Was bin Laden surprised by the US response to 9/11/01?

[Feck]

He was probably surprised anybody stupid enough to swallow the virgins in heaven thing could be taught to fly a plane .

[Coito ergo sum]

Yes, but the post to which I responded was not merely an expression of doubt, but an assertion of fabrication. It also was devoid of explanation, so it was unclear what was being challenged, and why there was such an emotional response to what does not appear to be a particularly politically polarizing question.

Well, your post could very well be considered an assertion that the information is, in fact, true. Without some critical thinking behind it, the item is no more than copy pasta.

No. My post was a question - I asked if he was surprised, or if it was what he actually intended to have happen. I posted the article, because it was someone who asserted the former. For some reason, it appears that people have attempted to anticipate what my opinion on the topic is.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Yes, but the post to which I responded was not merely an expression of doubt, but an assertion of fabrication. It also was devoid of explanation, so it was unclear what was being challenged, and why there was such an emotional response to what does not appear to be a particularly politically polarizing question.

Well, your post could very well be considered an assertion that the information is, in fact, true. Without some critical thinking behind it, the item is no more than copy pasta.

No. My post was a question - I asked if he was surprised, or if it was what he actually intended to have happen. I posted the article, because it was someone who asserted the former. For some reason, it appears that people have attempted to anticipate what my opinion on the topic is.

Oh no! That would imply that you have a definite persona and predictable attitudes. Nobody would have ever thought that of you.

[Coito ergo sum]

Yes, but the post to which I responded was not merely an expression of doubt, but an assertion of fabrication. It also was devoid of explanation, so it was unclear what was being challenged, and why there was such an emotional response to what does not appear to be a particularly politically polarizing question.

Well, your post could very well be considered an assertion that the information is, in fact, true. Without some critical thinking behind it, the item is no more than copy pasta.

No. My post was a question - I asked if he was surprised, or if it was what he actually intended to have happen. I posted the article, because it was someone who asserted the former. For some reason, it appears that people have attempted to anticipate what my opinion on the topic is.

Oh no! That would imply that you have a definite persona and predictable attitudes. Nobody would have ever thought that of you.

Anyone who would think that would be going by their own ill-conceived and pre-conceived notions, and would probably be among those who falsely accuse me of being a libertarian one day, and a "far right conservative" the next.

Further, which position here is more in line with what you might think my "predictable attitudes" are? That Osama bin Laden was surprised, or was not surprised? Is this even something that is drawn along ideological lines? What's the correct view and what's the incorrect view? What's the right wing view and what's the left wing view?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Probably.

[charlou]

bin Laden's thinking

There's the contentious point right there.

[charlou]

Yes, but the post to which I responded was not merely an expression of doubt, but an assertion of fabrication. It also was devoid of explanation, so it was unclear what was being challenged, and why there was such an emotional response to what does not appear to be a particularly politically polarizing question.

Well, your post could very well be considered an assertion that the information is, in fact, true. Without some critical thinking behind it, the item is no more than copy pasta.

No. My post was a question - I asked if he was surprised, or if it was what he actually intended to have happen. I posted the article, because it was someone who asserted the former. For some reason, it appears that people have attempted to anticipate what my opinion on the topic is.

Oh no! That would imply that you have a definite persona and predictable attitudes. Nobody would have ever thought that of you.

Getting a bit personal there, Gawd ...


I read the op as a question, and a rather interesting one ...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Oh no! That would imply that you have a definite persona and predictable attitudes. Nobody would have ever thought that of you.

Getting a bit personal there, Gawd ...


I read the op as a question, and a rather interesting one ...

Plausible deniability.

[charlou]

Historically, how had the people they bullied and terrorised on their own soil prior to their attack on the US, reacted to them? That may give us an idea of how they thought the American people would react to such aggression. They may have had some notion in their minds that they could force some sort of capitulation or 'respect' through chaos, anguish and fear. It's how they operate in their own culture.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Historically, how had the people they bullied and terrorised on their own soil prior to their attack on the US, reacted to them? That may give us an idea of how they thought the American people would react to such aggression. They may have had some notion in their minds that they could force some sort of capitulation or 'respect' through chaos, anguish and fear. It's how they operate in their own culture.

The Japanese thought they could intimidate the US. TWICE. Once when they attacked Pearl Harbor, thinking that such a blow would stun us. They were wrong. Then during Operation Ketsu-Go they thought they could inflict so much damage on us that we would settle for less than unconditional surrender.

[Ian]

Historically, how had the people they bullied and terrorised on their own soil prior to their attack on the US, reacted to them? That may give us an idea of how they thought the American people would react to such aggression. They may have had some notion in their minds that they could force some sort of capitulation or 'respect' through chaos, anguish and fear. It's how they operate in their own culture.

The Japanese thought they could intimidate the US. TWICE. Once when they attacked Pearl Harbor, thinking that such a blow would stun us. They were wrong. Then during Operation Ketsu-Go they thought they could inflict so much damage on us that we would settle for less than unconditional surrender.

Surely bin Laden had read some history prior to giving 9/11 the go-ahead?
How could he not think that the US would be only too happy to try and shove a MOAB up his ass?

[charlou]

How could he not think that the US would be only too happy to try and shove a MOAB up his ass?

I repeat:

bin Laden's thinking

There's the contentious point right there.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Historically, how had the people they bullied and terrorised on their own soil prior to their attack on the US, reacted to them? That may give us an idea of how they thought the American people would react to such aggression. They may have had some notion in their minds that they could force some sort of capitulation or 'respect' through chaos, anguish and fear. It's how they operate in their own culture.

The Japanese thought they could intimidate the US. TWICE. Once when they attacked Pearl Harbor, thinking that such a blow would stun us. They were wrong. Then during Operation Ketsu-Go they thought they could inflict so much damage on us that we would settle for less than unconditional surrender.

Surely bin Laden had read some history prior to giving 9/11 the go-ahead?
How could he not think that the US would be only too happy to try and shove a MOAB up his ass?

Not relevant. First off, the causalities are just unfortunate/not important. They'll either go to Paradise or Hell, that's nothing Bin Laden need be worried about. Second, the bigger the US reaction, the better, because OBL would be using it to show how evil the US was. An over-the-top reaction might have been his fondest dream.

[Ian]

How could he not think that the US would be only too happy to try and shove a MOAB up his ass?

I repeat:

bin Laden's thinking

There's the contentious point right there.

C'mon now. The guy thinks. His logic may be completely alien to us, but to him, his actions are reasonable.

Gawd's right - OBL's intentions were to provoke a response. He's said as much - he sees it as his duty to separate Islam from the west and thus force the conflict to emerge. I just don't know if he expected the response to include a complete military takedown of his support structure inside Afghanistan.

[Hermit]

a libertarian one day, and a "far right conservative" the next

While many conservatives are not libertarians, I regard libertarians as both right wing and conservatives.

This is definitely not the thread to discuss the issue, but I just thought it's ok to briefly comment on it since you saw fit to bring it up here.