Osama, as with many rich leaders, headed not only the “charity,” Al-Qaeda, but also for-profit corporations, primarily construction companies but also financial institutions, and terrorist organizations. Though of Yemeni descent, he was born in Saudi Arabia, and returned from the Soviet-Afghan war a favored son of the Saudis, a hero, whose father had a special relationship with the King himself.
Enamored with the Afghan success, marketed as a hero, and believing the hype, when Saddam invaded Kuwait and threatened the Saudi Kingdom, he offered to lead the mujhadeen veterans in defense of the two kingdoms against the secular tyrant. His enormous pride was wounded when his offer was rejected by the King, in preference of the more tested, but secret ally’s offer: the United States.
Pragmatism overruled ideology and religion in the decision. The world’s 4th largest military (Iraq) would be challenged by the last superpower, not the ragtag force that had taken down the other superpower. The firebrand Osama took great offense that the King had less confidence in his military abilities.
The Wahhabi sect (based in Saudi Arabia) of Sunni Islam has some of the strictest ideologies, but the Islamism of Osama was of greater radicalization. The Shi’a sects of Islam also have historical political implications from which the Shi’a Islam was incubated. One would expect the militants of these two to be even more opposed than the populace, but in most places, to include Iraq, Shi’a and Sunni have traditionally lived together in peace.
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