Bin Laden, who was projected by the US as the greatest danger to the west, declared as Enemy No. 1 and made to be the most wanted terrorist, is no more. He is dead and gone, gone to where everyone who breathes on earth is destined to go. But his story refuses to die. He is still the most reported and discussed person on front pages and in columns of newspapers. The CIA claimed that it has seized a large cache of hard disks, pen drives and documents which will reveal more details about him.
The US also accuses him of being the real mastermind of infamous 9/11 attack which killed around 2,800 innocents. It is not yet clear whether Bin Laden was really behind the attack or he boasted of executing it to enhance his reputation. He is also accused of issuing extremely reprehensible and wholly unacceptable statements like “it is the duty of all Muslims to kill unbelievers, especially Americans”.
Whatever may be the facts or myths, now the world is free from Bin Laden and his machinations. But the question remains: was he worth two long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which have devoured more than a million civilians, brought untold miseries to large populations, caused displacements of 6 to 8 million people, and led to a staggering expenditure of $1 trillion (equivalent to Rs. 50 lakh crore).
What is the next agenda of America? Pursuing yet another ghost figure Al-Zawahiri, if he is alive, or building bridges of understanding among the nations of the world and removing the causes of hatred? Is it not a better and safer option to support the forces of sanity and moderation in the Muslim world, strengthen democracy and desist from helping dictators, autocrats and kings? Is it not prudent to understand the religious aspirations of the Muslim world and allow Islam to play its constructive role in shaping the future of Muslim Ummah?
In this regard it is interesting that Graham E. Fuller, former Vice Chairman of the National Intelligence Council at CIA, in his book A World without Islam (Little Brown & Co. New York, August 2010), stresses a better and deeper understanding of Islam and Islamic forces. Tracing the long Islamic history, he asserts that the constructive power of Islam has been greater than that of other religions and far greater than secular ideologies. He also pleads for allowing Islamists to come to power and prove the overall positive contribution of their ideology in building a more peaceful and prosperous life. America must listen to the sane advice of its highly placed former functionary.
The surest way of defeating Bin Ladenist approach is to allow the Muslim world freedom to shape its collective life in the light of Islamic teachings, withdraw American forces from Muslim lands, and end interference in the Muslim world. It is the joint responsibility of every country to remove the causes of hatred, strife and terror and promote an atmosphere of peace, cooperation and reconstruction.