Bin laden Quote by Peter Bergen
“As Michael Scheuer, who ran the C.I.A.'s bin Laden unit until 1999, has pointed out, if bin Laden believed in Christmas, the Iraq war would be his perfect present from Santa Claus. The 9/11 attacks and the subsequent war in Afghanistan severely damaged bin Laden's organization.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Longest War” by Peter Bergen, 2011
Bin Laden’s belief in Christmas would make the Iraq war a perfect gift, highlighting absurdities in war logic; the 9/11 attacks and Afghan war crippled his organization.
In simple terms: War logic can be absurd; 9/11 reshaped terrorism.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the irrationality in conflict narratives.
Themes
war
terrorism
absurdity
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- media critique
- education
- peace activism
Key Concepts
political science
history
strategic analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this analogy reveal about war rhetoric?
- How can we better understand terrorist motivations?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on absurdities may overlook real causes.
![“[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 wanted to drop a bomb. But people didn't believe in this lead enough to drop a bomb. So they're using you guys as canaries. And, in theory, if bin Laden isn't there, you can…” quote by Mark Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/12a/mark-owen-41650_bin-laden_to-navy-seals-quite-frankly-i-didn-t-eve_19993.jpg)
