I began writing about Osama bin Laden in 1998. At the time, he had just been implicated as the mastermind in the bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa. Bin Laden had carried out these sinister acts with chilling precision, and it was obvious that he was on the verge of becoming an even more powerful force in international terrorism.
Obtaining accurate information on an internationally wanted terrorist such as Osama bin Laden can be challenging for any writer. While continuing to elude authorities, bin Laden had frequently shifted his hideouts as his supporters deliberately generated misinformation about his whereabouts, tactics, and goals. It was especially difficult to find accurate data regarding Osama bin Laden’s personal life, and on more than one occasion, conflicting facts caused bin Laden to be referred to as “a fact checker’s nightmare.”
Despite the difficulties involved, my publisher and I felt it was important to know more about Osama bin Laden and we continued this project. Just as we were putting the finishing touches on the manuscript, bin Laden launched his horrendous 9/11 attack on the United States. Since that time, nearly ten years have passed and much has changed as a result of bin Laden’s actions. Feeling it is more important than ever to understand the forces that propelled Osama bin Laden and his international terrorist organization al- Qaeda, we’ve brought you a look at the life and death of a man at the fore-front of a violent political movement that significantly impacted our world.