Hasan Piker, a progressive commentator and internet streamer, has expressed his views on Osama bin Laden and the 9/11 attacks in an interview with Axios.
Piker described bin Laden as a "spoiled brat" for his reasoning in orchestrating the 9/11 attacks, which he characterized as "blowback" for U.S. actions in the Middle East in the preceding years. Bin Laden had cited U.S. support of Israel, American oil policies, and U.S. bases in the Middle East as motivations for the attacks.
Piker noted that bin Laden was once a U.S. ally when the U.S. trained, funded, and armed the mujahideen in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War. He suggested that bin Laden's actions were driven by a sense of entitlement and a lack of consideration for the consequences of his actions.
Piker also expressed his desire for fewer individuals like bin Laden to exist, and advocated for a more nuanced approach to international relations. He argued that the U.S. should avoid interfering in regional conflicts and dominating other countries, as this can create an environment in which people seek revenge and put the U.S. in danger.
Piker characterized the 9/11 attacks as a "horrifying tragedy" and emphasized that blowback is not a justification for violence. He rejected any moral justification for the 9/11 attacks, stating that they were morally unacceptable.
Piker has faced backlash for his remarks in the same interview, including a comparison he made between the U.S. and al Qaeda in terms of the number of deaths caused by each.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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