|
|
Article: Osama bin Laden is a 'hero' in Afghanistan.(World)
- Article from:
- The Christian Science Monitor
- Article date:
- December 14, 1999
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 The Christian Science Publishing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Osama bin Laden may be Public Enemy No. 1 in America. But across the dramatic stony wastes of Afghanistan - where the superstrict Islamic Taliban shelters the Saudi-born exile - he is somewhat of a hero.
Many Afghans name newborn children after Mr. Bin Laden. And where people once complained that his presence was bringing further ruin on Afghanistan after 20 years of war, they now often express approval.
Afghan and Western observers deem the US-led crusade - he was indicted in New York for masterminding the US Embassy bombings in Africa last year - against Bin Laden "irrational" and "obsessive." They blame it for creating an anti-West backlash here. ...