‘I Don’t Have the Words to Describe This Maniacal Coward’

Dec. 14 - I was sort of stunned when I first heard that there was a videotape of Osama bin Laden confessing to the organization and nurturing of the September 11 attacks. I found it unbelievable that someone who makes claims of brilliance would be stupid enough to have his confession to such an act recorded.

UNBELIEVABLE OR NOT, that’s exactly what he did. While I watched the entire perverse tape, I numbly repeated “I can’t believe this pig.” I don’t have the words to describe this maniacal coward, this living subhuman organism who insists over and over that the attack was what his god wanted for Americans; that his god is elated in victory.

I was in the North Tower after the first plane struck. I was running through the building as those beautiful, heroic firefighters came charging in to save us with a force and determination even greater than the engulfing flames they were running into. I was guided by brave New York City police officers to an assumed area of safety while the tragedy continued to unfold. As the second plane hit and people trying to flee were killed by flying debris, I watched in disbelief as others jumped from the North Tower to escape the flames. I ran through the streets and fell over body parts. And I can assure you I saw no God elated by the destruction. The events of September 11 were the purest evil, evil whose name is Osama bin Laden.

Only evil could laugh and enjoy such horror. Only evil could arm his babies and the babies of his people with rifles and fill them with the burden of hate. What mentally stable, loving parent-grateful for the gift of life that God has entrusted to him or her-would raise gentle babies to hate for the sake of hate? Who would produce children only to have them killed to avenge a personal grievance? Bin Laden, that’s who.

The author in a 1995 photo

This pig speaks of the hijackers (with the exception of Mohammed Atta) as not knowing their mission until moments before they boarded the plane. Bin Laden praises their bravery, their martyrdom and their glorious act for their god. What bravery ? What martyrdom? These men attacked unsuspecting, unarmed men, women and children who had nowhere to run. They sneakily grabbed people from behind and slit their throats. They flew planes into buildings where other unsuspecting men and women were given no opportunity of defense.

There is nothing brave about their acts nor the acts of their leader, bin Laden. Bravery and martyrdom were personified that day in America by Americans: the firefighters and police officers, doctors and nurses, the men and women on Flight 93 who fought against their captors.

In the video, bin Laden refers to a report on the radio about increased interest in Islam in the aftermath of September 11. Osama interprets this as an increased commitment to the Muslim faith. Well, I’ve got a news flash for him: Americans and others around the world have been reading the Quran out of curiosity . We’ve been amazed by reports that there could be a faith where cowardly murder is rewarded with dancing virgins, eager for the taking. Could such a faith exist, where the rape and starvation of people is an appreciated practice ?

Of everything bin Laden had to say, what bothered me most was his praise for another Arab who had taunted Americans by saying “If you are true men, come down here and face us.” Well, bin Laden, we’ve accepted the invitation. And where are you now? Hiding in a cave. You coward.

Touhey-Kiniery, 36, is an insurance executive in Manhattan. She lives in Bayonne, N.J., with her husband, Michael, and two sons

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