by terrorist human shields?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-totten/iraq-is-a-strange-country-where-else-can-american-civilians-like-me/) [Michael Totten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-totten/) > [The politicians, who once stated that war was too complex to be left to the generals, now act as though peace were too complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/the-politicians-who-once-stated-that-war-was-too-complex-to-be-left/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [So Osama Bin Laden is dead... Amazing what Americans can do when the Playstation Network is down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-osama-bin-laden-is-dead-amazing-what-americans-can-do-when-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The implication strongly is that Osama bin Laden is a Hitler, even though he has no state power at all. It's just grotesque if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/the-implication-strongly-is-that-osama-bin-laden-is-a-hitler-even/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [There will always be spies. We have to have them. Without them we wouldn't have got Osama bin Laden - it took us years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/there-will-always-be-spies-we-have-to-have-them-without-them-we/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [If Osama Bin Laden had a student loan, we would have found him Sept 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-osama-bin-laden-had-a-student-loan-we-would-have-found-him-sept-12/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's already been some trouble for Osama bin Laden in the afterlife. There was a mix up and he was greeted by 72 vegans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-s-already-been-some-trouble-for-osama-bin-laden-in-the/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [We're learning more about Osama bin Laden. His father was married 16 times, and he has five wives. I think we're getting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/we-re-learning-more-about-osama-bin-laden-his-father-was-married-16/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Funny, for all surveillance, Osama bin Laden is still free—and we're not. Guess who's winning the "war on terror?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/funny-for-all-surveillance-osama-bin-laden-is-still-free-and-we-re/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [ I think it was Osama bin Laden's \[idea to start a pre-emptive war in Iraq\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/i-think-it-was-osama-bin-laden-s-idea-to-start-a-pre-emptive-war-in/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [R.I.P Osama Bin Laden - World Hide And Go Seek Champion (2001 - 2011)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/r-i-p-osama-bin-laden-world-hide-and-go-seek-champion-2001-2011/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Cofer Black > [As long as there are people who are not happy with their lot in life, as long as the United States is perceived to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/as-long-as-there-are-people-who-are-not-happy-with-their-lot-in-life/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [We operate under the law. Covert action authorities are communicated in a memorandum of notification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/we-operate-under-the-law-covert-action-authorities-are-communicated/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [The plan we developed to deal with al Qaeda depended on developing sources of human and technical intelligence that could give us insights into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/the-plan-we-developed-to-deal-with-al-qaeda-depended-on-developing/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [Al Qaeda is not the organization now that it was before. It is under stress organizationally. Its leadership spends more time trying to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/al-qaeda-is-not-the-organization-now-that-it-was-before-it-is-under/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [The only way to address terrorism is to deal with the issues that create terrorism, to resolve them where possible, and where that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/the-only-way-to-address-terrorism-is-to-deal-with-the-issues-that/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [The United States government does not negotiate with terrorists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/the-united-states-government-does-not-negotiate-with-terrorists/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [No matter how many plots we uncover and disrupt, no matter how many terrorist organizations we degrade or destroy, another individual or group will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/no-matter-how-many-plots-we-uncover-and-disrupt-no-matter-how-many/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [We have to be mindful that there is the certainty that terrorists will attempt to launch multiple attacks against their enemy, which is us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/we-have-to-be-mindful-that-there-is-the-certainty-that-terrorists/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [We worked to develop our own operations to advance U.S. counterterrorism objectives by penetrating terrorist safe havens and collecting intelligence that would inform policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/we-worked-to-develop-our-own-operations-to-advance-u-s/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [The Pakistani government under Musharraf is a strong and key player in the global war on terrorism, and their contribution has been second to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/the-pakistani-government-under-musharraf-is-a-strong-and-key-player/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [Cyber will be part of any future conflict -- whether it's a nation state or terrorism,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/cyber-will-be-part-of-any-future-conflict-whether-it-s-a-nation-state/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [I was an intelligence officer, not a policy-maker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/i-was-an-intelligence-officer-not-a-policy-maker/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) [Explore all 13 Cofer Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) ## More Bin laden quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I wasn’t like, boo hoo, Bin Laden’s dead, but I wasn’t jumping. America’s a very nationalistic country, and in episodes like that of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scahill/i-wasn-t-like-boo-hoo-bin-laden-s-dead-but-i-wasn-t-jumping-america-s/) [Jeremy Scahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scahill/) > [R.I.P Osama Bin Laden - World Hide And Go Seek Champion (2001 - 2011)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/r-i-p-osama-bin-laden-world-hide-and-go-seek-champion-2001-2011/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “\[to Navy SEALs\] Quite frankly, I didn't even want to use you guys, with your dip and velcro and all your gear bullshit. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-owen/to-navy-seals-quite-frankly-i-didn-t-even-want-to-use-you-guys-with/) [Mark Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-owen/) > [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [What makes me angry'is that it wasn't me who revealed that I had been with Osama Bin Laden. I originally denied being involved with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/what-makes-me-angry-is-that-it-wasn-t-me-who-revealed-that-i-had-been/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [Taylor Gang or Die. Obviously Bin Laden didn't choose Taylor Gang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-gang/taylor-gang-or-die-obviously-bin-laden-didn-t-choose-taylor-gang/) [Taylor Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-gang/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [“New Rule: The White House doesn't have to release the dead Bin Laden photos, but don't pretend we can't take it. We've seen pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-the-white-house-doesn-t-have-to-release-the-dead-bin-laden/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [With Benghazi, I don't see anyone saying, 'Hey look, I am overall responsible for this and therefore, I take responsibility for what happened. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/with-benghazi-i-don-t-see-anyone-saying-hey-look-i-am-overall/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [The twin causes Bin Laden invokes are Islam and Arab self-determination, and armies rise to serve him. No need to convert or dogmatize. Believers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/the-twin-causes-bin-laden-invokes-are-islam-and-arab-self/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [Wafah Dufour bin Laden, niece of Osama bin Laden has signed a contract to star in a reality show... called Skating with the Nieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/wafah-dufour-bin-laden-niece-of-osama-bin-laden-has-signed-a-contract/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [“It can certainly be misleading to take the attributes of a movement, or the anxieties and contradictions of a moment, and to personalize or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-can-certainly-be-misleading-to-take-the-attributes-of-a-movement/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [None of us, remember, knew that 9/11 was gonna happen. We didn't live in a state of anxiety and fear about Osama Bin Laden.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/none-of-us-remember-knew-that-9-11-was-gonna-happen-we-didn-t-live-in/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [Many of us didn't believe in the image of bin Laden as a wandering Old Man of the Mountains, living on plants and insects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/many-of-us-didn-t-believe-in-the-image-of-bin-laden-as-a-wandering/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) [Browse all 566 Bin laden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bin-laden/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Osama bin Laden's own words stated he has a war against the United States. 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