Dear Osama,

You believe the following propositions:

  1. The US is embarked on an imperialist project to dominate the world.

  2. Muslim societies should be reconstructed on the basis of the true principles of Islam; and

  3. Only terrorism can achieve your goals.

As for your first argument, you are wrong to generalise about Americans. Many are deeply troubled and critical of George W Bush's administration, and have protested against the recent Iraq war.

Many who support his administration do so because they are fearful of another Sept 11. As long as you resort to terrorism, you reinforce their fear and support for Bush's policies.

As for your second argument, I could not disagree more. History confirms my view that identifying religion with the state corrupts both. Religion does have a place in public life. But that is completely different from saying that the state should be based on, enforced, or be guided by religious principles.

The situation is made worse by the fact that you don't take an open, tolerant view of religion but a static, self-righteous and dogmatic one. This commits you to a politico-religious party supervising all areas of individual and social life, the surest way to destroy religion, create a terrorist state, and turn human beings into soulless robots. Have you learned nothing from the disastrous experience of Iran and Saudi Arabia?

A truly religious person wants to live by the values and beliefs of his religion. If the state has to enforce them on him, then clearly his religion has ceased to have any meaning for him. A religiously-based state is a sacrilege to God and the human soul.

Finally, you make a serious mistake in resorting to terrorism. Take the case of the Palestinians. They have used violence. Israel has responded with greater violence. The result is an increasing brutalisation of both societies.

There is not a single example in history of terrorists creating a humane and healthy society. Today, Osama, you use terrorism against the West, tomorrow your own people will use it against you and claim the same justification for it. When will the vicious circle end?

To condone isolated acts of violence by desperate individuals is one thing, to make violence the central principle of your struggle is completely different.

You should know by now that your brutal methods have done incalculable harm to your fellow Muslims, you have discredited a great religion. Millions now instinctively associate Islam with violence and murder.

You have also deeply divided the 'ummah' subjected your followers to torture and degradation, and rendered miserable the lives of many innocent Muslims.

It is high time you grew out of your infantile and despicable obsession with death and destruction, abandon your messianic zeal, and show some humility and humanity. But I fear this may be beyond you.