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Follow up Friday: Al-Qaeda Doesn't Exist?

Friday, April 25, 2008

Last Friday, we received a comment claiming that Al-Qaeda doesn't exist, in apparent reference to this BBC documentary. Ali Ansari, professor of history at St. Andrews University, fact-checks that claim.

Guests:

Ali Ansari

Comments [8]

Richard Walker from San Francisco

well put KC and peter, milkmen are all over the web, leaving their clever one-lime quips. if itsh from a milkmun, it musht be phunny.

Apr. 25 2008 12:40 PM
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KC from NYC

Yeah, the show portrays Al Qaeda and the Neoconservative movement as fantasies, but posits that they are, by virtue of that, possibly more dangerous than "real" organizations. They prey on much older fears, and expand as ideas; by definition, almost impossible to contain.

Interestingly, in the doc's timeline, militant Islamic extremism (like Neoconservatism) was created in the American Midwest in the 1950s.

Really, check it out.

Apr. 25 2008 11:25 AM
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Peter from Brooklyn

I think its likely that Al Qaeda does exist, but its irrelevant. Al-Qaeda is more like Al-Goldstein (like 1984 not the pornographer), used to get americans dander up and use fear to keep us in line.

Apr. 25 2008 11:13 AM
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hjs from 11211

it's more like a franchise, i guess

Apr. 25 2008 11:12 AM
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KC from NYC

You can watch all of "Power of Nightmares" online. It's so fascinating.

Apr. 25 2008 11:11 AM
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World's Toughest Milkman from the_C_train

Oh it's the bbc, it mushtbee true. I always trusht a UK accent.

Apr. 25 2008 11:10 AM
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Richard Walker from San Francisco

More to the point, unpacking the history of Qutb and Strauss is important.

Apr. 25 2008 11:04 AM
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saf

After that last segment I'm more curious about a Global Food Crisis that doesn't exist...sorry couldn't resist

Apr. 25 2008 11:00 AM
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