Editorial
Bin Laden's hateful words indict him

While we have yet to see iron-clad evidence from American authorities that Osama bin Laden was behind the Sept. 11 attacks, we no longer have to wait for that proof.

Bin Laden indicted himself Sunday in a chilling videotaped "news release" in which he thanked God for the terror that fell on the United States and went on to promise more.

The shadowy Saudi exile also gave a much clearer picture of what he is up to: extinction of Israel, creation of a Palestinian state and the virtual elimination of America's presence or influence in the Middle East:

"I swear to God that America will not live in peace before peace reigns in Palestine," he said, "and before all the army of infidels depart the land of Muhammad, peace be upon him."

In a horrifying way, bin Laden's videotaped statement was a canny response to comments earlier in the day from President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain.

Both men went out of their way to insist that this war is not against Islam, or against Muslims or against the people of Afghanistan, but instead against specific terrorists and those who support them.

Bin Laden, however, characterized the struggle as a holy war, playing on very real and deep-seated resentments in that part of the world.

This puts the coming struggle in sharp relief: Our task is far greater than the elimination or suppression of a coalition of terrorist groups and the states that support them. We can do that and still be far from the peace we truly seek.

What will ultimately become necessary is a much broader and more nuanced understanding of the tensions and terrors that afflict that part of the world. It does not mean abandoning our traditional support of Israel, by any means. But it does mean reaching the broader Muslim world with a message of understanding that is both believable and sincere.

Until that time, our voices and our hopes will continue to be drowned out by hateful fanatics of the likes of Osama bin Laden.