Osama bin Laden

NAME: Osama bin Laden

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Osama bin Laden gained infamy as the founder and leader of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda, responsible for orchestrating the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

BIRTH: Osama bin Laden was born on March 10, 1957, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Bin Laden was a son of Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden, a billionaire construction magnate and his tenth wife, Hamida al-Attas (then called Alia Ghanem). He was part of a large extended family with close ties to the Saudi royal family.

Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden had over 20 wives, and fathered over 50 children.

CHILDHOOD: Bin Laden grew up in the affluence of Saudi Arabia's upper echelons, enjoying the privileges afforded by his family's wealth and status. He was described as serious and devout from a young age.

EDUCATION: Bin Laden attended prestigious schools in Saudi Arabia where he received a traditional Islamic education, studying Quranic teachings and Islamic law. He later attended King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, where he studied economics and business administration.

CAREER RECORD: Bin Laden's career took a radical turn when he became involved in the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union in the 1980s. It was during this time that he formed al-Qaeda, initially as a network to support mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan.

APPEARANCE: Bin Laden was tall and thin, between 6 ft 4 in and 6 ft 6 in (193–198 cm) in height and weighing about 160 pounds (73 kg). He had a long beard, projecting an image of religious piety and defiance against the West. Bin Laden had an olive complexion. 

Bin Laden by Hamid Mir - http://www.canadafreepress.com

FASHION: Bin Laden's fashion sense was characterized by simplicity and adherence to traditional Islamic dress, eschewing Western styles. He wore a plain white turban and he had stopped wearing the traditional Saudi male headdress.

CHARACTER: Bin Laden was described as deeply religious and ideologically driven, with a fierce determination to confront what he perceived as Western imperialism in the Muslim world. Ruthless and determined, he was a charismatic leader who inspired followers.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: There is little evidence to suggest that bin Laden possessed a sense of humor, as his public persona was largely serious and militant.

RELATIONSHIPS: Bin Laden maintained close ties with his family and was revered by his followers within al-Qaeda. However, his actions and extremist ideology strained his relationships with many in the Muslim world.

He fathered between 20 and 26 children with his five wives.

 Bin Laden was obsessed with Whitney Houston and wanted to make her one of his wives.

MONEY AND FAME: Bin Laden's family wealth provided him with the resources to fund his militant activities and terrorist operations. His notoriety skyrocketed following the September 11 attacks, making him one of the most infamous figures of the 21st century.

FOOD AND DRINK: Bin Laden adhered to Islamic dietary laws, abstaining from alcohol and consuming halal food.

MUSIC AND ARTS: As a teen, Osama Bin Laden formed an a capella singing group with some of his friends.

As an adult, Bin Laden's worldview was staunchly conservative, and he viewed music and certain forms of art as un-Islamic.

He was a fan of anime, after Bin Laden's assassination, The CIA found anime like Naruto, Bleach and Dragon Ball on his hard drive.

LITERATURE: Bin Laden was known to have studied Islamic texts and writings on jihad, shaping his radical ideology and worldview.

Of the 38 full-length English language books Osama Bin Laden had in his possession upon arrest, half of them were conspiracy theory books.

NATURE: Osama bin Laden kept cat videos saved on his computer.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: He was a keen footballer in his youth, playing centre forward and he supported the English club Arsenal.

After Bin Laden's assassination, The CIA found games such as Final Fantasy, Devil May Cry and  Animal Crossing on Bin Laden's hard drive. They also found anime like Naruto, Bleach and Dragon Ball.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Bin Laden's education in economics and business administration provided him with a pragmatic understanding of finance and logistics, which he utilized in his terrorist operations.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Bin Laden adhered to a strict and extremist interpretation of Islam. His philosophy was rooted in his extremist interpretation of Islam, which called for violent jihad against perceived enemies of Islam.

SCANDAL: He orchestrated numerous terrorist attacks, including the September 11th attacks and became one of the world's most wanted men.

On November 20, 1998, a court in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan effectively declared Osama bin Laden "a man without sin" and innocent of charges related to the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Afghanistan's Chief Justice Noor Mohammed Saqib stated, "Without any evidence, bin Laden is a man without sin... He is a free man". This declaration came after a three-week inquiry into allegations of bin Laden's involvement in terrorism against the United States

MILITARY RECORD: Bin Laden was not formally affiliated with any military organization but played a central role in planning and executing terrorist attacks against military and civilian targets.

Osama Bin Laden, a man who wouldn't know subtlety if it bit him on the turban, rocked up in Afghanistan in 1982. The Soviets were there, unwelcome guests overstaying their welcome by a good decade or two, and Osama, bless his pointy beard, wasn't about to let them enjoy their borscht in peace.  He set up shop, funded by his family's bottomless pockets, and began training a ragtag group of Arabs who'd signed up for the jihad buffet. This little outfit, which Osama, with his genius for bland acronyms, called al-Qa'ida (translation: "the base," which sounds more like a budget airline than a world-ending terrorist organization), soon became a household name, albeit not in the way Osama would have liked.

Fast forward to 1998, and a Taliban court, a bunch of folks who clearly hadn't gotten the memo about impartial justice, declared Osama "a man without a sin" regarding the US embassy bombings in Africa.  Right. Then came 9/11, a day that would forever etch Osama's face, goatee and all, into the world's collective memory. The Twin Towers went up in smoke, the Pentagon got a nasty surprise, and nearly 3,000 people lost their lives thanks to Osama's brand of apocalyptic tourism.

The US, understandably a tad miffed, launched its War on Terror, a global whack-a-mole game aimed squarely at al-Qaeda and anyone who looked at them sideways.  Bruce Willis, ever the action hero, even threw a cool million bucks into the pot for anyone who bagged Osama themselves.  Just imagine, walking into a Starbucks and casually mentioning you snagged bin Laden over a latte. Talk about a conversation starter.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Bin Laden's health was a subject of speculation, with reports suggesting he suffered from various ailments. However, he remained physically active and evaded capture for many years. He walked with a cane in his later years.

HOMES: Bin Laden moved frequently to evade capture, often residing in remote and inaccessible locations along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Bin Laden's hideout compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan where he was killed is known locally as the Waziristan Haveli mansion.

TRAVEL: Bin Laden's travels were primarily for militant purposes, coordinating al-Qaeda operations and seeking refuge in regions beyond the reach of Western intelligence agencies.

DEATH: Osama bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011, during a raid by United States Navy SEALs on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The SEALs encountered bin Laden on the third floor of the main building.

After shooting Bin Laden, they needed to measure him to confirm his identity. Apparently, in all the excitement, the SEALs forgot to pack a tape measure.  No worries, these are resourceful guys. They just had to lie down a six-foot teammate next to Osama and eyeball it.  High tech it wasn't, but hey, you get the job done however you can, right?

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: Released numerous video and audio messages promoting his ideology.

Became a constant presence in news media due to his terrorist activities.

Family Guy broadcasted an "Osama Bin Laden trying to make it through airport security" joke, before 9/11.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Bin Laden's legacy is one of terror and destruction, having masterminded some of the deadliest terrorist attacks in modern history. However, his ultimate legacy is one of failure, as his violent ideology ultimately led to his own demise and the dismantling of his terrorist network.