Sept. 27, 2001
Focus
Page 13
Osama bin Laden main suspect in several terrorist acts
JT Bowen
Reporter
The U.S. State Department
calls him “one of the most sig
nificant sponsors of Islamic ex
tremist activities in the world
today.” He is one of the CIA’s
most wanted men and stands as
a heroic image to many people
in the Arab world. He is Osama
bin Laden, the man suspected
responsible for the terrorist at
tacks on Sept. 11.
Osama bin Laden was born
in Saudi Arabia into a wealthy
family. His family owned an ex
tremely successful construction
business. He relocated to Af
ghanistan, where he turned his
immense wealth into power and
used that power to gain the re
spect and obedience of many
Arabs.
According to John Miller of
the BBC News, bin Laden was
granted a “safe haven” by the
Afghanistan-ruling Taliban
movement. Bin Laden rallied
more than 3,000 fighters for his
cause while he was in this ha
ven. The cause is a “holy war”
against the United States, to be
accomplished by killing Ameri
cans and Jews.
Bin Laden has had many
other “causes” in the past de
cade, many of which resulted in
killing innocent people.
Bin Laden was responsible
for the 1993 World Trade Cen
ter bombing. In 1996, he was
involved in the killing of 19
U.S. soldiers stationed in Saudi
Arabia at the time.
In 1998, he was placed on the
FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in
connection with the bombings
of U.S. embassies in Dar Es Sa
laam, Tanzania and Nairobi,
Kenya. These attacks, which
occurred Aug. 7, 1998, killed
more than 200 people. The
U.S. government offered a re
ward for up to $5 million for in
formation leading to his convic
tion in this case.
Last year, bin Laden was
held responsible for the attack
made upon the USS Cole in
Yemen. Bin Laden is now sus
pected of helping set up Islamic
training centers to prepare sol
diers to fight in Chechnya, as
well as in other parts of the So
viet Union. According to
Miller, American officials be
lieve bin Laden’s associates
may be currently operating in
more than 40 countries, includ
ing some in Europe, North
America, Asia and the Middle
East.
Analysts say bin Laden and
his terrorist acts differ greatly
from the usual terrorist profile.
Bin Laden does not have a
tightly knit group with a well-
defined command post; instead
he controls a very broad coali
tion, However, this broadness
of groups is expanding over
many continents.
According to Associated
Press writer Thomas Wagner,
the Taliban currently refuses to
hand over bin Laden and his
lieutenants. In fear of an at
tack, 300,000 fighters were dis
patched to defend
the borders of Af
ghanistan.
In a statement
faxed from the
Taliban to the AP,
Taliban leader
Mullah Mohammed
Omar said, “Elimi
nating bin Laden
would do little to re
move the threat of
more terrorism
against the United
States.
“America wants
to eliminate Islam,
and they are spread
ing lawlessness to
install a pro-Ameri
can government in
Afghanistan,” Omar
said. “This effort
will not solve the
problem, and the
Americans will burn
themselves if they
indulge in this kind
of activity.”
Photo credit: KRT Campus
Osama bin Laden is the main suspect in
the terrorist attacls on Sept. 11 as well
as several other attacks.
What do you think the U.S. reaction should be to the
terrorist attack, and what can you do to help?
mpr -
“Find whoever is responsible
and eliminate him or her. Try
. to figure out who else is in
volved, but do not piss off other
countries in the process. 1 guess
I can help,the Red Cross by
donating more money and by
supporting the President in his
decisions while praying for the
military, too.
- Pat Keating, sophomore
*‘More investigation, but defi
nitely have a response. I am co
ordinating a blood drive, I plan
to give blood, and of course,
pray.”
- Nick Smith, sophomore
“Seek out and prevent, but not
necessarily kill people, I will
make art to inform people, be
informed myself, and be under
standing to those students who
lost people in the tragedy,
- LM Wood, art professor
“Retaliation is necessary, how
ever, fighting isn’t noble. All I
can really do is pray,’"
- Jackie Ryerson^ sophomore
“Investigate more thoroughly
before responding. Donate
money whenever possible,”
- Phillip Reynolds, junior
Compiled by Amy
Trageser