The life and times of Osama Bin Laden
The article gives an insight on the life of Osama Bin Laden and how he planned his attacks on the United States of America and harbouring his dream of an Islam caliphate.
IT WAS accepted as intelligence failure by the US when on 9/11 Osama Bin Laden succeeded in demonstrating his devastating skill by attacking the sole superpower of the world. A decade after, the same US intelligence not only tracked Bin Laden but eliminated whom they believe as the most wanted terrorist of America. Laden was a multi-millionaire Arab national who started his journey of life as a businessman but joined the Afghan ‘Mujahedeen’, and never turned back. After the withdrawal of the Soviet Union from Afghanistan, Osama came back to Saudi Arabia but by then he had acquired fame in Afghanistan. The second turn in the life of Bin Laden came when Iraq attacked Kuwait.
As per some unconfirmed reports, Osama proposed the Saudi government to allow him to take charge in Kuwait against Iraqi occupation. The proposal was not only turned down by the Saudi government but he was kept under observation. On the contrary, Saudi government requested the Americans to restore order in the region. This was not acceptable to Laden, who fled to Sudan, and from there he started the campaign against America.
He has never been a great military strategist. In fact, there is no clarity on the number of military missions headed by Osama Bin Laden, but what made him the leader was the ability to unite different terrorist factions under the banner of Al- Qaida. Laden also set the target, and in one of the public remarks, he said that it is the duty of every Muslim to attack American whenever and wherever it is possible. Osama declared war against US, and inspired others to join it.
This war was new for international terrorism as no one before Bin Laden had successfully organised the different Islamic terror networks against the US. Bin Laden also advocated forging unity with the Sunni terrorist groups for the purpose of attacking the common enemy America. Bin Laden for the first time gave direction to terrorist outfits and declared America as enemy number one. There always remained an anti-American element in the ideology pursued by the Islamic terrorist organisations of Middle East, Africa and of other parts of the world but Laden urged all of them to join hands.
During his stay in Sudan, Osama Bin Laden planned and executed attacks on American establishments in Yemen, Somalia, and inside the US, etc. After confirming the role of Laden, US government exerted pressure on Sudan to expel Osama, and finally he fled to Afghanistan. The war-torn Afghanistan was the best suited country for Osama and he immediately started collecting funds for the Taliban. The much required money for the war and the role of Laden made him and Al-Qaida a very important constituent of Taliban. Osama enjoyed complete freedom and thus, for the first time a chance to plan a deadly attack on the US, which would then record the first terror act in the modern times on the American soil.
Without any restrictions, Osama managed to recruit people for inflicting attacks on America. Osama funded the training of pilots and carefully implemented the plan without being suspected once before 9/11. It was the 9/11 attack, which made Osama a hero amongst the Islamic terrorists and afterwards he acquired a symbolic importance. Osama had done a thing that was unimaginable for terrorist organisations. The US government also had not expected an attack of such a magnitude by a non-state actor, and this was formally accepted in the 9/11 Commission Report.
It is quite clear that Al-Qaida had not played a major role in the terrorist attacks in European countries. Still, Laden was well aware of these activities. Not only in the west but in Iraq, in Chechnya, in Africa - wherever there was a terrorist attack by Islamic organisations it had something to do with Al-Qaida. It was not that Al-Qaida had its branches in different parts of the world but it established strong communication link with these organisations and provided logistic and monetary supports.
In short, Bin Laden was much of iconic figure for the terrorist organisations ready to help anyone for his belief. Al-Qaida also persuaded the terrorist organisation to target America and its western allies in every possible way. One can remember 26/11 Mumbai attacks where a high profile target was selected to kill citizens of Europe and America. Jews were also attacked in the attack.
Death of Bin laden is no doubt a blow to international terrorism, and will weaken the network created by Al-Qaida. This will surely be a blow to the funding and in the supply of the much required logistics. Whatever is claimed by the terrorists like revenge etc, Bin Laden’s absence will create trouble for them. At present, there is no successor of Bin Laden who can persuade others for working on a common agenda. Death of Bin Laden will also be a morale booster for the US-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF). It is now imperative to look at how America will behave in respect to Kabul. There are some commentaries on possible American withdrawal from Afghanistan, but these are speculations made in haste.
Taliban has its own mechanism, network and operational capabilities and they are independent of Al-Qaida as far as Afghanistan is concerned. Thus, international terrorism had got a jolt by the death of Laden but the same is not true for the Taliban in Afghanistan. Despite this, American President Barack Obama will be relieved because he was under attack for his Afghan policy. Political outfits like Tea party was amongst the adherent critic of President Obama’s foreign policy and had made some inroads in American politics but the death of Osama will help the Democrat to get some support from right wing, which can prove crucial in the coming Presidential elections.
Apart from the international terrorist organisations, Pakistan has also suffered a major loss of face. Bin Laden, was safely hiding in a mansion not very far from Islamabad and close to military academy. It would be naïve to plead ignorance and Pakistani intelligence and army is now under international scanner. White House in its foreign policy document released some time back had expressed unhappiness over the role of Pakistan in the war against terrorism. In the operation against Laden, Pakistani forces are not involved and even the information was not shared.
This reflects the lack of confidence Americans have on their much proclaimed ally Pakistan in the war against terrorism. This is a time for a serious introspection by the civilian government of Pakistan and also by the civil society of Pakistan. American had completely violated a sovereign right of Pakistan by carrying out this mission but Islamabad had to maintain a silence due to its own fault. The inner contradictions in Pakistan will grow further by the death of Laden and this is not a good sign.
