BBC regular Abdel Bari Atwan explains why Bin Laden wasn’t really a terrorist

Here is one of the BBC’s favourite regular guests on ‘Newsnight’, ‘Dateline London’ and other programmes – Abdel Bari Atwan – being interviewed recently on an Egyptian television channel. 

“If you support the Palestinian resistance, you do not consider [Bin Laden’s attacks] terrorism. But if you are with America, Europe, and Israel, you do consider it terrorism. It depends on your definition of terrorism … Whoever fights America and its enterprise in the region, and whoever fights Israel and the American occupation, is not considered a terrorist by me.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_8yFGZsA6lM]

As Stand for Peace notes:

“Munir Al-Mawari, writing in the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Siyassa, stated that:

“The Abd Al-Bari Atwan [appearing] on CNN is completely different from the Abd Al-Bari Atwan on the Al-Jazeera network or in his Al-Quds Al-Arabi daily. On CNN, Atwan speaks solemnly and with total composure, presenting rational and balanced views. This is in complete contrast with his fuming appearances on Al-Jazeera and in Al-Quds Al-Arabi“. “

Mind you, Atwan’s partisan definition of terrorism – which grades according to target rather than deed – is not really so far removed from that of his BBC hosts, is it? It must be ever so cosy in the green room.

Related articles:

Is Abdel Bari Atwan still welcome at the BBC?

Mystic Atwan’s crystal ball at the service of the BBC

“Significant strands of thought” at the BBC

In his own words: Abdel Bari Atwan on BBC Arabic TV

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