Osama Bin Laden
1957-2011
Osama Bin Laden is associated with the rise of radical Islamism and international terrorism. Born into considerable wealth, his life became inextricably linked with the global phenomenon of jihad against Western influence.
Early Life and Entry into Afghanistan
Born in 1957 into the affluent Bin Laden family of Saudi Arabia, his family held significant standing in the construction sector and maintained close ties with the Saudi royal family. The Saudi royal family itself had personal connections with the American Bush family.
In 1985, Bin Laden travelled to Afghanistan, joining the anti-Soviet struggle. He became a close aide to Abdullah Azzam, a prominent scholar, and used his substantial personal fortune to support the mujahidin, thereby filling a financial gap within the Afghan resistance. His primary role during this period was financial support, alongside personal qualities.
Radicalisation and the "Far Enemy" Doctrine
A deep rift emerged among Islamist fighters in Afghanistan between moderates, who believed in political revolution, and extremists, who advocated violent revolution. Ayman al-Zawahiri, an extremist ideologist, extended his influence by seducing Bin Laden away from Azzam. Zawahiri promised Bin Laden leadership of his extremist group, Islamic Jihad. This shift marked Bin Laden's transition from a politically inclined path to a militant one, moving away from Azzam's more moderate approach.
Bin Laden’s Islamist ideology began to mutate, blending with the intolerant and anti-modern anger of Wahhabism, resulting in a dark and apocalyptic jihadism. He became convinced that America, which had previously been an ally in Afghanistan, was the true enemy, having corrupted Saudi Arabia with its money and seeking to corrupt Muslim minds globally, thereby hindering a popular revolution.
He believed the only path to revolution was to directly attack this far enemy, with the dramatic shock of such attacks serving to liberate the masses. Discussion concerning the resulting societal structure receded, replaced by a stark vision of an apocalyptic battle between good and evil.
The Genesis of Al-Qaeda
The notion of Al-Qaeda as a formal, organised entity is largely an American invention. The term itself was not used by Bin Laden to refer to a group until after the September 11th Attacks, when he recognised it as the designation bestowed upon him by the Americans. Prior to this, Bin Laden commanded no formal organisation beyond his own small circle.
In January 2001, a trial commenced in a Manhattan court involving four men accused of the 1998 embassy bombings in East Africa. To prosecute Bin Laden in absentia under American law, which targeted organised crime (such as the Mafia), prosecutors required evidence of a criminal organisation. This evidence was provided by Jamal al-Fadel, a former associate of Bin Laden, whose testimony became the foundation for the first Bin Laden myth and the first Al-Qaeda myth.
Al-Fadel claimed to be a founding member of the group and a former employee of Bin Laden. However, questions arose regarding the reliability of his testimony due to his history of dishonesty, and a defence attorney stated that portions of his account were false, given as part of a plea bargain after his conviction for conspiring to attack US military establishments.
The fabrication of an organisational structure enabled the prosecution of individuals associated with Al-Qaeda for any actions or statements made by Bin Laden. The premise that Bin Laden led a coherent global organisation with operatives and cells was a myth.
No international network with a leader or unquestioningly obedient operatives, with tentacles stretching to sleeper cells in America, Africa, or Europe, actually existed. Al-Qaeda, as many intelligence specialists affirmed, was not an organised terrorist group formed to fight the US as alleged by the Bush Administration.
The attacks on America were planned by a small group that coalesced around Bin Laden in the late 1990s, united by an extreme interpretation of Islamism. The American and British pursuit of an organisation represented a chase after a "phantom enemy," thereby missing the actual threat.
Contradictory Narratives and Influences
Numerous contradictory accounts exist regarding Bin Laden's actions and affiliations. While he undeniably contributed financially to various causes, his portrayal as a sole evil mastermind attempting to overthrow the Saudi government is largely fabricated. His public displays of strength for Western media were fabricated, with fighters hired for the day and instructed to bring their own weapons.
It is not clear that he acted as a completely free radical; rather, he likely operated with some form of Saudi agreement and maintained contact with family members throughout his black sheep period. One account suggests he met with CIA agents in Dubai prior to the September 11th attacks, and another, from a Pakistani newspaper, quoted him denying responsibility for targeting civilians.
The decision to fund Islamist groups, tacitly approved by America as part of its Cold War strategy against Communism, ultimately led to the bolstering of aggressive Islamism. King Faisal of Saudi Arabia deliberately directed the dangerous fanaticism within his country outwards, a strategy that America permitted as part of the global struggle.
This approach, however, eventually provided a glimpse of Saudi Arabia's potential as an uncontrollable ally, as demonstrated by Faisal's public condemnation of American support for Israel in New York in 1966. When Bin Laden returned to Afghanistan and pleaded with the Saudi defence minister not to allow American troops into the country, offering to raise his own force of mujahidin, his offer was rejected, leading to the deployment of half a million American soldiers in Saudi Arabia within weeks.
Ultimately, the attacks on America were the work of a small group formed around Bin Laden in the late 1990s, destroyed or scattered by the American invasion. What remained was the idea, capable of inspiring unrelated groups and individuals globally.