Customer Reviews

Osama Bin Laden: America's Enemy in His Own Words

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
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Having read Randall Hamud's article "Diary of a `Terrorist's' Lawyer" a few years ago (California Lawyer, April 2002), I recognized immediately a fair and honorable man of courage and determination.

When I learned only recently, then, of OBL: . . . In His Own Words, I placed my order with amazon.com and looked forward to more of Mr. Hamud's excellent writing and exceptional insight. He didn't disappoint me.

Excruciatingly researched (in fact, after a while I found myself skipping the endnotes, notes almost as lengthy as the text) with a most extensive bibliography, OBL: . . .In His Own Words not only enlightens readers with background unavailable through daily newspapers and weekly and monthly magazines but educates them in the ways of Islam and Mideast politics.

Mr. Hamud makes clear from the very beginning that Islam is not the enemy.

However, Osama bin Laden, in his own words, is. As a consistent, unwavering, scholarly, aware, brave, righteous, and dynamic man, OBL has formidably declared open war on the United States and expresses, without diplomacy, his rancor and loathing of particular US policies as they affect Moslem countries. Rigidly adhering to the teachings of the Koran, he cites Islamic scholars most liberally in justifying his attacks on the United States.

Nonetheless, the Koran is not the enemy. OBL's use of it is.

Mr. Hamud states, "Although Mr. Bin Laden's statements in this book appear in chronological order from earliest to most recent, they may be read in any order." In turn, I suggest a particular order in reading Mr. Hamud's commentary and analysis.

First, read the Acknowledgments--yes, the Acknowledgments. Skip the Table of Contents with its chapter outlines. Rather, go to the Preface, the Introduction, and the Forward. Then skip to the Epilogue. Now you're ready to return to the Table of Contents where you'll read each chapter's précis before you read each chapter. Don't bother reading all the abstracts at once. And when you have finished all the chapters, reread the Epilogue.

Such a restructuring will not diminish your understanding of bin Laden, but it will certainly enhance, I suggest, your appreciation of Randall Hamud and the service he has done by publishing this important book.

5 Stars
Annette Golden
Syracuse N.Y.

While this book did not make me like Osama Bin Laden--it did do an excellent job of making me understand him and the public aims that he has.

I still see him as a vicious terrorist and killer, but I applaud Randall B. Hamud for making me see that Bin Laden is a man of nobility in his own culture.

Also, Hamud's writing style is very efficient and accessible. I loved having an Arab man write about Osama for a change instead of the countless White journalists.

In February, Bin Laden's former mistress Kola Boof gets to tell about the "personal, interior" Osama Bin Laden in her autobiography "Diary of a Lost Girl" and I can't wait for that book. I've already ordered my copy and I only wish that she had more than the 90 pages that she's written about being with him. I understand that she details his hunting expeditions and his frienships with the rulers in SUDAN.

I think it's wonderful that we're starting to get so much information about what makes this man tick!

Having been in New York during 9/11, I began doing research into Osama bin Laden and what led up to 9/11. Most authors & books fail to address the behind the scene issues that caused Osama to turn on the U.S. This book does a wonderful job of allowing the reader to see Osama's words and thought process first hand. Hamud did an excellent job in compiling bin laden's speeches to give the necessary background about the most infamous man of the century. A must read for any person interested in the Middle East and the modern era of terrorism.

Having been written by a native-born, Arab-American lawyer and Muslim who's a nationally known civil rights advocate and an outspoken critic of governmental repression I braced myself for the worst, but was pleasantly surprised. Reading Bin Laden's complete statements was a refreshing experience and provided valuable insights into his and radical Islam's mindset. Mr. Hamud's commentary on Islam, Islamic history, and prescription for getting back on track in going after Bin Laden is also invaluable in the debate over the conduct of the "war on terrorism." Unlike a number of other books out there: Bruce Lawrence's Messages to the World: The Statements of Osama Bin Laden, Robert Marlin's What Does Al-Qaeda Want: Unedited Communiques, and Brad Berner's Jihad: Bin Laden in His Own Words, this is one book that must be on the policymakers' and college students' bookshelves. But don't just take my word for it - if you're interested in OBL and the "war on terrorism" - READ THIS BOOK!

Somewhere, Mao said that it was critical to know your enemies. Such knowledge is an important step in defeating them. Hence, as Osama Bin Laden has named himself an enemy of the United States and many other countries, we ought to know him. The author, Randall Hamud, emphasizes that we need to be pretty hard eyed about this man. In his words (page 196) ". . .he is neither a nihilist nor a madman." To think along those lines is to ignore his strengths--and weaknesses.

This volume does its job well, even though readers may well disagree mightily with the author's conclusion in his "Epilogue." His disappointment with American policy toward the Islamic world--and especially Iraq--is manifest. He notes that he is (page xxx) ". . .very pessimistic about the prosecution of the war on terrorism."

The Introduction is quite important. It provides a brief biography of Osama Bin Laden the man. As many readers would know, he was the son of a major figure in Saudi Arabia's construction industry. When he went to Afghanistan to take part in the resistance against the Soviet involvement there, he became ipso facto an American ally. Bin Laden became hostile toward the United States as that country became more involved in the Middle East, positioning soldiers in Saudi Arabia itself, in the first war against Iraq. The chapter discusses his perspective within Islam (he is a Wahhabi, who sees jihad as part of (page li) "the lifeblood of Islam."

The "Forward" does a nice job of laying out the history of Islam, from the time of the prophet Muhammad. It describes the split between Sunni and Shia. It discusses the actual nature of the classical Caliphate (which Bin Laden indicates that he wants to reinstate). There is a nice discussion of the origins of the Wahhabi perspective, linked to the Saud family, and its creation of religious schools (Madrassas) that teach a specific version of Islam, one that is not so friendly toward the interests of the West as it plays out today.

There follows the heart of the book--a number of documents from Bin Laden himself. Of special interest is a 1996 "Declaration of War against the Americans." This, of course, was long before 9/11. The message is pretty clearcut--he has condemned the United States and calls for Jihad. Another very brief essay is a useful counterpoint, the 2002 "Call to Jihad." There are a number of other writings by Bib Laden. Whatever the reader may think of these, they do tell us something about his mindset, his world view, and what actions he is calling for.

The book concludes with an "Epilogue," in which the author excoriates American policy toward the Islamic world. Many will disagree, but the epilogue does suggest alternative approaches to addressing Bin Laden and his allies.

All in all, not an easy read. But a valuable book to provide insight into Osama Bin Laden.

This book makes you see a different perspective of our current situation regardless of which side of the political fence you may be living on.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the political landscape that comprises our world today....Mr. Hamud's book is as educational as it is compelling!

I was encouraged to read this book. I ordered it as soon as I could. The book arrived ahead of schedule and in excellent condition. While I have not started reading it yet, two others in my house have already picked it up to read sections. This book has already sparked numerous discussions. I'm looking forward to actually reading it and having more discussion on it!