Osama bin Laden as a modern Hannibal

Hannibal	Osama bin Laden

I watched an interesting documentary about Hannibal, the Carthaginian general who waged war again Rome, around 200 BC. I couldn't help but to notice the parallels between him and Osoma bin Laden. This is not praise for bin Laden. For all of Hannibal's strengths and victories, he ultimately failed, and failed spectacularly, in his quest to restore the glory of the Carthage empire.

Hannibal came from a respected and wealthy Carthage family.
Bin Laden comes from a respected and wealthy Saudi family.

Hannibal was born in a time when the vast and mighty Carthage empire was in decline and being eclipsed by a newer rising superpower, Rome.
Bin Laden is from a time after the collapse of the Ottoman empire, which was replaced by the rise of western superpowers, such as the Britain and the US.

Hannibal came to view Rome as the cause of Carthage's decline and failure. He hated Rome and wished to see it destroyed. He hated Rome's military might and their ability to control the once proud Carthage city/state.
bin Laden came to see the west as the cause of the decline of the Islamic caliph under the Ottomans. He hates the US's military might and their ability to buy, conjole, and interfere in the affairs of the Islamic nations.

Hannibal declared war on Rome and made it his life's mission to destroy it.
Bin Laden declared war on the US and made it his life's mission to destroy it.

Hannibal shunned personal glory and riches. He dressed, ate with, slept with, and fought along side his soldiers.
Bin Laden shuns personal glory and riches. He seems be fine living on the run in caves inhospitable areas with his trusted staff.

Hannibal invented new cunning methods of warfare against Rome. At first he succeeded. He was able to demonstrate the world that the Roman army was not invincible.
Bin Laden perfected new cunning methods of warfare against the west. He demonstrated that the US military was not invincible.

Hannibal was unable to use his military victories to persuade the allies of Rome to switch allegiances.
Bin Laden has been unable to use his victories to persuade the allies of the US to switch allegiances.

Hannibal ended up having to resort to terrorism to gain the support he needed for his campaign.
Bin Laden has to to use terrorism to get support from the Saudi Royal family.

Rather than fight Hannibal on their own turf. Rome took the battle to him by attacking the Carthage controlled silver mines in Spain. These mines are what funded Hannibal. Until Hannibal attacked Rome, Rome had been content letting the Carthagians profit from the mines since it gave them money to trade with Rome.
Rather than fight Al Qaida only in the US, the US took the battle to Bin Laden by attacking Afghanistan and Iraq. These places were providing sanctuary and support for him.

Hannibal had to leave Italy to defend his nation in Spain and north Africa.
Bin Laden has had to spend a lot of time and energy trying to keep control of his home base, the middle east, rather then spend their efforts on exporting his war.

Hannibal eventually lost his war. He spend the last 20 years of his life running and hiding from arrest warrants from Rome. He was eventually captured in what is now Turkey, where he committed suicide by poison as his captors closed in. He died alone, a broken and bitter man.
Bin Laden will loose his war. It may take 20 years to catch him. But he is on the run, always hunted. He will die alone, broken and bitter.

Rome never forgave Hannibal for his crimes against Rome They hunted him for the rest of his life.
The US will never forgive bin Laden for his crimes against the US. We will hunt him for the rest of his days.