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bin Laden’s distorted world view and distorted view of climate change

January 29th, 2010 · 6 Comments

Evidently, Osama bin Laden has released his second message in as many weeks. And, this time, bin Laden’s 12th century lens turns, reportedly, to a real 21st century challenge.

Osama bin Laden has accustomed us to wacky, destructive, and immoral approaches to the world. When it comes to climate change, bin Laden doesn’t disappoint — yet again coming up with an unacceptable, misguided, counterproductive, and immoral “answer”.

“This is a message to the whole world about those responsible for climate change and its repercussions – whether intentionally or unintentionally – and about the action we must take,” bin Laden said.

“Speaking about climate change is not a matter of intellectual luxury – the phenomenon is an actual fact.”

Yes. It is a fact. And, Osama bin Laden claiming something is true doesn’t make it untruthful.

However, Osama’s solution path isn’t nearly as truthful as the reality of climate change.

.. the way to stop it is to bring “the wheels of the American economy” to a halt.

He says the world should “stop consuming American products” and “refrain from using the dollar,”

Well, okay Osama:

1. Turning the world back to the 12th century, including killing off perhaps 95 percent or so of the world’s population supportable without modern technology and with women suppressed without health care (dying in child birth), might well actually address “climate change” in an incredibly dystopian and immoral fashion. (Oops, moral in your distorted lens on the world.)

2. The United States is, well, roughly responsible for 25 percent of current global emissions. Eliminating the US economy doesn’t “solve” climate change.

3. Shutting down all industrial nations, including of course “developing” nations like China and India and Brazil, would have a major impact in terms of mitigating climate change but with an impact … please see 1.

Now, bin Laden has a world view based on destruction and on looking backwards a millenium.

That bin Laden is able to, via his distorted lens, gain a glimpse of reality and claim to understand that climate change is a serious issue meriting attention doesn’t suddenly make climate change unreal even though there will be those who seize on this to say things like “bin Laden is against it, therefore I’m for it …”

The path “to stop” climate change is not to “bring the wheels of the American economy” to a halt, but to turn those wheels toward the creation of a clean-energy future … to help Saudi Arabia turn itself into the “Saudi Arabia of Solar Power” … to aid Afghanis prosper with micro-hydro and wind power and efficient lighting … to tap geothermal power in nation’s around the world …

bin Laden calls for a path backwards via destruction when the true path toward tackling climate change is to move forward via construction of a more secure and prosperous clean energy future …

Other discussions include:

Juliana Williams, bin Laden Hates Global Warming, Global Warming Hates Him, IGHIH

[bin Laden’s] strategy is not to stop global warming, but rather to draw broader global support for his anti-American efforts. What better way to wreak havoc and chaos in the nation of his enemies than to associate himself with one of the fastest growing sectors of the US economy: clean energy.

Casper ter Kuile, Bin Laden – How To Respond, IGHIH

Those in the struggle for a clean-energy economy and safe climate future, should ask themselves why bin Laden would come out with this statement. This is the man who has shown no concern for human life, indeed revels in killing innocent people – why does he now care about rising sea-levels?

His plan is to drive the wedge between the climate cynics and climate activists even further, and it’s already working. This is the perfect story to kill any federal climate bill in the U.S. In fact it’s the perfect strategy if you desire chaos and destruction.

So how should the environmental movement respond?

  1. Immediately and unequivocally condemn his comments. We can’t let ourselves be aligned with a terrorist. Bin Laden isn’t an environmentalist and cares nothing about climate change (because that would mean caring about people).
  2. Whatever your feelings on climate change; don’t use his comments for your cause, because actually he will be using you.

Solitaire Townsend, Don’t be used by Osama bin Laden, Futerra

Osama bin Laden is a terrorist and a murderer. He must be wringing his hands with glee at the thought of all the havoc climate change could bring.

Osama bin Laden is driving the wedge even deeper between climate cynics and climate activists. He has identified the perfect issue to reflame America’s culture wars and de-rail any climate bill. It’s a perfect strategy if you desire chaos and destruction.

A world suffering climate chaos would provide rich pickings for fanatics like Osama. He has hit upon the perfect strategy. With one climate statement he can cause rifts across the world and bring the world a little closer to climate change. Today he must be a happy man.

Matt Dernoga, Bin Laden joins the Climate Debate, Deniers Rejoice, The Dernogalizer

As soon as I saw this, I figured the conservatives were going to have a field day, and it turns out they’ve stooped low enough to go beyond the usual absurdity of loose guilt by character association, to guilt by issue association. Apparently, if you believe that rising greenhouse gas emissions are causing dangerous global warming and must be reduced, then you’re in the same camp as a madman terrorist who shoots off rants in the form of tape recordings about all sorts of things. This is supposed to de-legitimize the argument that we should reduce greenhouse gas emissions. …

Bin Laden certainly wants the US to stay addicted to oil, and the real reason he is likely making those comments is to cause enough turmoil to derail ongoing efforts by activists and Congress to get us off of oil. Conservatives have just played right into Bin Laden’s hand.

Andrew Belonsky, Osama bin Laden’s Climate Stance Should Shame Right, Death & Taxes

Osama bin Laden took a break from his typical insanity today to blast an international enemy even President Obama loathes: climate change. Though his uninspired solutions only reinforce bin Laden’s image as a madman who’s entirely out of touch with reality, they at least make him look better than some of our elected officials. How shameful!

Joe Romm, Limbaugh, Fox News suckered by Bin Laden into repeating his disinformation and message of hatred, ClimateProgress

Terrorists try very hard to spread their disinformation. A key goal is to get others to spread it for them, especially ones who are holed up in a cave somewhere. Thus terrorists craft their disinformation into a sensational message that they hope gullible members of the global media will repeat.

So who got suckered into repeating the message of the number one terrorist in the world? …

It’s amazing that any major media outlet is dumb enough to repeat this, let alone write analysis as if Bin Laden actual believes anything he says.

For the record, it simply is impossible to stop global warming by bringing the US economy to a halt. Only right-wing ideologues could get suckered into pushing this crap for the likes of Al Qaeda .

Tags: Energy

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