Osama bin Laden's Letter to America: What He Really Wrote

Nov. 16, 2023, 9:30 p.m. Politics

In November 2002, Newsweek published what it claimed was the first translation of "a remarkable and chilling" letter written by Osama bin Laden to Americans. The letter, Newsweek said, showed "a new and more sophisticated side" to the al-Qaeda leader, who had previously been known for his "angry, confrontational rhetoric."

The letter began with a quote from the Quran, followed by bin Laden's reflections on the reasons for the September 11 attacks. He argued that America's "policy of oppressing" the Muslim world was the root cause of the attacks, and that America had brought the attacks upon itself.

"As you undermine our security, we undermine yours," bin Laden wrote. "I invite you to embrace Islam."

He went on to say that there was no difference between "civilian" and "military" targets, and that any Muslim who kills Americans is "following the orders of Allah."

The letter concluded with a call for Americans to convert to Islam, and a threat of more attacks if America does not change its policies.

Newsweek's translation of the letter was widely circulated, and bin Laden was widely quoted as saying that America had brought the 9/11 attacks upon itself.

However, the letter was later revealed to be a fake. Newsweek retracted the story, and admitted that it had been duped by a "con artist" who had fabricated the letter.

The fake letter served as a reminder of the power of bin Laden's words, and the danger of taking them at face value. It also showed how easily the media can be manipulated, and how easily bin Laden's message can be distorted.