For all the violence perpetrated by Al Qaeda, bin Laden also relies on “soft” power, using arguments about injustice that resonate with his audience. A path between the extremes of jihad and blind obedience to the Middle East’s authoritarian rulers must be found before Al Qaeda’s message begins to lose some of its luster.
这就是本拉登的感召力所在。他有能力表达当今许多阿拉伯人穆斯林所感觉到的深刻的不公感和耻辱感。对于基地组织所犯下的所有暴力罪行，本拉登还依靠“软”实力，使用不公的论点与其受众产生共鸣。在基地组织的言论失去部分蛊惑力之前，人们必须在圣战极端主义和对中东专制统治者盲从之间找到一条道路。