Osama Bin Laden

Ten years ago this weekend, the 9/11 attacks took place. The effects of that day's events are still as pertinent today as they were a decade ago because of the two major wars that have been ignited as a response, and also because of the loss of civil liberties due to increased security. One aspect that makes this anniversary different from the rest is this one is the first without Osama bin Laden still alive.It is worth going back now to look at the man who financed and inspired the attacks. Osama bin Laden may be dead but the objectives he strove to achieve have in a large part become a reality. His initial motives for declaring Jihad (holy war) against the United States in 1995 have actually been met. Michael Scheuer, chief of the CIA's bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999, provides something revealing in his recent book Osama bin Laden. It was sixteen years ago on August 23, 1995, when Osama bin Laden declared Jihad on the United States. In his declaration and subsequent statements he laid out plainly what he wanted to achieve. In his book Scheuer cites bin Laden's three primary goals:(1) Helping to bleed America into bankruptcy.(2) Spreading out U.S. military and intelligence forces to the point where they have little reserves or flexibility.(3) Stripping away American allies and creating as much political divisiveness as possible in the United States.(pg. viii)In each case, bin Laden ultimately achieved his objectives. America has been bled into bankruptcy by two no-end wars, living beyond our means, barrowing, and inflation. Our military has been stretched dangerously thin as a result our intention to police the world. Our allies have indeed been stripped away as we have made enemies abroad because of our arrogant foreign policy. Lastly we are no doubt living in a time of great political divisiveness with more and more Americans becoming disillusioned with our foreign and domestic policies.If we look at bin Laden as a man with three particular objectives in mind, we will see that in a large part as a result of our response to 9/11 we have created a situation for ourselves that puts us right where he wanted us. Bin Laden was astute enough to realize we could weaken our own influence in the world over time better than he could with his single act of terrorism.In conclusion, the ramifications of 9/11 a decade later affect our nation as it tries to finance the wars and to cope with the loss of civil liberties due to homeland security. Bin Laden probably looked upon this fact with some since of satisfaction. America's lost her much of her influence in the world, which is what he wanted.

Bin Laden is an enigmatic personality who has been described in the Western media as a Satanic Terrorist Leader who has a fanatical and warped sense of Islam that has brought undeseved harm to the West and our alies.While this is one aspect of who he is, the Book by Scheur gives an indepth understanding of his background, the development of his ideas, formation of Al Queda and importantly: what is his goal and why does he believe what he does and how does he plan to accomplish it.This book is particularly enlightening and creates a broader perspective regarding the dynamics and the turmoil in the Middle East (Especially the current revolations in Egypt, Libya,Algeria, etc). While I don't give any credit to Bin Laden for any positive attributes, one can see where his plans and execution give the name "Mastermind" real meaning, albeit, a very evil one.For a student of today's dynamics in the Middle East and what the future may hold, this is a book that is worth reading.

A well organized display of a man capable of horrors and beyond...but also the writer dos not shy away from the horrors delivered from the west. The only less than great aspect of the book is the effort made in the beginning to argue against other literature about the man. Even so there were to me a great many eye openers. For example the shear hatred sunni or at least the wahabis have against the shia..I highly recommend this mostly because of its informative nature.

Scheuer presents an excellent overview of UBL and relevant factoids surrounding historical data. Great read, as the book provides an opportunity for the reader to expand/expound or broaden their respective knowledge in this sector of study!

Awesome book about what Usama wants the world to know why he attacked the USA on 9/11, the first time i read this i understood his thinking by now i know this as the story the CIA wants you to think....bin Laden bad guys killed people...not so Usama agent of CIA for many years.

Very informative but I don't like the authors know it all attitude protraid via his words. Particularly toward the west and how he knows how the USA could have handled finding him better. Anyhow... pretty good and very informative

Excellent biography. The best material on Bin Laden I've seen anywhere. An objective and very professional assessment of a dire adversary.

Paperback I received is great. Also looking for a hardcover book of the same book- 1st edition, 1st printing. Thank you.

All these books about in the shadows activity looking for the worlds evil people are full of data that at times is difficult to follow, and I found myself going back over pages, although watched the program on history channel about the hunt for bin ladin,(or OBL as the CIA called him),and that really took some concentration.Looming Towers is a television adaption of the book on Amazon prime, and heavy going.So the book was the best option, and a book that is difficult to put down.

This book clears up the myths and theories about Bin Laden and al-queda, and explains Who the man was and what he intended to achieve. An interesting book for anyone interested in current affairs. It was published a couple of years before his death so his final years are not covered, but this book is well worth reading.