Osama Laden
Osama bin Laden
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Full name: Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden
Nicknames: Abu Abdullah (Father of Abdullah), Sheikh Osama
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: March 10, 1957, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Died: May 2, 2011, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Nationality: Saudi Arabian
Professions:
Engineer (graduated from King Abdulaziz University with a degree in civil engineering)
Businessman
Islamist militant leaderEarly Life and Background
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Osama bin Laden was born to Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden, one of the wealthiest men in Saudi Arabia. His father's construction company was contracted for several government projects, including the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Osama's mother, Hamida al-Attas, came from a poor background but married well.
Growing up in Jeddah, bin Laden was educated at the Al-Thager Model School and later at King Abdulaziz University, where he studied economics and business administration. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering in 1981.
Major Accomplishments
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Co-founded the organization al-Qaeda (meaning "The Base" in Arabic) along with Abdullah Azzam.
Orchestrated and funded several terrorist attacks worldwide, including:
1993 World Trade Center bombing
2000 USS Cole bombing
9/11 terrorist attacks
Notable Works or Actions
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Bin Laden wrote extensively on Islam, politics, and social issues. Some notable works include:
"The Exile's Manifesto to the People of the World" (1988) - a public declaration of al-Qaeda's goals.
"Declaration of War Against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places" (1996) - a call for jihad against US forces in Saudi Arabia.
Impact and Legacy
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Osama bin Laden's actions had far-reaching consequences:
Led to the launch of the War on Terror, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement.
Forever changed global politics and international relations, particularly between the US and Middle Eastern countries.
Inspired a new generation of extremist groups.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Despite his violent actions, Osama bin Laden remains widely quoted due to:
His charismatic leadership and ability to inspire followers.
His well-articulated ideological views on Islam and politics.
The significant impact of his actions on global events.
Remembering Bin Laden's Legacy
As the world reflects on his life and legacy, it is essential to acknowledge both the harm caused by his actions and the complexities that led him to such extreme views.
Quotes by Osama Laden
By God's grace, ... we have formed with many other Islamic groups and organizations in the Islamic world a front called the International Islamic Front to do jihad against the crusaders and Jews.
I have sworn to only live free. Even if I find bitter the taste of death, I don't want to die humiliated or deceived.
I'm fighting so I can die a martyr and go to heaven to meet God. Our fight now is against the Americans.
The insistence of the Danish government to refrain from apologizing and its refusal to punish the criminals and take action to prevent this crime from being repeated... shows that the notions of freedom of speech have no roots, especially when it comes to Muslims.
Even as you enter the fourth year after the Sept. 11 attacks, Bush is still misleading and deluding you and hiding the real reason from you.
