Norwegians who insist that the Americans brought September 11 on themselves, that the CIA created, then lost control of, Osama bin Laden - and there are quite a few who believe this - should read Torbjørn Knutsens recent book Blodspor (Blood tracks). In fact, it ought to be bought by the thousands and airdropped over Oslo - as historical emergency aid. Norwegian criticism of the war on terrorism has been marred by a stubborn, almost malevolent, ignorance of the nature and background of the problem. This may have been excusable in the immediate aftermath of September 11 - or at least I shouldn't point the finger too smugly, as I didn't know more about Islamic terrorism at the time than most of us. But at least I, and, (many Norwegians will be surprised to learn), quite many Americans, immediately set out to cure that ignorance - with open minds and curiosity.

And so, apparently, did Torbjørn Knutsen, a professor at the University of Trondheim, who, after September 11, turned his course in international politics into an investigation of the historical background of the event. Blodspor is the product of that investigation. It pulls together the threads that led up to the attack, in particular those involving the war in Afghanistan, and explains American foreign policy at the time of Carter and Reagan with a rare respect for the motivations and worldviews of those involved. It explains that, far from being on the receiving end of American resources and training, which primarily (but indirectly) went to local mujahedins, Osama bin Laden and his organization, a precursor to al-Qaeda, was a Saudi creation. And though the US can be faulted for underestimating the threat of Islamic fanaticism, for giving Pakistan and the ISI control over its massive support to the mujahedins, and for withdrawing its attention from Afghanistan too quickly after the war, and though al-Qaeda could not have existed without American involvement in Afghanistan, the US simply did not create al-Qaeda.

The weakest chapters in the book are co-written with students. The explanation of the idea-history of Jihad fails to follow its threads back to Islam's early expansion, gives the impression that politics and religion were first merged in Islam by the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1930's, and unquestionally repeats the claim that traditional Islam downplayed the importance of the "little" military Jihad in favor of the "bigger" spiritual Jihad. I would recommend Bernard Lewis and Stephen Schwartz to fill out some of the blanks here.

The bonus, which for Norwegians ought to elevate this book above others that may have been written on the subject, is its particular Norwegian perspective. As I've tried to document in this blog, the Norwegian press has treated the most important foreign policy subject of our time, the war on terror, with ignorance and prejudice. The most powerful nation on Earth went to war three months ago, and few people here had any clue why. Knutsen has little respect for Norwegian press reactions to September 11.

Usually, where the sources are the thinnest, interpretations, guesswork and prejudiced opinions shine through most clearly. Where the sources are the most lacking and connections least clear, we all navigate after known lighthouses. We fall back onto known discourses. In the Muslim world, many islamists place their trust in the Koran when sources are thin and connections unclear. In Norway, commentators fall back on several different discourses. But whenever the US is concerned, Norwegian observers set their course after the usual stars of the Vietnam war. [..]

To these commentators, it is tempting to remind of two things: The Vietnam war ended in 1975. And the Cold War ended in 1990. This is getting to be a long time ago. Isn't it time to abandon the old conspiratorial theories of 30 and 40 years ago? Shouldn't one now retire the old geopolitical models from the time when major political events were often reflexes of the super powers' own conspiracy theories? [..]

It is necessary to point out that there also is a secular dimension to bin Laden's message. That he, in addition to being religiously anchored in Islam, is also politically anchored in anti-imperialist thinking. [..] Osama bin Laden's anti-imperialist attitudes are not analytical. They do not rest on sharp analysis of oppression and exploitative mechanisms, they are rather carried by traditional anti-liberal ideas of the standard romantic kind. They are not presented intellectually, but ritually. [..]

That is an explosive mixture. The anti-imperialist part of [bin Laden's] political discourse hold a large appeal also outside islamist groups. Anti-imperialist sections in Norway were, for instance, long doubtful of president Bush's statements that bin Laden and al-Qaeda were behind the terrorist attack on September 11. One was willing to give Osama bin laden the benefit of the doubt.

This anti-imperialism is well known from 20th century international politics. It has grown out of the very roots of the anti-liberal, anti-democratic and anti-capitalist idea world.

Reviews of this book, which despite faults deserves wide attention in Norway, have been remarkably few in number. A search only turns up two - a critical one in Fædrelandsvennen and a mostly positive one in Dagbladet. The book was released four months ago. So how about that air drop?

Blodspor sounds like a good attempt to evlauate what has been happening. Perhaps some of our own should get a translation.

