Topic: 9/11 and Islamic Extremism
From The Margaret Mead Symposium: Whither the United States in the World?
Commemorating the centennial of the birth of Margaret Mead.
December 2 & 3, 2001
Sponsors: Library of Congress and The Smithsonian Institution
The symposium took place not long after the events of 9/11, and as such 9/11 and Islamic extremism were common threads in many of the panelists’ talks. This topic includes discussion of methods of communication by Bin Laden, political culture in US before and after 9/11, and differing perspectives on American patriotism.
Bin Laden Use of Video
Speaker: Mary-Jane Deeb
Arab World Area Specialist, African and Middle Eastern Division, Library of Congress
How did Osama Bin Laden address his intended audience? Deeb explains that he used television, and knew how to do it effectively, using the medium to mold his image.
Quicktime (19.35MB)- Windows Media Player (23.3MB)
Separation of Extremists Within Culture
Speaker: Amitai Etzioni
Professor of Sociology, communitarian, George Washington University
Etzioni discusses President Bush’s attempt to separate the Muslim world from the terrorists, and argues that indeed all religions have both peaceful and violent adherents.
- Quicktime (2.65MB)
- Windows Media Player (3.22MB)
America and 9/11
Speaker: Robert Henderson
Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
Henderson argues that American political culture “went to sleep” after the first Gulf War, but was woken up after 9/11, and reminded of its obligations.
- Quicktime (1.31MB)
- Windows Media Player (1.61MB)
Arab Age and Demographics
Speaker: Judith Kipper
Middle East Forum, Council on Foreign Relations; Co-Director, Middle East Studies Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies, consultant, ABC News
Kipper discusses the young median age of the Arab world, and what it means for the region and the world.
- Quicktime (2.34MB)
- Windows Media Player (2.88MB)
Bin Laden
Speaker: Jerrold M. Post
Founder and Director, Center for Analysis of Personality and Political Behavior, CIA; political psychologist, George Washington University; specialist in political violence and terrorism
Who is Osama Bin Laden? How did he become who he is? Post takes us through the story, from the death of Bin Laden’s father through his time at university.
- Quicktime (9.73MB)
- Windows Media Player (11.78MB)
The Culture of Jihad
Speaker: Jerrold M. Post
Founder and Director, Center for Analysis of Personality and Political Behavior, CIA; political psychologist, George Washington University; specialist in political violence and terrorism
Post quotes from suicide bomb campaign trainers in Israel, in trying to understand the mentality of bombers.
- Quicktime (4.44MB)
- Windows Media Player (5.42MB)
Islamic Extremism
Speaker: Jerrold M. Post
Founder and Director, Center for Analysis of Personality and Political Behavior, CIA; political psychologist, George Washington University; specialist in political violence and terrorism
Post discusses a 1998 jihad declaration against “Jews” and “crusaders” by Osama Bin Laden, and his (Post’s) discussions with Muslim clerics about the language in the declaration.
- Quicktime (5.37MB)
- Windows Media Player (6.55MB)
American Patriotism post 9/11
Speaker: William Watts
President, Potomac Associates, former Senior Staff Member, National Security Council under Henry Kissinger
What should America consider moving forward? Watts discusses hubris, displays of patriotism, and constitutional rights in the fight against terrorism.
- Quicktime (6.58MB)
- Windows Media Player (7.9MB)
