Osama bin Laden, Terrorist Born: 1957 Birthplace: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Mastermind of the September attacks

Osama bin Laden was one of 52 children fathered by Muhammad bin Laden, a Saudi Arabian construction magnate, multi millionaire. His dad had 22 wives.

The U.S. government considers Osama bin Laden to be the most dangerous terrorist in the world. find him and get $50,000,000!

We have been looking for him…

Where is he???

Obama becomes involved In 1979, thousands of Afghanistani Muslims joined the Mujahideen - a guerilla force on a holy mission. They wanted to overthrow the Afghanistan government. The Mujahideen declared a jihad - a holy war - on the supporters of their government including the Soviet Union.

Osama Bin Laden brought lots of money and weapons to the Muslim Afghanistani fighters and became a commander. The Afghanistan government and Soviet Union lost to the Muslim fighters.

After that war ended, bin Laden joined with the Egyptian militants led by Ayman al-Zawahiri to form an international group of Islamic terrorists called al-Qaeda whose goals included driving the United States out of the Middle East and overthrowing the government of Saudi Arabia.

al-Qaeda or al-Qaida or al-Qa'ida means 'the base‘ established in 1988 by Osama bin Laden.

Al-Qaeda’s Motivation al-Qaeda's objectives include the elimination of foreign influence in Muslim countries, eradication of those deemed to be "infidels“ (someone who doubts the Islamic religion), and the elimination of Israel.

3 Reasons for Hatred 1) US policies (such as the ongoing embargo against Iraq) 2) US support for the only genuine liberal democracy in the Middle East, Israel. 3) Hatred of American freedoms and values

A US Marine patrol walks by a burning oil well near Kuwait City on March 7, The American presence in the Middle East during the Gulf War infuriated Osama bin Laden, prompting the start of his long terrorist campaign.

Timeline of Terrorism leading to September 11 th, 2001 Source: PBS Frontline: Al Qaeda’s Global Context

Timeline of Terrorism… 1989 – Osama Bin Laden and 2 supporters form Al Qaeda. The terrorist organization sets up camps in Afghanistan & Pakistan.

Timeline of Terrorism… Bin Laden organizes attacks on the U.S. and U.N. Forces in Somalia. Dec. 29, 1992 – Al Qaeda’s First Official Attack Two Austrian tourists were killed when a bomb exploded at a hotel in Aden, Yemen. U.S. servicemen were the intended target.

Timeline of Terrorism… Feb. 26, World Trade Center Bombing A truck bomb explodes in a parking garage of the World Trade Center. Attack is linked to Islamic extremists, although Al Qaeda is not mentioned. 6 people killed, hundreds injured.

twin towers of the World Trade Center after a bomb exploded in the buildings' underground garage on Feb. 26, 1993, killing six people. Officials believe bin Laden was behind the plot. Timeline of Terrorism…

Damage to parking garage at World Trade Center 1993.

Timeline of Terrorism… October 3-4, “Black Hawk Down” 18 American soldiers are attacked and killed in Mogadishu, Somalia. Bin Laden and his followers had trained the attackers. Photo from movie

Timeline of Terrorism… Scene from the movie, “Black Hawk Down”

Timeline of Terrorism Jan Bin Laden funds terrorists camps in Sudan U.S. authorities start to focus on Bin Laden and begin to investigate him. He is linked to the hotel bombing in Yemen and the attack on U.S. soldiers in Mogadishu.

An American soldier stands in front of an apartment building in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, which was shattered by a truck bomb on June 25, Nineteen Americans were killed in the bin Laden-backed attack.

Timeline of Terrorism… May 22, 1997 – FBI reports there are terrorist groups operating within the United States. Feb. 23, Bin Laden calls for Al Qaeda and other extremist groups to kill Americans.

Aug. 7, 1998 – American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania are bombed. Kenya: 213 killed, 4,500 injured Tanzania: 11 killed, 85 injured Both attacks are linked to Bin Laden.

An American soldier patrols the shattered US Embassy compound in the Tanzania capital of Dar es Salaam after a bombing there on August 7, 1998.

Damaged cars and debris cover the ground outside the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, which was bombed on the same day as the embassy in Tanzania. The twin bombings killed 224 people, including 12 Americans. Bin Laden has been blamed for the attacks.

Embassy in Kenya

Rescue workers pull a woman from the rubble of a collapsed building next to the embassy in Kenya.

Timeline of Terrorism… U.S. Embassy in Tanzania after bombing in 1998.

Timeline of Terrorism… Aug. 20, 1998 – President Clinton orders Tomahawk missiles to be fired at Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan. The effectiveness of the strikes was questionable.

Timeline of Terrorism… April 17, FBI starts to investigate students at U.S. flight schools. Students have suspected links to Al Qaeda.

Timeline of Terrorism… Oct. 12, USS Cole (American Destroyer) is attacked off the coast of Yemen 17 U.S. sailors are killed. Bin Laden and Al Qaeda are linked to the attack.

Timeline of Terrorism… The USS Cole after the attack on October 12, 2000.

A black hole gapes in the side of the destroyer USS Cole after the ship was bombed during a refueling operation in Yemen on October 12, Seventeen US soldiers were killed in the blast, which had the markings of a bin Laden operation.

USS Cole

An injured Navy sailor from the USS Cole clutches an American flag as he is carried off a plane at the Norfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia several days after the attack.

Timeline of Terrorism… Jan – FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) warns airlines and airports of potential terrorist hijackings. May 11, 2001 – The State Department issues a warning to Americans overseas that they may be targeted by Al Qaeda.

Timeline of Terrorism… Mid-June, 2001 – Attack on U.S. embassy in Yemen is thwarted (stopped). June 28, 2001 – National Security Advisor, Condolezza Rice, is warned during an intelligence briefing that an attack by Al Qaeda is “highly likely”.

Timeline of Terrorism… And finally, a day that won’t be forgotten… September 11 th, 2001

People run for cover as the World Trade Center towers collapse after being struck by hijacked airliners on September 11, Bin Laden is the leading suspect in the attack.

Trapped World Trade Center workers scream for help through broken windows as smoke sweeps through the 110-story towers. More than 1,000 people were injured in the bombing.

Terrorist acts are meant to bring the United States down or create division…..Has this happened???

Pictures symbolizing American pride, such as the Bald Eagle and American Flag, have been more evident since the events of 9/11.

Ground Zero as it is projected to look in the year 2011

Osama Bin Laden BinLaden’s son interview 6 minutes Osamas beginnings national geographic 4 minutes Inside al Qaeda 4minutes

JV898&feature=relatedhttp:// JV898&feature=related Taliban

Attacks which bin Laden is believed to have plotted or inspired include the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, 1995 truck bombing of a Saudi National Guard training center 1998 explosions at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. He is a prime suspect in the September 2001 attacks that crippled the Pentagon and destroyed New York's World Trade Center. Despite an intensive manhunt by the U.S. government in the years since that attack, bin Laden has not been captured.

Bin Laden's supporter Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. bomb strike in Iraq on 7 June Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

Members of the 86th Airlift Wing Honor Guard carry the remains of five Navy sailors killed in the USS Cole explosion as the bodies arrive at Ramstein Air Base.

US Army officers carry the coffin of Army veteran James Allen of Montmorency Township, Mich., who was killed in the bombing of a US-run military training facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Nov. 13, Allen was one of five American servicemen killed in the attack, which was backed by bin Laden.