As 11 September 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the fateful...
Colonel Spook@CI_CT_IO
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Oct 29, 2026
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As 11 September 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the fateful events of 9/11, which ushered in the “Global War on Terror”, the ripples of those events continue to be felt even today.
Here’s a 4-part series tracing Osama bin Laden’s rise and fall,
Here’s a 4-part series tracing Osama bin Laden’s rise and fall,
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the networks and actors that shaped his trajectory, and the puppeteers behind his ascent,an attempt to answer some of the unanswered questions.
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𝟏. 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐝𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐝: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐧
Osama bin Laden was born in 1957 in Riyadh to the wealthy bin Laden family. His father, Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden, was no ordinary Saudi. Well connected with the monarchy,
Osama bin Laden was born in 1957 in Riyadh to the wealthy bin Laden family. His father, Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden, was no ordinary Saudi. Well connected with the monarchy,
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his business empire had extensive links with global corporations and financial institutions.
The bin Laden family company banked with Citigroup, invested with Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch, and did business with Disney and Hard Rock Cafe, among others.
The bin Laden family company banked with Citigroup, invested with Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch, and did business with Disney and Hard Rock Cafe, among others.
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The bin Ladens had shrewdly joined the Saudi royals in becoming business associates with James Baker, former Secretary of State, and George H.W. Bush when they invested with the Carlyle Group, a major private equity firm.
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Another interesting anecdote about his father involves the famous Mossad spy Eli Cohen, who was undercover in Damascus as a Syrian. Cohen provided vital intelligence to Mossad about military fortifications and water-diversion projects that could have hurt Israel immensely.
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Cohen had obtained details about the canals from Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden, the father of Osama.
The bin Laden family owned a multinational construction and investment conglomerate. Osama’s company also received contracts to reconstruct the mosques in Mecca.
The bin Laden family owned a multinational construction and investment conglomerate. Osama’s company also received contracts to reconstruct the mosques in Mecca.
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The lore goes that during this construction work, Osama became increasingly inclined towards religion.
After completing his schooling in Jeddah and England, Osama enrolled at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, where he would meet his mentor,
After completing his schooling in Jeddah and England, Osama enrolled at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, where he would meet his mentor,
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Abdullah Azzam,the “Godfather of Global Jihad”.
But his encounter with Abdullah Azzam, his mentor at King Abdulaziz University, was not coincidental. Saudi Arabia was emerging as a fountainhead of global jihad.
But his encounter with Abdullah Azzam, his mentor at King Abdulaziz University, was not coincidental. Saudi Arabia was emerging as a fountainhead of global jihad.
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It is therefore necessary to take a brief look at the Saudi role as the nerve centre of global jihad.
Britain recognised Saudi sovereignty in the Jeddah Agreement of 1927. The formal declaration of the Kingdom came in 1932.
Britain recognised Saudi sovereignty in the Jeddah Agreement of 1927. The formal declaration of the Kingdom came in 1932.
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A primary concern of the monarchy was to preserve its custodianship of the two holy mosques and maintain the Kingdom’s status in the Muslim world.
Saudi Arabia’s earliest foundation stone was laid by Bedouin warriors led by Muhammad ibn Saud, who forged an alliance with
Saudi Arabia’s earliest foundation stone was laid by Bedouin warriors led by Muhammad ibn Saud, who forged an alliance with
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Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, a radical Islamic preacher, in 1744. Thus, Wahhabi thought became embedded in the Kingdom.
After the rise of Nasserism, a secular Arab nationalism under Gamal Abdel Nasser, Saudi Arabia sensed a danger to its monarchy.
After the rise of Nasserism, a secular Arab nationalism under Gamal Abdel Nasser, Saudi Arabia sensed a danger to its monarchy.
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Nasser cracked down on Islamist elements of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Though the Muslim Brotherhood differed with Saudi Arabia over its relationship with the Western world,their overlapping Islamist and Salafi currents brought them together.
Though the Muslim Brotherhood differed with Saudi Arabia over its relationship with the Western world,their overlapping Islamist and Salafi currents brought them together.
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Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood activists fled to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia funded Muslim Brotherhood faculty at the Islamic University of Medina and allowed them to propagate their ideas. Similarly, at Osama’s alma mater, King Abdulaziz University, Muhammad Qutb,
Saudi Arabia funded Muslim Brotherhood faculty at the Islamic University of Medina and allowed them to propagate their ideas. Similarly, at Osama’s alma mater, King Abdulaziz University, Muhammad Qutb,
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the brother of slain Muslim Brotherhood ideologue Sayyid Qutb, taught.
In the 1970s, Muhammad Qutb was joined by Abdullah Azzam, then a leading figure of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan. Osama was influenced by both of them.
In the 1970s, Muhammad Qutb was joined by Abdullah Azzam, then a leading figure of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan. Osama was influenced by both of them.
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To expand the tentacles of Wahhabism, Saudi Arabia founded the Muslim World League (MWL) in 1962, a parent organisation for various Wahhabi organisations.
Gradually, it developed into a large network of non-governmental charities such as
Gradually, it developed into a large network of non-governmental charities such as
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the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) and the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY).
Richard Ehrenfeld, in Funding Evil, claims that IIRO subsequently used 70% of its funds to purchase weapons during the jihad waged by Al-Qaeda.
Richard Ehrenfeld, in Funding Evil, claims that IIRO subsequently used 70% of its funds to purchase weapons during the jihad waged by Al-Qaeda.
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The Saudi milieu provided the ideological backdrop. But Afghanistan would provide the battlefield that transformed Osama bin Laden’s trajectory,from a wealthy Saudi Islamist into a transnational jihadist figure.
