Why Osama bin Laden Attacked the US
Summary
TLDRThis script delves into the complex motivations behind Osama Bin Laden's obsession with attacking the United States. Born into wealth and privilege in Saudi Arabia, Bin Laden's radicalization began with his fight against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. His grievances evolved to include opposition to the US presence in Saudi Arabia and a broader anti-Western stance. The script explores various factors, from regional conflicts to perceived American immorality, that may have fueled his hatred, suggesting that the US military's presence in the holy land of Saudi Arabia was a pivotal trigger for his anti-American militancy.
Takeaways
- đ« Osama Bin Laden is infamous for orchestrating attacks against the United States and its allies, culminating in his death by Seal Team 6 in 2011.
- đïž Unlike many terrorists, Bin Laden was not driven by desperation but was born into wealth and luxury as the son of a billionaire construction magnate.
- đ He was initially a mild-mannered student of economics and business, with interests in poetry, military history, and soccer.
- âïž His radicalization began after he joined the fight against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in 1979, initially with no animosity towards the US.
- đ Bin Laden's motivations shifted over time, with his later anti-Western stance leading to the revocation of his Saudi citizenship.
- đ He cited various global conflicts involving Muslims as reasons for his actions, though his connections to these were often tenuous.
- đ The presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia, which he viewed as an invasion of holy Muslim land, is considered a significant factor in his turn against the US.
- đŁïž Bin Laden's public statements after 9/11 included new grievances, such as criticism of American domestic policies and morality.
- đ„ His videotaped messages became a platform for Bin Laden to articulate his grievances and potentially rally support from certain quarters.
- đ The complexity of Bin Laden's motivations suggests that there was no single reason behind his actions, reflecting a mix of personal, political, and ideological factors.
Q & A
Why was Osama Bin Laden obsessed with attacking the United States?
-Osama Bin Laden's obsession with attacking the United States was driven by a complex mix of factors, including his perception of American foreign policy as oppressive towards Muslims, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia, which he viewed as an invasion of holy Muslim land.
How did Osama Bin Laden's upbringing influence his later radicalism?
-Osama Bin Laden was born into a wealthy and devoutly religious family in Saudi Arabia. Despite his privileged upbringing, his radicalism may have been influenced by his family's religious beliefs and his own experiences, including fighting against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.
What was the turning point for Bin Laden's shift towards anti-Western radicalism?
-The turning point for Bin Laden's shift towards anti-Western radicalism was likely the US military presence in Saudi Arabia during and after the Gulf War. Bin Laden viewed this as an invasion of holy Muslim land and a humiliation to the Saudi people.
What role did the Israeli-Palestinian conflict play in Bin Laden's motivations?
-While Bin Laden cited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a reason for his attacks, it was not a consistent theme in his earlier rhetoric. It is possible that he used this conflict to gain support from countries in the region after the 9/11 attacks.
How did the Gulf War and subsequent sanctions on Iraq impact Bin Laden's views?
-The Gulf War and the subsequent sanctions on Iraq, which led to widespread suffering, angered Bin Laden. He mentioned the sanctions in his 1998 fatwa against Americans, accusing the US of killing over a million Iraqis through these measures.
What were some of the other conflicts mentioned by Bin Laden in his manifesto?
-In his manifesto, Bin Laden mentioned conflicts involving Muslims worldwide, such as Russia's oppression of Chechen Muslims, the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan, the Philippine government's conflict with Muslim groups, and Israel's northern border conflict with Lebanon.
Why did Bin Laden's complaints about America's domestic conduct come later in his rhetoric?
-Bin Laden's complaints about America's domestic conduct, such as support for gay rights and gambling, came later in his rhetoric and may have been an attempt to set Americans against each other and gain more support from those who shared similar conservative views.
How did the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia become a central issue for Bin Laden?
-The presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia became a central issue for Bin Laden because he viewed it as an invasion of holy Muslim land. This was the only motivation he consistently returned to in his fatwas and statements.
What was the impact of Bin Laden's loss of Saudi citizenship on his status and operations?
-The loss of his Saudi citizenship due to his anti-Western radicalism led to Bin Laden becoming stateless, which forced him to find refuge in countries like Sudan, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. This likely increased his reliance on local networks and made his operations more clandestine.
How did Bin Laden's motivations evolve over time, and what factors contributed to these changes?
-Bin Laden's motivations evolved from initially fighting against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan to a broader anti-Western stance. Factors contributing to these changes included his perception of US foreign policy, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia.
