Osama Bin Laden: Terrorist and...Wedding Poet?

The pending publication of Osama Bin Laden's poetry in the academic journal Language and Communication next month is sparking some debate. While the poems could provide insight into Bin Laden's psyche, many people wonder why the heck you would give the guy another forum.

The poetry is being translated by Professor Flagg Miller who teaches Arabic poetry at the University of California at Davis. Miller is working from recordings discovered at an Al Qaeda compound in Kandahar in 2001 which include Bin Laden reciting his poetry at weddings, ceremonies, and various Al Qaeda recruiting events. The FBI spent years translating and screening the poems for hidden messages to Bin Laden's followers. Now that the poems are apparently clear, Miller aims to publish a book about them.

Judging by Miller's descriptions, Bin Laden's poetry is what you'd expect it to be. He paints himself as a sort of warrior poet and aims to incite violent religious fundamentalism by blending religious imagery--much of it taken directly from the Quran--with imagery of war and heroism. Miller calls Bin Laden an "entertainer with an agenda" and describes a typical tactic:

"He told gory tales of dead mujaheddin from the villages where he was speaking, which was often the first time their families had learned of their fates. He mixed this news up with radical theology and his own verse based on the traditions of hamasa - a warlike poetic tradition from Oman calculated to capture the interest of young men."

Elsewhere, he gets to the heart of it:

"The violence and barbarism of war can sicken anybody and poetry is a way to frame that violence in higher ethics."

It's a strong argument, I think, for not publishing the poetry.

According to Miller, Bin Laden actually has some poetical talent. In a recent interview with The Times of London, Miller said: "Bin Laden is a skilled poet with clever rhymes and meters, which was one reason why many people taped him and passed recordings around, like pop songs." Bin Laden may, in fact, have "clever rhymes and meters"--I really don't know--but I'm guessing his poetry's popularity has more to do with his legions of fanatical radical Islamic followers. I doubt listeners were charmed by what Miller calls Bin Laden's "distinctive monotone."

Another Arabic scholar interviewed by The Times, who has read the poems and wished to remain anonymous, disagreed with Bin Laden's ability, saying of the poems:

"They seem adolescent and brutal, like a video--nasty, composed with minimal skill to win over the susceptible mind of the young and bloodthirsty male...Whatever else Bin Laden is, he is now exposed as a disgrace to two millennia of Arabic culture."

Miller's playing up Bin Laden's skill might have something to do with his being in the process of writing--and thus to some degree pitching--a book on the subject. Even if the Bin Laden poems were radical Islam's answer to Walt Whitman, I'd prefer it if his work ended up lost in a government warehouse somewhere. It's currently headed to Yale University to be digitized.

Comments

[PTAPittbull]

early voting has started maybe they bring out bin laden any minute as a capture by bush

[Hollis-Greene]

I'm sure hidden within these poems are secret plans to attack America...

Yes, like all 'Mad Men' there's always time for a little poetry.

[doug108]

I don't see what harm publishing these poems could do. I'm sure it won't be the first time anyone who runs in bin Laden's circle will have heard them.

Publish them. Let's read what's on his mind.

[carlgt1]

I shot a rocket into the air...
where it fell I know not where...

hmmm, well, one thing you can say -- when Bin Laden crashes your wedding, he REALLY crashes it!

[icemilkcoffee]

I don't see what the big deal is about somebody publishing Osama's poetry. He may be our adversary, but that doesn't mean you can't listen to he has to say.

[jusion]

I don't get it. Did you say Osama or Obama?

[daddydave]

You certainly don't. No, I said "racist".

[Hollis-Greene]

Wow... didn't see that one coming.

Neanderthal

[KitWit]

All I know is, I think BUsh purposely delays finding Bin Laden, because the longer he's out on theloose, the more countries can be invaded and overtaken under the guise of finding him. Think about it. It's not far-fetched.

[Badfickle]

Bush has done more damage to this country than Bin Ladin could ever dream of.

[judoka61]

That's because ethical and moral it's relative to what people are thinking..

[CousinTiti]

The late Ayatollah Khomeini was also a poet--he even wrote love poems to his wife.

[Whinger]

It's good to talk, it's good to read, it's good to understand his needs!

First rule of war, know your enemy!

[PeaceOnEarth62]

Exactly. Without preconditions correct?
How else can we learn about others?
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Knowledge is power and all that.
Our Senator Obama knows these things.....

[BillCarson]

Translation: 36 days to the election, time to drag out old Osama again. Next up: Orange Alert!

[daddydave]

BillCarson's got it right:

The message to us is to "be very afraid and continue to do what you are told". ENOUGH!

Bin Laden is nothing more than the leading actor in the government's "argument of convenience". Remember, Bin Laden's goal's and the Administration's goals are aligned. Both work to the destruction of the common American citizen.

After all, dissidents who are prone to research & investigation (like myself) know that the Administration, not Bin Laden, orchestrated the 3,000 American deaths on 9-11.

Why would you believe the bold liars in the current administration about ANYTHING? Of course Bin Laden claimed to be involved - Bin Laden's corroboration of the Administration's 9-11 lie greatly enhanced his power among followers.

As responsible Americans, how dare we not do our own homework and search out truth? I am still disgusted that we couldn't see through the hype. It was so obvious. The rest of the world is still laughing at our gullibility and naiveté.

Well, at least we can look forward to a fixed, hackable and totally unaccountable electronic election process in November, thanks to George W. Bush, former Attorney General Gonzales and the entire U.S. Congress. Thanks, guys, they couldn't have stolen another election without you.

Got paper ballots?

[chriswininger]

I think it is good to publish things like this. People should read and dissect this kind of literature so that they know it when they see it. Osama is obviously a skilled orator or he would not have one so many converts. If you are living within the context of his culture his words probably make a lot more since than they do to most people in America. We need to be able to recognize hate literature when its presented to us because it will not be as readily apparent from the inside. We are not immune. Look at the dominance of the KKK in the 1920’s. They pretty much controlled all local government throughout the Midwest. Just think how effectively early Europeans dehumanized and slaughtered the Natives of this land. The root of a tree grows underground where it is sheltered and nurtured. If we allow his words to remain unexposed to the light of other cultures then we effectively shield its roots. It must be exposed to the light.

Besides maybe he really is a good artist. He wouldn’t be the first artist to be a bad person. I love Bukowski’s poetry but if he were alive I think I would slap him in the face.

[Swerinjer]

if you take his name out of the article it sounds like they're describing a rapper.

[DrYRHead]

Very much so.

[elcojonu]

Can Bush spell and pronounce P O E T R Y ?

[cylindar]

Nobody reads poetry anymore anyways!!!!

[Susej]

I think you would prove yourself wrong if you take a peek one day.
We have a rich history of poets in our culture.
Please read (and enjoy) Emily Dickinson. http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/emily_dickinson
Also check the other poets on that site too.

[ParanoidPollyanna]

People may not READ poetry anymore, but they sure are LISTENING to Poetry! Today's poetry is in the LYRICS of the Songs of our 21st Century Poets -- the Rock musician, the Rapper, the Folk Singers, etc. -- from Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Willy Nelson, Bruce Springstreen, Green Day, U-2, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Will I. Am, Gnarls Barkley, Serj Tankian, Black-Eyed Peas, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, the Beatles, Tupac, Kanye West, etc.

Ghengis Khan used POETRY sent by messengers, across great distances to his Army, the Leader's Battlefield commands were DISGUISED within the Poems. I am sure Osama Bin Laden is quite aware of that historical fact!