Steve Coll on “The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century”

Democracy Now!
September 15, 2008

Steve Coll on “The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century”
Nearly seven years after the first bombs were dropped on Afghanistan, the US war there continues to escalate. President Bush recently announced he will send an additional 5,000 troops to Afghanistan. Both major party presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama, have pledged to send more troops if elected. The United States launched the war in Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 attacks. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden and remove the Taliban regime, which had provided support and safe harbor to al-Qaeda. Osama bin Laden is known worldwide as the founder of al-Qaeda and the mastermind of 9/11. But much less is known of his sprawling Saudi family and their multiple ties to the United States. A new book by award-winning journalist Steve Coll details the complicated family history of Osama bin Laden, one of 54 children born to Mohammed bin Laden.

Fascinating. Horrifying. Pretty easy to loathe. It's also easy to loathe our government's dealing with the Islamist extremists through the CIA against Russia in Afghanistan in the 80's.

Bin Laden's Soft Support
How the next president can win over the world's most alienated Muslims.
By Kenneth Ballen