OSAMA BIN LADEN'S BIO HIGHLIGHTS

Interesting items from the life Osama bin Laden from the perspective of understanding his capabilites as a military commander and organizer:

• Osama is the son of an entrepreneur. His father went from being a poor imigrant (Yemeni) porter to the head of the largest construction company in Saudi Arabia. Children of entrepreneurs are extremely likely to be entrepreneurs themselves. In this case he built a private guerrilla/terrorist movement. An example of his entrepreneurial spirit: in 1986 he decided to build his own mujahedeen force in Afghanistan. He built more than 6 camps and developed his own front in the war against the Russians. He has also established an "incubator style" VC operation for terrorist groups (structure, technology, money, expertise, and intelligence).
• Osama was born and grew up in Jeddah. Jiddah is a stones throw from Mecca (Makkah) and in the Hejaz (the birthplace of the Arab revolt against Turkish rule). This may mean that the tactics/strategy developed by T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) for this revolt may play an important part of his military thinking. By the way, Lawrence perfected the art of destroying trains. Lawrence also used psychological terror: he warned Turkish troops in garrisons he was about to attack that his Arab forces would lose control and slaughter all defenders unless they surrendered.
• He was prescient in predicting the invasion of Kuwait (and potentially Saudi Arabia) by Saddam, and publicly spoke about it (which embarrassed the Saudi government) in 1989. When the invasion did occur, he asked the Saudi government to allow him to mount the defense of the Kingdom with his mujahedeen. His plan was rejected in favor of American intervention. In this he shows that he saw his forces as "competitive" to western militaries (fresh off the success in Afghanistan). He recognized the long lines of communication needed for an Iraqi invasion of Saudi Arabia would have been extremely vulnerable to mujahedeen tactics.
• Osama lost his Saudi citizenship in 1994. He is now a man without a country. In 1996 he declared war against the US in a 12-page document. These developments put Osama in opposition to all nation-states.
• He wisely does not allow any electronic devices (including a watch) near his person because it may be used to target him. He is widely read and always is followed by his intelligence data team (good intelligence is an exceedingly important aspect of terrorist operations). This indicates a tendency towards a "scientific" management style. He is not a hands on micromanager although he directly led attacks against Russian forces earlier in his career.

Comments

[dutch]

Bob Kerry (member of 9-11 commission, former Kansas Senator)said on the O'Franken Factor Radio show on Wednesday that Osama bin Laden declared war on the United States on February 23, 1998. He cited the doc: "Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders"-
World Islamic Front Statement of 23-February-1998. Link:
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/980223-fatwa.htm
Is there a link to the 1996 declaration?

[cranial]

This should due it from 1996

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/international/fatwa_1996.html

"The following text is a fatwa, or declaration of war, by Osama bin Laden first published in Al Quds Al Arabi, a London-based newspaper, in August, 1996. The fatwa is entitled "Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places."

[Michael Bernstein]

Future book title: "Business secrets of Osama Bin-Laden"

[asjad azeez]

as aslam alaikum
osama will win over the cruel laws of the west

[Teardrops]

yes i want to say this Osama Bin-Laden has been lied on first of all Saudi Royal faimly and the bush mafia kill his brother all for making money off him and that they did do all this crap about Osama Bin-Laden is meer lies
the saudi royal faimly and bush mafia have ran oil scams togather the real terrorist here are the royal faimly of saudi and the bush mafia somone really needs to close out the media lies and do there studies
and no one seems to care that the mafia bush faimly is making a killing off the lives of Iraq people even the 9/11 was done by the mafia bush jews so why even bother to listen?? to the lies??? from these mafia liars???
study Osama Bin-Laden as i have done you will find that he is a good loving caring muslim man and not a terrorist your real terrorist are those whom are in power wait till they decide you got somthing they want then they will lie on you and chase you down to wipe you off the face of (Terra Firma) Sealed @->-- Prayers For Iraq

[christine portela]

he is a mother fucker and he will be caught and kilt by me christine portela

[Rauf khan Sheda]

usama is a great person and mujahid and he will kill all the basterd and motherfucker americans INSHAALLAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Go to hell u bastard Americans and western nn muslim people!!!!!!!!!!

[Rauf khan Sheda]

Usama is our pride we all are with him he is a great muslim warrior, we can sacrifice our lives for him very easily!!!!!!!He will kill all the bastard americans.
Messgae of an AFGHAN boy to bastard americans.

[WTF]

Bush is a Bitch, Osamas my Nigga

West Coast AFG

Fuck you Sheda u Slut

[a hispanic home dog]

ossama will die and be captured fuck the hatter muslims not all of them are the same i know that, but to the ones that are they will pay suner or later. muslims are just jeolus that in america we have everything and they dont so they terrorise us. you will pay though

[a hispanic home dog]

bush is not the greatest person but i believe that bombing the hell out of innocent people is not the way of speaking out i have read these stupid ass comments and you people support ossama well ossama will die and he will pay just like the ex-iraqui pressident did. how come we cant all get along an not be racists to the others i have read a comment on the top and i believe the the americans are just minding their own bussines and have nothing to do with any poloitics so if you were to have hate towards america have hate towards the ones that make things wrong. why should all americans have to pay for anything they didnt do. I just believe that one day we will all get along and not kill each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pouya]

I am an Iranian and i think that both Bush and Osama should pay. I have to disagree with the previous comment. I see what you mean but Bush isnt a good president. I dont know much about him im in Toronto Canada, but hes on the news everyday, and he lies. Osama should pay too because of 9/11. And screw all u rascist ppl that are like DIE AMERCIANS or DIE TERRORISTES and think again about wat your saying. Kids at school call me a terrorist and well its not cool.

[Arab slayer]

stupid doon coons

fuck osma and all other mother fucking arabs i will kill all them fuckers

bush is great
any arabs disagree ur fucking gay and no one cares becaues someone will kill u

[Khan]

I am greatly amazed by the comments posted here i think one should use a common sense and realize that where the world is standing these days soon america will be left alone in its SO CALLED TERROR FIGHT i think the americans should wake up and realize its not a war on terror but WAR FOR OIL. What had basterd Bush achieve in AFghanistan and iraq nothging lost of innocent soldiers and Poeple are dying why an innocent people has to pay for a American Eccentric MONKEY who is backed by the generation who is ILLEGITIMATE Creatures/ Basterds

[arabslayer]

khan ur fucking gay dont tell me to use common sense i will fucking kill ur arab ass u piece of shit bush achieved alot in afghanistan killing all ur fucking arab buddies