52. Bin Laden vs the CIA: Declaring Jihad (Ep 2)
How did a Saudi millionaire, seemingly more interested in a simple life than luxury, become the architect of a global terrorist organization? What personal and geopolitical forces converged to transform Osama bin Laden from a shy student into a war hero and the spiritual leader of Al Qaeda? And why was 1979 such a pivotal year for both him and the future of Islamic extremism?
In this episode, Gordon and David dissect the pivotal year of 1979, a "hinge year" in the Middle East that profoundly impacted bin Laden. From the Grand Mosque siege in Mecca to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, we explore how these events provided an outlet for his burgeoning extremist beliefs and set him on the path to violence. Discover how he leveraged his family wealth and charismatic influence to build a network of Arab volunteers, laying the groundwork for a movement that would change the world.
Join Gordon and David as they trace the critical turning points that led to the formation of Al Qaeda, and the surprising ways in which bin Laden cultivated his image as a holy warrior.
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Assistant Producer: Becki Hills
Producer: Callum Hill
Senior Producer: Dom Johnson
Exec Producer: Tony Pastor
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