“Like earlier bin Laden criticisms of the West, [a handwritten letter sent to various news organizations on November 1, 2001] called the attacks on Afghanistan’s Taliban government a modern-day Crusade. The letter also alluded to the intense bombing of Afghanistan in the last month [October 2001]. ‘The heat of the crusade against Islam has intensified, its ardor has increased, and the killing has multiplied against the followers of Muhammad,’ it said…”
– Susan Sachs, “Bin Laden Letter Calls Upon Pakistanis to Defend Islam,” The New York Times, Nov. 2, 2001