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Originally Posted by CRad
people died in the fight for civil rights, but enough.
Ok, MLK, Ghandi, Jesus, Mohhamed and Wm Donovon have been ruled out as insurgent leaders.
One other thing - I don't think you can call OBL an insurgent. He's a terrorist.
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I'll bite on Muhammad. While Muhammad is recognized by Muslims as the founder of their religion, the last prophet of God, and the origin of the Shari’ah, he can easily be recognized as one of the most successful insurgent leaders of all times. Expatriated from his homeland after his revolution he established "The State" in Medina and began his attack on all of Arabia. Early Islamic followers of Muhammad conducted hundreds of “expeditions” that were as much conquests as evangelical missions. His employment of militarily organized expeditions each with its own head and blessed autonomy is the basis of modern cell-networks. His use of the divine for both the assumption of authority and basis for threat combined with the devastation wrought upon those who did not accept his authority and ideology garnered massive acquiescence and support. Early converts to Islam were among the poor and downtrodden, victims of an oppressive semi capitalist society of khalifs and amirs. His anti establishment message which brought hope for the those oppressed under their previous government ensured his ability to attain resources in any region. In the first 10 years of its existence Islam had fought Jews, Christians and Pagans, exerting influence over the entire peninsula and extracting tribute from the non muslim inhabitants. Successful in multiple major battles Muhammad brought the government of Makkah to their knees. The battle for Islam has been raging for centuries now and by both peaceful means and extreme conflict the Shariah and beliefs outlined in the Quran have been accepted by millions. Today Islamic militants following the same message and using many of the same tactics are engaged in conflict throughout the world and in many instances succeeding.