Outlines
đ Origins of Osama Bin Laden's Radicalism
Osama Bin Laden is infamous for orchestrating attacks against the United States and its allies. Contrary to common perceptions of terrorists, Bin Laden was not driven by desperation but by a radical ideology. Born in 1957 into a wealthy Saudi family, he inherited at least $25 million from his father, a billionaire construction magnate. Despite a comfortable upbringing and a university education in economics and business, Bin Laden's path to radicalism began after he joined the fight against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in 1979. Initially, his efforts aligned with Western interests, including receiving support from the United States. However, his motivations shifted over time, leading to a series of escalating terrorist attacks against US interests and a dramatic change in his status in the world.
đ Complex Motivations Behind Bin Laden's Anti-Western Stance
Bin Laden's radicalization was multifaceted, with various global conflicts contributing to his anti-Western stance. He cited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Gulf War, and other regional disputes involving Muslim populations as reasons for his actions. However, these grievances were not always consistent, and some, like his criticism of American domestic policies, appeared to be added after he became a public enemy. The most significant factor in his radicalization was likely the presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia during and after the Gulf War. Bin Laden viewed this as an invasion of holy Muslim land, despite the troops being invited by the Saudi government for regional security. This issue was the only one he consistently returned to in his fatwas and public statements, indicating it was a central motivation for his war against America.
đ Further Exploration of Bin Laden's Life and Legacy
For those interested in delving deeper into the life of Osama Bin Laden, there are resources available that explore his early beginnings and the events leading to his rise as a terrorist leader. Additionally, there are detailed accounts of the operation that led to his capture and death by Seal Team 6, providing a comprehensive view of his life's trajectory and the measures taken to bring him to justice.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄOsama Bin Laden
đĄAl Qaeda
đĄSEAL Team 6
đĄTerrorism
đĄSaudi Arabia
đĄMujaheddin
đĄGulf War
đĄIsraeli-Palestinian Conflict
đĄRadicalism
đĄCultural Critic
đĄUS Troops in Saudi Arabia
Highlights
Osama Bin Laden is known for his obsession with attacking the United States and its allies.
Bin Laden was not driven by desperation but came from a wealthy background.
He was born in 1957 as a son of Mohammed bin Laden, a billionaire construction magnate.
Bin Laden inherited at least $25 million from his father, ensuring a life of luxury.
He was a mild-mannered economics and business student in the 1970s.
Bin Laden's radicalism began after he went to Afghanistan to fight against the Soviet Union in 1979.
Initially, Bin Laden's interests aligned with those of the western countries, including the US.
His turn to anti-west radicalism led to his Saudi citizenship being revoked.
Bin Laden's motivation for attacking the US became clearer in his videotapes after 9/11.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was cited by Bin Laden as a reason for the 9/11 attacks.
Bin Laden's manifesto mentioned various conflicts involving Muslims around the world.
He accused the US of aiding groups that oppressed Muslims, despite little evidence of direct involvement.
Bin Laden criticized America's domestic conduct, including support for gay rights and other perceived immoralities.
The presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia, invited to protect from Saddam Hussein, angered Bin Laden.
Bin Laden viewed the voluntary presence of US troops on Saudi soil as an invasion of holy Muslim land.
The US presence in Saudi Arabia was the only motivation Bin Laden consistently returned to in his fatwas.
Ironically, Bin Laden's reason for declaring war on America may have been his home country inviting US troops in for protection.
Transcripts
Osama Bin Laden went down in history for his obsession with attacking the United States and Â
its allies - never giving up his mad quest until he was finally gunned down by Seal Team 6 in 2011.
But why was this terrorist mastermind so obsessed Â
with the United States? Why did he attack the US in the first place?
If you ask many intellectuals, theyâll tell you that most terrorists arenât powerful criminals, Â
but rather people driven by desperation to strike out against a government they view Â
as oppressing them. This applied to many of Bin Ladenâs henchmen, Â
who were sponsored by Al Qaedaâs inner circle to train in its terror camps.
But it did NOT apply to Osama Bin Laden.
Osama grew up in Saudi Arabia, in the lap of luxury as the son of Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden. Â
To say that the elder Bin Laden was a success would be putting it lightly - he was a billionaire Â
construction magnate who ensured his family was well taken care of - his very large family at Â
that! Osama Bin Laden was born in 1957 as a son of Mohammed bin Ladenâs tenth wife. In total, Â
his father had 52 children. His mother divorced the billionaire soon after Osama was born, Â
but Osama would ultimately inherit at least $25 million dollars from his father.
So he was well taken care of - but where did his radicalism begin?
