Warning

Warning

American opposition towards Muslims has been known and observed throughout the entire world. America has led their missions in order to show Muslims their place and maintain peace within the boundaries of their lands by using American Military Force. However, the Muslims became annoyed with constant intrusions into their freedom. Not willing to suffer more oppression, the extreme Islamism leader, Osama bin Laden, has sent a letter to the American authorities with questions, censorious remarks, and best wishes to appeal their natural desires. Through this letter, he wishes to explain to America the rest of the world the reasons behind Muslim terrorism attacks. Manipulators like Bin Laden tend to use rhetorical devices to reach their goals. However, Bin Laden used ethos, pathos and unemotive logos to hide a simple act of terrorism and to convince his audience throughout his letter.

The letter opens up with the words taken from Holy Quran, where the name of Allah is praised and he is claimed to give the believers right to fight and be victorious. The non-believers are considered to be the worshipers of Satan – as Muslims believe there is the only one god in the world and that is Allah. Osama bin Laden starts his speech with the question, “On what basis are we fighting” (Bin Laden)? He supports his question with American articles, who published the “truth” about Islamic Law. In this instant, Osama utilizes logos, which is the reason and logic behind the attacks and fighting between America and the Muslims. Osama wants to outline what is real in the form of “explanation and warning” (Bin Laden).

The letter contains two basic questions, which are supported with hard evidence examples throughout the whole text. The first question is, “Why are we fighting and opposing you?”(Bin Laden). Osama’s first response (logos) to his own question is, “Because you attacked us and continue to attack us” (Bin Laden). This statement shows that he blames America’s policy and actions directly. The first painful experience Bin Laden highlights is the American support of Palestine. As much as Osama is concerned he sees America’s aid towards Palestine as a “crime” (Bin Laden). He argues, “The creation of Israel is a crime which must be erased” (Bin Laden). Moreover, Osama says directly and without a doubt that people, who contributed to Israel’s help and support will pay for this “heavily” (Bin Laden), perhaps, with their lives. This response is a use of logos, to explain the reason behind the attacks and the warfare. In addition, Osama Bin Laden’s first response to the first question also has a very strong ethos. This is partly due to his personal ideology and mostly due to the Law of Quran. Allah is a god, who allows killing, so every Islamic moral characteristic as a nation is somehow brutal.

Further reading provides evidence that Bin Laden has his vision of historical belonging of Palestine to the Jews. He claims that pure Arabs are the authentic people, who lived in Palestinian territory and Muslims have the inheritance right on Torah. According to him, “Muslims are the most worthy nation of this [Palestine and Torah]” (Bin Laden). Moreover, Muslin blood in Palestine has to be revenged according to Quran sayings.

The usage of pathos has also quite a strong appeal towards the readers’ emotions. Osama uses strong language to support his ideas and maintain the audience in horrified and scared state of mind. He wants his words look like warning, though the real aim hiding underneath them is total blackmail and terrorizing. Osama Bin Laden feels very upset about his people and the letter is filled with different kinds of emotions that contrast. Osama Bin laden believes this religion to be the one and only true and the first religion to be present on Earth. The other religions have to be sealed according to Bin Laden’s writing. According to Bin Laden, the second thing Muslims want is for America to stop its oppression, immorality and lies.

The second and the third responses (logos) to the question of why do Muslims fight back are the U.S. fault of attacking them and oppressing in Somalia, Russian Chechnya, Indian Kashmir, and Lebanon. However, the greatest and the most striking assault is that American authorities supervise the governments of Islamic countries, who attack terrorists from within. He explains that, “these governments prevent our people from establishing the Islamic Shariah, using violence and lies to do so” (Bin Laden). As their own governments oppose against Osama’s people and put them into prisons, humiliating and causing fear. Further, he believes that in order to fulfill the great mission of Allah, he and his people have to eliminate these governments, “to make Shariah the supreme law and to regain Palestine” (Bin Laden).

The next Iraqi problem with America is that the country steals its oil, the only way towards the Muslims’ wealth. Bin Laden cannot understand the kind of theft and is angry with United States.

On reading the letter further, Osama dwells on the problem of American forces and bases placed in Iraq. He sees the starvation of 1.5 billion Iraqi children as greater grief than the death of 3000 American soldiers due to American – Iraqi war. Osama Bin Laden aims to use pathos to trap the readers’ emotions with this piece of information. Again, he mentions the belonging of Jerusalem to Jews and the protection America poses on this country and these people. Osama thinks it to be unfair and the strong desire of Israelis to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque makes the Islam leader eager for revenge (pathos).

The ethos of this part of the letter maintains the same tone as the previous one, pertaining strong language to show the strong (one and only) beliefs Osama has. Speaking about the pathos, Osama’s intentions are to show the devastating impact of American forces upon the Muslims and he does it in a form of “pangs of remorse”. However, he does not plead for mercy, no, he just states the crimes America should pay for. The logos of the letter, or its unemotive structure, can be seen throughout Bin Laden’s calm manner of reporting to U. S.’s remorse. He does not insult them with brutal words or indicate directly, “I will kill you”. His main goal is still to list the damage and to warn.

The second question Osama wants to enlighten America about is, “What are we calling you to, and what do we want from you” (Bin Laden)? The answer is simple, “stop your oppression, immorality, lies and debauchery that has spread among you” (Bin Laden). Osama Bin Laden wants to earn credibility here (logos).This part of the letter contains the list of things America has to do in order to omit “serious trouble”. Osama does not ask whether it is possible for U.S. government to do so, he wants these things to be done, and to be done immediately.

By providing a list of things that Bin Laden hopes America should observe, he wants to earn credibility to the readers. The first reason that only Muslim religion is the true religion is the use of ethos. This claim may not be supported by the reader but he believes it. However, the second reason given by Osama about Immorality, oppression, and lies capture the reader’s emotion (pathos). In addition, Osama Bin Laden gets credibility because he provides examples that support his claim (logos). Here, he gives the example of President Clinton’s immoral acts. He underlines that these two factors were not counted or even notices, however, this kind of terms the country dictates towards Islamists. Further, he advises to stop any support provided towards Israel (logos), and to get out of the Islam lands America occupies by force (pathos). The sixth demand is to end support of the corrupt leaders in Iraq (logos).

The ethos of this part is really-really strong, even arrogant. It seems like Osama does not want his ideology to be heard, he wants everyone to bow under Allah’s will. The pathos of the letter shifts from the “pangs of remorse” mode towards the one that is oppressive. The emotions become negative with a bit of disgust.

To conclude, the letter is considered to be an act of terrorism against America propagandizes violence and hidden attacks of terrorists upon the States. Moreover, it is surely a note of blackmailing, and in case of not fulfilling all the demands Osama says, “Then prepare for fight with the Islamic Nation” (Bin Laden).

Works cited

Bin Laden, Osama. “Full text: Bin Laden’s “Letter to America”. “Guardian” [United Kingdom] 24 November 2002, World News. Web. 27 Oct. 2013.