[syhprum (OP)]

For the American assassination squad to kill him they had to know where he was and when he would be vunerable.
I understand that million $25.00 was offered for this information and it would be interesting to know if it was paid out.
Even if it included American citizenship and life long protection I cannot believe anyone receiving this money would live very long !

[alancalverd]

It is enough to buy your own bunch of fanatics for a while. Remember every member of Al Quaeda is just another politician, so like all other slime, hates everyone else and is only interested in money and climbing the greasy pole. A week is a long time in politics, and you can get very drunk and catch some interesting diseases with $25M. Who cares anyway?

[Zer0]

He seemed pretty Educated.
But
Politics mostly Corrupts
And
Religious extremism Rots.

[paul cotter]

I don't think al-Zawahiri was interested in the "greasy pole" as such. He was driven by a nihilistic hate, especially of the west. So how does a trained paediatrician, initially dedicated to the service of others, turn into a cruel monster? First off, one must realise that Egypt is an authoritarian country despite pretending to be a democracy. Al-Zawahiri got involved in politics( nothing wrong in this per se ) and then joined the muslim brotherhood and was rounded up with other members and thrown in jail. Torture was routinely used against these detainees: one torture method was to force the detainee to perform fellatio on a dog-an activity abhorrent to muslims. Because the west supported Egypt and other non-democratic regimes in that region, a hate for the west became his only motivation. So one could argue that the Zawahiri phenomenom  was merely "blow-back" from bad political policies.   

[alancalverd]

one torture method was to force the detainee to perform fellatio on a dog-an activity abhorrent to muslims

...but the key to high office in the Conservative Party, we are told. With Ministerial half-lives currently running at about 4 weeks, he could have been in with a chance.

[paul cotter]

That's an interesting comment about the conservatives, Alancalverd. Hmm, as is said, the mind boggles. I won't ask for specifics as this probably would contravene the rules on forum behaviour. Do you think this initiation ritual is practiced by other political parties? 

[alancalverd]

It has certainly been a requirement among aspiring Tories to have demonstrated a fondness for pigs. Other parties seek evidence of radical cerebrectomy, a belief that drawing lines on a map somehow benefits those living on one side or other of it, or a commitment to serve the public interest.

[Bored chemist]

one torture method was to force the detainee to perform fellatio on a dog-an activity abhorrent to muslims

I'm intrigued about the reference to Muslims there.
Do you imagine the Christians are OK with it?
how about the atheists?

[paul cotter]

BC, I would imagine it to be repugnant to anyone with a hint of grey matter. I am no expert on islam but as far as I know they have, in common with orthodox jews, stringent cleanliness and "purity" laws and customs. For example the need to remove one's shoes when entering a mosque. Certain animals are classed as unclean. 

[Bored chemist]

Certain animals are classed as unclean. 

Others are not- for example they are OK with goats.
So, aside from the practicalities, do you think they would be content if you swapped a goat for the dog?

[paul cotter]

I would imagine it would be marginally less distasteful. As I said I am no expert on islam but I would imagine bestiality would invite a stoning.

[Petrochemicals]

Certain animals are classed as unclean. 

Certain animals are unclean, every single non herbivore for starters, disease toxins etc build up far quicker if you eat other animals, but it doesn't stop people eating chicken.

[paul cotter]

A lot of the jewish kosher and Islamic halal laws derive from known hazards at the time they were written. For example pigs can carry trichinosis and this can be passed to humans through inadequate cooking.

[Zer0]

Perhaps there is a Difference between something Extremely Unpleasant & Repugnant...
Vs
Something which is considered as a " SIN ".

[Petrochemicals]

Perhaps there is a Difference between something Extremely Unpleasant & Repugnant...
Vs
Something which is considered as a " SIN ".

There is no sin other than the value others give to it, what was a sin before is now commonplace. Common sense on the other hand, 'never eat yellow snow' would be a line in the Bible if the middle East had considerable snowfall.

[syhprum (OP)]

I understand the betrayal of Amman al-Zawahiri was a matter of personal vengeance by one whose relatives had been killed by him and nothing to do with money