As a long-time reader of English mysteries, may I suggest "Blood Spoor" as an alternate title? It is not in common use, except by hunters and mystery writers, but there are a lot of blondes in England - and the successful Norman Invasion was by Normandy - a region of France which was despaired of by the rest as being composed of "North Men" rather than Mediterraneans - and the language reflects this at least as much as the Roman.

Sounds like a good book.

It should be noted that the CIA has said that it never had any relationship whatsoever with Osama Bin Laden.

http://www.cia.gov/terrorism/faqs.html

!!wake up!! made this comment,

HOW CAN THE FUTURE BE SO PRIMATIVE?

Here we are in the Twentieth Century helplessly watching yet another Human Culture be "Oppressed" by a "White Suppremest Imperialistic Power". Who's country is the opposite of independant and who's Rich illustirous lifestile is nothing more than the "Spoils of War" A Nation that FORCES its POLITICAL GOALS upon another society through MILITARY POWER is called an Empire. And when its POLITICAL GOALS are RACIALY and FINANCIALLY motivated its called a "HATE CRIME" or WAR CRIME/CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY And don't be mistaken an EMPIRE is exactly what the United States intends to build. Expressing no COMPASHION FOR HUMANITY, CONCIENCE nor sense of WRONG or RIGHT the FACIST WHITE SUPPREMEST IMPERIALISTIC POWER known as the United States Government has yet again SLANDERED and OPPRESSED another HUMAN SOCIETY. Justifying 3000 American lives lost in a plane accident the United States Launched a 4 day bombardment of a heavily populated CIVILIAN area killing upwards of 100,000 inoccent people. Proving Once agian they will not only STEAL another cultures land but HUMILIATE and GENOCIDE their NATURAL WAY OF LIFE. Never in my life did i really think I would be so glad to live in the Great White North(THE GOOD SIDE OF THE BORDER) Now realalizing that only 195 years ago to this Canada Day that 10's of thousands of Canadians gave their lives to stop a MASS AMERICAN INVASION for the CIVIL RIGHTS and FREEDOM we have today. We Truely are free. To the South are 260 million Brainwashed Nazi Capitalists who will Point Certain Death in whatever direction their CORUPT GOVERNMENT points its twisted finger. How Quickly ANITITERRORISM turns to TERRORISM. Now is the Time that Canada must Stand up and let our voice be heard, We are one of the GREATEST INDEPENDANT MULTICULTURAL NATIONS IN THE WORLD who practice FREE TRADE and promote FREEDOM and PROSPERITY thoughout the world. We must not forget our HERITAGE and allow ourselves to be ASSIMILATED by the "Nazi Capitalists" who now feel they are fit to rule the world. I Refer to the United States as NAZI CAPITALISTS for the simple fact that they're government has launched a MINDWARPING PROPEGANDA scheme and commited such atrosive CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY that it can only be compared to the HOLOCAUST in reality the United States has been the AXIS OF ALL EVIL in the last 250 years. Origianaly British CONQORERS who Launched a RACIALY and FINANCIALLY motived War agianst a New Found North America LandMass. Which lead to the near GENOCIDE of an entire HUMAN CULTURE.(The "Indian Wars" not in American History!) But to what eventually turned on its MOTHERLAND Britain. Then Canada for not joining its Cause, Trying to Assimilate Not only our Culture but Land and Finances. The United States now denies its Eastern origin and Considers itself a Western Culture as it has Continued to ASSULT the rest of the FREE world since. Using FACIST BRAINWASHING NAZI PROPEGANDA to gain their populations support and financial backing. The United States Government has never Been invaded nor has another culture tried to assimilate them yet they are commited to SPENDING BILLIONS and killing THOUSANDS to fight every United States INVASION to the "last ditch" in order to expand their borders and achieve their political and economical goals.

Yet somehow the American Public thinks they are PROTECTING THEMSELVES!?!?

The American public has watched COVERUP after SCANDAL and COVERUP after CONSPIRACY and yet still never questions their Governments Morals or Motivations...They blindly follow in a SLAUGHTER THE COW fashion while their TAX DOLLARS are spent on the MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTING of WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION instead of HEALTHCARE and EDUCATION! Yet Americans claim they fight for FREEDOM!?

In the 20th Century it there is only ONE "TERRORIST ORGANIZATION" and it is the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. The American Citizens need to wake up and realize that thier Government WELCOMeS and BRINGS WW3 to the Human Race so they can Conqour it!

-A Canadian Citizen who loves his FREEDOM HIS COUNTRY AND THE NATURAL FREE WORLD

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