The Bin Laden family was devoutly religious, but followed a mainstream version of the Â
Sunni Muslim faith. They were well assimilated into the Saudi culture, Â
and no one would expect one of the clan to become an infamous terrorist. He didnât follow a career Â
path that would lead to extremism either - if you knew him back in the 1970s, you would know him as Â
a mild-mannered economics and business student in King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. He graduated, Â
although reports vary on what he majored in. But we do know he briefly attended a class at Oxford. Â
Those who knew him reported he was passionate about poetry, military history, and soccer.
So how did it all go so horribly wrong?
It all started when he left college in 1979 and went to Afghanistan to fight againstâŠthe Â
Soviet Union. The invasion of Afghanistan had galvanized him to become a political radical, Â
but he had no reason to hate the United States at that point. In fact, Â
the United States and Soviet Union were bitter enemies. The groups he worked with, Â
like the Mujaheddin, even received financial support from the United States as they battled Â
to hold the Soviets at bay. The Saudis provided support against the Soviets as well, and it seemed Â
like Bin Ladenâs interests were well in line with those of the larger western countries.
But then something changed.
By the time Osama Bin Laden became a public name in the west due to a series of escalating terror Â
attacks against US interests, his motivation had dramatically changed - and so had his status in Â
the world. His turn to anti-west radicalism had led to his Saudi citizenship being revoked. After Â
all, the Saudis greatly valued their alliance with the United States, particularly due to Â
their rivalry with Iran, and they didnât want to be associated with a wild card. Bin Laden Â
found himself a stateless terrorist, finding refuge in countries including Sudan, Pakistan, Â
and Afghanistan - and he would only surface occasionally to make threatening videotapes.
And on those videotapes, his motivation started to become clearer.
What turned the son of a Saudi billionaire construction magnate into a terrorist Â
radical? Bin Laden gave many explanations - and not all of them really matched up.
Not long after the 9/11 attacks, Bin Laden released his first new videotape taking credit for Â
the attacks - and he singled out one main reason for the attack. This was the Israeli-Palestinian Â
conflict, which had been raging for over fifty years at that point. If you asked the Israelis, Â
they had fended off a genocidal war of invasion against a newborn country and Â
taken the territory they needed to defend themselves. If you asked the Palestinians Â
or the surrounding Arab states, they had been expelled from their territory by newcomers Â
to the region and had been fighting to get their lands back ever since.
But was this regional conflict enough to create a global war?
In a word, probably not. While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict always Â
makes emotions run high - just ask anyone in the comments section in an article about Gal Â
Gadot - it was also a relatively small-scale conflict. The conflict over the Al Aqsa Mosque Â
and the Jewish temple mount was likely the most concerning to a religious zealot like Bin Laden, Â
but there was one problem with the idea that this was his motivation - prior to this video, Â
he had never mentioned the conflict before! The odds are that after striking his biggest Â
blow yet against the US and becoming public enemy #1, he was hoping that Â
bringing up this hot topic would get him more support from countries in the region.
But other conflicts may have had more to do with his radicalization.
The Gulf War was one of the largest conflicts of the 1990s, with the United States ultimately Â
stopping Saddam Husseinâs invasion of Kuwait - but leaving the Iraqi dictator Â
in power. Saddam was infamous for his brutal treatment of minority groups like the Kurds, Â
and frequently attacked US planes entering his airspace. Iraqi forces even attempted Â
to assassinate former President George HW Bush shortly after he left office. So the Â
UN imposed sanctions on Iraq as long as Saddam refused to cooperate with Â
international authorities - and this led to a trade embargo and widespread suffering in Iraq.
And that was enough to get Bin Laden deeply angry.
He first mentioned the sanctions in his 1998 fatwa against Americans, claiming Â
that over a million Iraqis had been killed by the sanctions and saying that targeting civilians was Â
permissible due to this carnage. But Bin Laden had no direct ties to the Iraqis and had never Â
fought in the country - and in fact, Saddam was a very different sort of radical to him. Â
Saddam led a military dictatorship that had no real alliance with Islamic radical groups - and Â
when he was deposed by the United States a few years later, it created an opening for Al Qaeda Â
in the country! So Bin Laden basing his entire worldview around this issue would seem unlikely.
But other conflicts were on his radar as well.
Bin Ladenâs manifesto also mentioned countless conflicts regarding Muslims in the world. They Â
included Russiaâs oppression of the Chechen Muslim minority in the Soviet Union, the ongoing border Â
conflict in Kashmir between Hindu India and Muslim Pakistan, the Philippine governmentâs Â
conflict with Muslim groups, and Israelâs ongoing northern border conflict with Lebanon. In each of Â
these cases, Bin Laden said the United States was aiding these groups to oppress Muslims.
