The Bin Ladens

by Steve Coll

  2. Interviews with two friends of Salem’s who met the plane in Geneva.

  3. Interview with one of the friends who was present.

  4. “You haven’t…him now”: Interview with the friend, who asked to not be identified.

  5. Interviews with two people present. For Hejazi and Wahhabi burial rituals, Yamani, Cradle of Islam, pp. 102–20. Bin Mahfouz declined to comment.

  6. Buried with a child: Interviews with two people present. In an attempt to fact-check the reporting and interpretations in this book, I submitted to the Bin Ladens’ principal American law firm, Jones Day, scores of specific questions and factual summaries for comment, correction, or clarification. Apart from several matters concerning the relationship between the family and Osama after he became radicalized, Jones Day responded to only one of these questions, involving the account here of the burial of a young girl with Salem. The letter offered a review of the appropriateness of such burial practices under Islamic law and appended an article from a humanities journal published in Helsinki in 1965, which described the existence of this practice in a Jordanian village. The Jones Day attorney who wrote the letter, Timothy J. Finn, stated that “we have not been able to confirm whether anything like this happened” in Salem’s case, but then continued, “We have been told that Islamic custom does permit joint burial of an infant or small child who dies at the same time as an adult but that this is accomplished…by digging a notch at the foot of the adult grave where the child is laid to rest…both as [an] expression of community solidarity and, simply, as a convenience, since Islamic tradition requires immediate burial within 24 hours of death, with very simple or no grave markings. We have also found in Islamic tradition a little-known theological underpinning for this occasional practice to the effect that the angels of death will not treat the adult harshly in the presence of a child.”

  7. Osama was present: Abdullah Bin Laden, to 20/20, op. cit., and interview with a second person close to the family, who asked to not be identified. “like a father…great deal”: Transcript of interview with Khaled Batarfi, supplied to the author by Batarfi.

  8. Ghalib worried about a conspiracy: Interview with Gerald Auerbach, May 11, 2005. “Manner of Death: Accident,” Bexar County, Office of the Medical Examiner, report 759–88. “was a big event”: Interview with Jamal Khashoggi, March 17, 2006.

  9. Date and place of Sama’s birth: “Application for Appointment of Administrator,” Bexar County probate proceeding, 91-PC-1012.

  10. Bergen and Cruickshank, “How the Idea of Al Qaeda Was Conceived,” citing an interview with Osama Rushdi, an Egyptian militant living in Peshawar at the time.

  11. “Abdullah Azzam wanted…is welcome”: Interview with Jamal Khashoggi, February 2, 2002. “from many different places…borders and walls”: in Lawrence (ed.), Messages to the World, p. 96.

  12. From transcripted interview published by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, April 30, 2006.

  13. All quotations, including those attributed to Banjshiri, come from Al-Surayhi. Bergen, The Osama Bin Laden I Know, p. 83.

  14. The notes were seized by Bosnian authorities during a 2002 raid on an Islamic charity. Unclassified document sets have been released subsequently under the title, drawn from the originals, “Tareekh Osama,” or “Osama’s History.” The quotations here are from a meeting on August 11, 1988.

  15. Ibid. The second meeting began on August 20.

  16. Messages to the World, op. cit., pp. 119–20.

  17. Interview with a former business partner and also with Peter Blum, who worked occasionally with Ghalib and his family, May 5, 2006.

  18. Flight logs examined by the author.

  19. “some cash”: Interview with Gerald Auerbach, May 11, 2005. “They were almost…fences”: Interview with Bengt Johansson, October 3, 2006. “the cash…camps”: e-mail communication from Timothy J. Finn, November 24, 2007.

  20. For an account of the assault on Jalalabad, see Coll, Ghost Wars, pp. 190–95. Night-vision equipment: “Lion’s Breeding Grounds of the Arab Partisans in Afghanistan,” 1991, “Rand: Early History of Al Qaeda Working Group, 2006.” About one hundred: Bergen and Cruickshank, op. cit.

  21. All quotations, interview with Jamal Khashoggi, February 2, 2002.

  22. “At that point…Arab agents”: Messages to the World, op. cit., p. 77. The first assassination plot in which Bin Laden is known to have been involved was an attempt on the life of the exiled king of Afghanistan, in 1991.

  23. Badeeb, Orbit Television, late 2001, tape of interview supplied to the author by Badeeb, translated by The Language Doctors, Inc. Badeeb said, in full, “I suggested to [Osama] and the others to return to Saudi Arabia, since the task for which they came to Afghanistan was achieved. And in fact, [Osama] did return to the kingdom. We also began to thin out the presence of individuals on the Pakistani-Afghani borders who were involved in assistance. We did not have lists of names of individuals who came to Afghanistan. We believed that these people came and offered their services as a religious duty and thus we did not have any doubts about them.”

