Viewpoint: Osama bin Laden was a perpetrator of mass violence, not an internet sensation

Peter Bergen, CNNs national security analyst, vice president at New America, professor of practice at Arizona State University, and host of the Audible podcast "In the Room" (also available on Apple and Spotify), points out that Osama bin Laden, despite not being a profound thinker, was the head of a terrorist organization that caused the fatalities of numerous Americans, Westerners, and individuals in Muslim-majority nations.

It is perplexing that TikTok users are praising bin Laden's 2002 "Letter to America," which outlines al Qaeda's justification for the 9/11 attacks, in videos that have garnered at least 14 million views.

Many of those who admire bin Laden on TikTok seem to be in their twenties, suggesting that they either did not exist or were very young when 9/11 occurred. Additionally, they demonstrate a profound lack of knowledge regarding the true history of al Qaeda.

Bin Laden's operatives not only orchestrated the tragic 9/11 attacks, claiming the lives of 2,997 individuals, but they also targeted two US embassies in Africa back in 1998. These bombings resulted in the deaths of over 200 Kenyans and Tanzanians, as well as a dozen Americans.

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Bin Ladens al Qaeda affiliate in Iraq helped to trigger the Iraqi civil war in 2006, during which tens of thousands of Iraqis died.

In 2002, in Indonesia, a group associated with al Qaeda caused the deaths of over 200 individuals in Bali. In London, three years later, followers of bin Laden orchestrated the deadliest terrorist attack in the history of Britain, claiming the lives of 52 commuters. These incidents are just a glimpse of the havoc caused by bin Laden and his followers. The "Letter to America" was initially published on The Guardians website in 2002 but has been taken down by the Guardian this week due to its rapidly spreading popularity.

This text is an extensive list of justifications, spanning multiple pages, explaining why al Qaeda launched the 9/11 attack on the United States. It commences by addressing the issue of Palestine, stating that Israel occupies it with the backing of America. Recent TikTok videos have surfaced drawing parallels between bin Laden's disapproval of Israel and their own disapproval of the US support for Israel's conflict with Hamas.

Additionally, the "Letter to America" strongly condemns the United States' contribution to global warming, the acceptance of homosexuality, and the prevailing drug culture within the country.

I have extensive knowledge of bin Laden's writings, having read tens of thousands of words written by him. Furthermore, I have authored multiple books on al Qaeda and even conducted bin Laden's inaugural television interview, which was broadcast on CNN in 1997. However, it is unclear to me whether bin Laden is the author of this "Letter to America" as it deviates considerably from his typical writings. If he did indeed write it, he likely received assistance from others.

An undisclosed location in Afghanistan features an undated recent file picture of Saudi dissident Ossama Bin Ladin. The Taliban has denied any involvement of Saudi dissident-in-exile in Afghanistan, Ossama Bin Ladin, in the two bomb attacks on United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Bin Ladin, a billionaire and member of a wealthy Saudi construction tycoon family, has been accused of orchestrating two bomb blasts in his home country in 1995-96 resulting in the death of 24 US servicemen. (Photo credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Several young Americans on TikTok express sympathy towards Osama bin Laden. However, rather than primarily focusing on cultural or political critiques of the United States, bin Laden's extensive statements primarily criticize American policies in the Middle East. These criticisms include the US support for Israel and its support for the Saudi royal family.

Bin Laden himself possessed a strong focus on the Palestinian issue. During his teenage years, he would gather companions to participate in chanting religious songs in support of Palestine. Additionally, his father, who held a prominent role in a construction company, oversaw the renovation of the three most sacred Islamic sites, including the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a territory that was seized by the Israeli army in the 1967 War.

Hence, bin Laden maintained a personal connection with the Palestinian issue while also harboring significant religious convictions as a devout Muslim. In his declaration of war against the United States on August 23, 1996, he expressed, "I continue to experience the agony caused by the loss of Al-Quds [Jerusalem] deep within my core; this loss burns like a fire within my being."

The Palestinian issue played a significant role in bin Laden's animosity towards the US. Following his death, the absence of his influence diminished the importance of this issue for other jihadist groups. Groups like ISIS prioritized targeting Shias in countries like Iraq and Syria, viewing them as heretics. However, the Palestinian issue has now resurfaced as a prominent cause for jihadist groups ranging from al Qaeda to ISIS.

Don't miss out on our free weekly newsletter! Subscribe now to stay updated on the latest episodes of "In the Room with Peter Bergen," where I had the opportunity to interview Nelly Lahoud. Lahoud, a renowned professor of security studies at the US Army War College and author of "The Bin Laden Papers," meticulously analyzed the extensive collection of documents found at bin Laden's hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan. These documents comprised approximately 6,000 pages containing al Qaeda's internal communications.

Sign up for CNN Opinions newsletter and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook. Lahoud revealed that bin Laden severely underestimated the US response to the 9/11 attacks. According to Lahoud, bin Laden believed that the American people would rally against the war in a manner similar to the Vietnam anti-war protests, urging their government to withdraw military forces from the Middle East.

Bin Laden's attacks on 9/11 had an unexpected outcome - instead of the United States withdrawing from the Middle East, they became incredibly entrenched in the region, more so than ever before in its history. It would perhaps be wise for those sharing content on TikTok to familiarize themselves with this context prior to lauding bin Laden's supposed intelligence.