Philosophy in a Time of Terror

[Tim Strzechowski]

> Habermas:  'Certainly, no observation of a unique
> event can provide an explanation per se for why
> terrorism itself should have assumed a new
> characteristic. In this respect one factor above all
> seems to me to be relevant: one never really knows who
> one's enemy is. Osama bin Laden, the person, more
> likely serves the function of a stand-in.'
>
> Didn't Pynchon say something similar in the Playboy
> "interview"
>

Yes.  He states:

"The United States has always had a tendancy to look for an enemy.  It is a
country that cannot stand not having one.  Even for this terrorist incident,
it is already determined that the villain behind all of this is bin Laden,
but in reality they are saying that because they cannot stand not doing so.
I believe that bin Laden is someone's clown for a rodeo. [...] No matter how
I look at the situation, it doesn't seem like bin Laden is doing this
independently.  The only impression that I get is that he is some kind of
star actor. [...] If we look at this from a different point of view, we
should look at bin Laden as a symbol rather than a man.  Bin Laden may not
even exist."

(Playboy Interview)