Article: Bin Ladin: the man who would be Mahdi.(Osama Bin Ladin; Mahdi, leader of the cleansing forces before armageddon)

Terrorists are media celebrities par excellence, and Usama bin Ladin has become the most celebrated one of all time. But what if he is not satisfied with the transient fame conferred by the media and his status as darling of those Muslims who resent and revile the West? What if bin Ladin has much more grandiose aspirations: to stride upon the stage not only of history, but of eschatology, as the Mahdi, the "Rightly-guided One," whose coming is part of the Islamic concept of the end of days?

If he survives, could this be a way he might capitalize on his successful defiance of the world's greatest superpower? Some Western commentators have already observed that bin ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!