Newswise — The death of extremist leader Osama bin Laden is certainly a victory for the United States as the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, but the ideology he espoused continues to pose a threat to open societies, says an authority on terrorism at the University of Indianapolis. Although the United States has faced many enemies in its history, rarely has it managed to exact personal retribution on the leaders behind those movements, says Douglas Woodwell, assistant professor of international relations. “King George III lived another four decades, the Kaiser went into exile, Emperor Hirohito was allowed to retain his title, and Hitler took his own life,” Woodwell says. “With the possible exception of Hitler, no figure in American history has been as reviled as Osama Bin Laden. And we got him.” The celebration should be tempered, however, by the fact that Al Qaeda has evolved during the past decade from a centralized cabal of evildoers to a small but worldwide movement of alienated Muslims who have pinned their self-identity on their support of “defending Islam” through violence against civilians and military targets alike. “Although Bin Laden is dead, no one will argue that the ideas spread through his support of global terrorism died with him,” Woodwell says. “It’s still a long struggle ahead, and that struggle will be waged largely in the same area that he was most successful – the realm of ideology. “The recent revolutions in the Middle East have been so important because they have reflected a thirst for human dignity and democracy, rather than religious absolutism. Through public diplomacy and prudent, respectful foreign policy, the United States must work to preserve the recent triumphs of its fundamental ideals throughout the region.”
INTERVIEWS: Douglas Woodwell, Ph.D., a specialist on terrorism and international conflict at the University of Indianapolis, is available for interviews on this and related topics. Contact Scott Hall, UIndy media relations, at (317) 371-5240.
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