There was just one problem with thatâŠ
The US had little to nothing to do with any of these conflicts! While they were allies with Â
some of the countries, the government had little to do with them. In Russiaâs assault on Chechnya, Â
the US had frosty relations with its geopolitical rival at best - even after the Â
fall of the Soviet Union. The one exception was Bin Ladenâs mention of the conflict in Somalia, Â
where US involvement led to a bloody conflict that was immortalized in the movie Black Hawk Â
Down. But none of these were conflicts that were particularly close to Bin Laden, Â
and his inclusion of them started to look more like a list of grievances than a smoking gun.
He had one complaint that didnât match the others Â
though- and this one might have some right-wing Americans nodding along.
In his 2002 âLetter to Americaâ, his first time communicating with the outside world Â
after the 9/11 attacks, he decided to broaden his complaints to Americaâs domestic conduct. Â
But he didnât accuse them of oppressing Muslim Americans - instead, he went on a rant about Â
Americaâs immorality. Some of his complaints included the countryâs support of promiscuous sex, Â
gay rights, alcohol and drugs, and gambling. He also oddly complained about trading with Â
interest - prohibited in Islam, but common in banking around the world.
Was Osama Bin Laden suddenly becoming a culture-critic?
While many anti-American radicals do criticize Americaâs domestic policies in addition to its Â
foreign policies while not being fully fleged terrorists - this apears to be another case Â
like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where Bin Laden seemed to generate a new grievance after Â
the attacks that put him on the world stage. Itâs unlikely that this was his primary grievance that Â
motivated his attacks, but a savvy propagandist like Bin Laden might have put it in the manifesto Â
to set Americans against each other. After all, if right-wing Americans start blaming the gay rights Â
movement for terror attacks, maybe theyâll be too busy fighting each other to find him.
But most experts believe one factor motivated him more than any other.
The year was 1991, and Saddam Hussein had invaded the oil-rich Persian Gulf state Â
of Kuwait. Even though weâve already discovered that Saddam Hussein didnât Â
fully support Bin Ladenâs cause, the roots of his rage may be tied to that war anyway. The Â
US and Saudi Arabia were closely aligned, and the Saudis quickly invited US troops Â
onto their soil to launch their attacks on Iraq from there - and to provide some Â
insurance in case Saddam decides to take his quest for oil even further.
And when the war ended, the US stuck around.
From 1992 to 2003, the US had around five thousand troops stationed in Saudi Arabia, Â
mostly to conduct air operations over Iraq. While Saddam had been pushed back, Â
there had never been any formal peace agreement and he continued to behave aggressively towards Â
his neighbors. This was something the Saudis agreed to and in fact invited - their Â
security was endangered by Saddam as well, and business relations with the US were important Â
to both countries. The US presence was vital to protecting the shipping lanes of the Persian gulf.
So why did this fill Bin Laden with rage?
Simple - the US agreed, the Saudis agreed - but no one asked him! While most people involved felt Â
that the security benefits were worth it, Osama bin Laden viewed even the voluntary presence of Â
US troops on Saudi soil as an invasion of holy Muslim land. While the troops were Â
nowhere near the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina, they were too close for this radical.
And there is ample evidence that this might have been the trigger Â
that turned him into an anti-American militant.
For one thing, it was the only motivation mentioned in the very first fatwa he issued Â
in 1996 - demanding the US evacuate Saudi Arabia. Two years later, he referred to it as an invasion, Â
in which the United States had been plundering the country and humiliating its people. He Â
believed it was a staging ground for an assault on the entire Muslim world, Â
and repeatedly accused the Americans of being too close to Mecca. The US presence Â
in Saudi Arabia would eventually end when the second war with Iraq began, due to the Saudis Â
opposing that conflict, but this was the only motivation that Bin Laden kept coming back to.
Which means ironically, Osama Bin Ladenâs reason for wanting to declare war on America may have Â
been that his home country invited them in - to protect them from a hostile neighbor. Of course, Â
if you ask ten people why Osama bin Laden hated America, youâll probably get ten Â
answers - and most of them will reflect the personâs opinions more than the truth.
Want to learn more about Osama bin Ladenâs beginnings? Check out âHow Â
the CIA Funded a Terrorist Organizationâ, or watch âHow SEAL Team Tracked Down Osama Â
Bin Laden (Minute By Minute)â for how it all came to an end.
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