AP Says an English translation of interviews with Osama bin Laden and writings by his second in command, Ayman al-Zawahri, will be published by Doubleday. The book, tentatively titled The al-Qaeda Reader, is scheduled to come out next year.Raymond Ibrahim, a language specialist for the Near East section of the Library of Congress, will translate the works and provide scholarly commentary. Ibrahim came across the writings while reviewing texts from the Middle East. Through a mutual friend, historian Victor Davis Hanson, Ibrahim got in touch with New York literary agent Glen Hartley.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Herz said Doubleday regards the texts as “historical documents” and that the publisher would not pay royalties to either terrorist leader. She said Doubleday, an imprint of Random House, Inc., had not discussed whether it would give any proceeds to charity.
Other takes on this one at NY Post and Reuters.
Wish them luck – suggestions for proceeds
Translating these interviews and speeches is a good idea. If more people had read Mein Kampf in the 20s and 30s, fewer people in Germany and around the world would have given Hitler the benefit of the doubt about his plans. In general, I think it is better to know more about the public thinking of adversaries than less.
Plus, if bin Laden or his deputy file a public copyright infringement lawsuit, we can nab them. 🙂
Some half-serious suggestions for directing royalities to the al-Qaeda Reader:
The Department of State’s Rewards for Justice Program which is currently offering $25 Million dollars for information leading to bin Laden’s capture.
Operation Uplink, a program that gives soldiers phone cards to phone home. Imagine funds from bin Laden’s words going to support our troops.
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