Although, Laden is killed but the American foreign policy has all the potential to create many more. The unwarranted attack on Libya is the latest example. Briefly, let’s hope that America will draw some sensible conclusions, and will try to act in a just manner.
He has never been a great military strategist. In fact, there is no clarity on the number of military missions headed by Osama Bin Laden, but what made him the leader was the ability to unite different terrorist factions under the banner of Al- Qaida. Laden also set the target, and in one of the public remarks, he said that it is the duty of every Muslim to attack American whenever and wherever it is possible. Osama declared war against US, and inspired others to join it.
This war was new for international terrorism as no one before Bin Laden had successfully organised the different Islamic terror networks against the US. Bin Laden also advocated forging unity with the Sunni terrorist groups for the purpose of attacking the common enemy America. Bin Laden for the first time gave direction to terrorist outfits and declared America as enemy number one. There always remained an anti-American element in the ideology pursued by the Islamic terrorist organisations of Middle East, Africa and of other parts of the world but Laden urged all of them to join hands.
During his stay in Sudan, Osama Bin Laden planned and executed attacks on American establishments in Yemen, Somalia, and inside the US, etc. After confirming the role of Laden, US government exerted pressure on Sudan to expel Osama, and finally he fled to Afghanistan. The war-torn Afghanistan was the best suited country for Osama and he immediately started collecting funds for the Taliban. The much required money for the war and the role of Laden made him and Al-Qaida a very important constituent of Taliban. Osama enjoyed complete freedom and thus, for the first time a chance to plan a deadly attack on the US, which would then record the first terror act in the modern times on the American soil.
Without any restrictions, Osama managed to recruit people for inflicting attacks on America. Osama funded the training of pilots and carefully implemented the plan without being suspected once before 9/11. It was the 9/11 attack, which made Osama a hero amongst the Islamic terrorists and afterwards he acquired a symbolic importance. Osama had done a thing that was unimaginable for terrorist organisations. The US government also had not expected an attack of such a magnitude by a non-state actor, and this was formally accepted in the 9/11 Commission Report.
It is quite clear that Al-Qaida had not played a major role in the terrorist attacks in European countries. Still, Laden was well aware of these activities. Not only in the west but in Iraq, in Chechnya, in Africa - wherever there was a terrorist attack by Islamic organisations it had something to do with Al-Qaida. It was not that Al-Qaida had its branches in different parts of the world but it established strong communication link with these organisations and provided logistic and monetary supports.
In short, Bin Laden was much of iconic figure for the terrorist organisations ready to help anyone for his belief. Al-Qaida also persuaded the terrorist organisation to target America and its western allies in every possible way. One can remember 26/11 Mumbai attacks where a high profile target was selected to kill citizens of Europe and America. Jews were also attacked in the attack.
Death of Bin laden is no doubt a blow to international terrorism, and will weaken the network created by Al-Qaida. This will surely be a blow to the funding and in the supply of the much required logistics. Whatever is claimed by the terrorists like revenge etc, Bin Laden’s absence will create trouble for them. At present, there is no successor of Bin Laden who can persuade others for working on a common agenda. Death of Bin Laden will also be a morale booster for the US-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF). It is now imperative to look at how America will behave in respect to Kabul. There are some commentaries on possible American withdrawal from Afghanistan, but these are speculations made in haste.
Taliban has its own mechanism, network and operational capabilities and they are independent of Al-Qaida as far as Afghanistan is concerned. Thus, international terrorism had got a jolt by the death of Laden but the same is not true for the Taliban in Afghanistan. Despite this, American President Barack Obama will be relieved because he was under attack for his Afghan policy. Political outfits like Tea party was amongst the adherent critic of President Obama’s foreign policy and had made some inroads in American politics but the death of Osama will help the Democrat to get some support from right wing, which can prove crucial in the coming Presidential elections.
Apart from the international terrorist organisations, Pakistan has also suffered a major loss of face. Bin Laden, was safely hiding in a mansion not very far from Islamabad and close to military academy. It would be naïve to plead ignorance and Pakistani intelligence and army is now under international scanner. White House in its foreign policy document released some time back had expressed unhappiness over the role of Pakistan in the war against terrorism. In the operation against Laden, Pakistani forces are not involved and even the information was not shared.
This reflects the lack of confidence Americans have on their much proclaimed ally Pakistan in the war against terrorism. This is a time for a serious introspection by the civilian government of Pakistan and also by the civil society of Pakistan. American had completely violated a sovereign right of Pakistan by carrying out this mission but Islamabad had to maintain a silence due to its own fault. The inner contradictions in Pakistan will grow further by the death of Laden and this is not a good sign.
Although, Laden is killed but the American foreign policy has all the potential to create many more. The unwarranted attack on Libya is the latest example. Briefly, let’s hope that America will draw some sensible conclusions, and will try to act in a just manner.
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An incisive article which analyses the post OBL scenario realistically. There is no gainsaying the fact that Pakistan's duplicity stands thoroughly exposed. The double stand of publicly condemning terrorists, the pious proclamations and declarations that the soil of Pakistan will not be allowed to further terrorist activities while at the same time providing safe haven to the world's most wanted fugitive has been now revealed ! One hopes that some semblance of sanity dawns on the power troika in Pakistan and they stop their spiral into failure. At the same time, it is also high time that the US stops doling out aid to a recalcitrant Terroristan. The future of Afghanistan as well as peace in the AF-Pak region depends on the next steps taken by the international community.
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