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This war in Iraq makes millions of dollars for big corporations, either weapons manufacturers or those working in the reconstruction, such as Halliburton and its sister companies. . . It is crystal clear who benefits from igniting the fire of this war and this bloodshed: They are the merchants of war, the bloodsuckers who run the policy of the world from behind the scenes. President Bush and his ilk, the media giants, and the U.N. . . all are a fatal danger to the world, and the Zionist lobby is their most dangerous member. God willing, we will persist in fighting them. . .

Osama bin Laden#12

WarPoliticsConspiracyCorporationsCritiqueIraq

About this quote

What does it mean?
The war in Iraq is portrayed as benefiting corporations and political elites while harming the world.
In plain terms
Corporations and politicians profit from war, making them dangerous.
What can you take from it?
War is driven by profit interests rather than necessity.

Where it applies

  • economic analysis
  • political critique
  • warfare

Putting it to work

  • anti-war activism
  • political critique
  • economic analysis

Questions to consider

  • Who benefits from war?
  • Is war ever truly necessary?

Another view

The claim simplifies complex geopolitical motivations into profit-seeking.

More from Osama bin Laden

  1. There is no dialogue except with weapons.

    Permalink to quote #11
  2. Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands. Each and every state that does not tamper with our security…

    Permalink to quote #13
  3. We will continue to fight you as long as we have weapons in our hands.

    Permalink to quote #10

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