The Narrative of 'They Hate Us for Our Freedom'

After the 9-11 attack, the narrative emerged that Muslims hated the United States for its freedom. However, this simplistic and propagandistic explanation failed to acknowledge the deeper reasons behind anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world. Osama bin Laden, in his 2002 letter to Americans, pointed out specific US policies that fueled resentment, including the sanctions on Iraq, US military presence in Saudi Arabia, and support for Israel's actions against Palestinians. The media and government suppressed this letter, preventing Americans from understanding the root causes of the attack.