Omar bin Laden is a sideshow at best, but this article is typical of the international coverage he has received lately: it focuses on his rejection of his father’s methods, without ever questioning whether or not he holds to his father’s goals, and is trying to accomplish them through different means. This is, unfortunately, yet another manifestation of the superficiality and lack of understanding that mars so much of the media and government/law enforcement analysis of the jihad threat.
“Bin Laden urged by his son to end explosions,” from Xinhua :
CAIRO, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) — Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was urged by his son to stop explosions as they do no good for anyone, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old Omar bin Laden made the remarks in an interview with an Egyptian TV program broadcast on Monday, the report said.
The killing of civilians contradicts religion, democracy and humanity, Omar was quoted by MENA as saying in the first Arabic television channel interview in Cairo.
Asserting his intention to be an ambassador for peace, Omar also called on his father to try to stop using bombs and weapons and to find another way to reach his goals.
Ah. So.