  24. Apple computers: Interview with Daniel Coleman, August 31, 2005. Coleman is a former agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who worked on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda investigations for about ten years, beginning in 1995.

  25. “Saudi is…reward them”: Harmony AFGP-2002-60246. Several government investigators said in interviews that they believed the Golden Chain documents were credible and authentic. “Bin Laden brothers”: “Government’s Evidentiary Proffer…” in United States of America v. Enaam Arnout, United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 02-CR-892. “only a list…Al Qaeda supporters”: Casey’s Opinion on jurisdictional issues, In Re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 03 MDL 1570, January 18, 2005. “I have never…any kind”: Affidavit of Bakr Binladin, In Re Terrorist Attacks, sworn in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 25, 2006.

  26. “a number of times…brother would”: Interview with Jamal Khashoggi, March 17, 2006, op cit.

  27. All quotations, ibid.

  25. LUMP SUMS

  1. The profile of Bakr here is drawn from interviews with fifteen business partners, employees, family members, government officials, and pilots who have known or worked closely with him.

  2. “All his life…his brother”: Interview with Sabry Ghoneim, a longtime Bin Laden employee in Cairo, November 14, 2005 (RS).

  3. All quotations, interview with Yahia El Agaty, November 19, 2005 (RS).

  4. The 2.27 percentage is listed in Ibrahim Bin Laden’s “Schedule of Assets and Debts,” as cited in “Declaration of Barbara L. Irshay,” January 21, 1993, in Christine Binladin v. Ibrahim Binladin, Los Angeles County, BD058156. I have presumed that this is the ownership percentage of all male sons, and that female heirs own half as much, as provided by Islamic law.

  5. “stocks that I inherited”: Excerpted deposition testimony of Ibrahim Bin Laden, ibid. “Each beneficiary…clearing house”: “Declaration of Linda Pergament Swift,” May 24, 1993, ibid.

  6. Al-Shammary (ed.), Top 1000 Saudi Companies, 1990. The directory listed the National Commercial Bank as the kingdom’s eighth-largest business enterprise, with about $1.3 billion in annual revenue.

  7. Interview with a Bin Laden business partner who asked to not be identified.

  8. What the family told the FBI: Interview with Daniel Coleman, August 31, 2005. Coleman is a retired FBI agent who conducted interviews about these financial issues. The reorganization, Bakr’s affidavit, the valuation of Osama’s holdings circa 1993: Documents submitted by Bin Laden defendants in In Re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 03 MDL 1570. That he owned about 2 percent of each firm: Osama’s MBC holding is projected from Ibrahim’s deposition testimony, op. cit. SBG holding of “about 2 percent” is disclosed by attorneys for the company in “Defendant Saudi Binladin Group’s Reponse…To Plaintiffs’
Objections…Dated July 26, 2007,” p. 4, In Re Terrorist Attacks.

  9. All quotations: Interview with Sabry Ghoneim, November 14, 2005 (RS).

  10. “The amount received…$20 million”: Associated Press, October 29, 2001. Yeslam’s tax returns: Nine/Eleven Finding Answers Foundation documents, provided to the author by Douglas Farah. The 9/11 Commission investigation and findings: “Monograph on Terrorist Financing,” National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, Staff Report to the Commission by John Roth, Douglas Greenburg, Serena Wille, August 2004. He remained a partner: Bin Laden documents submitted in In Re Terrorist Attacks, ibid.

  11. In Re Terrorist Attacks documents, ibid. These court filings by Bin Laden defendants affirm that Osama was a partner in both MBC and SBG after the reorganization, but they do not describe the size of Osama’s SBG position.

  12. No will, beneficiaries: Bexar County, Texas, probate case of Salem Bin Laden, 91-PC-1012.

  13. “Deeds Issued by Shari’ah Courts, Registration No. 123, Submission No. 398,” Abdul Moshen Bin Abdullah Al-Khayyal, President of the Jeddah Courts, translated and filed in Ian Munro v. The Dee Howard Company, Bexar County, Texas, 91-CI-00928.

  14. Dietrich settlement: Interview with Thomas Dietrich, April 12, 2006. Bell Canada settlement: Interview with Michael Pochna, August 31, 2006. Shopping center: Interview with Wayne Fagan, May 10, 2005.

  15. Ian Munro v. The Dee Howard Company, op. cit. Interview with Charles Schwartz, who represented Salem’s estate, May 12, 2005. Also, interview with Keith Kaiser, who represented Howard, February 21, 2006.

  16. “Financial Position…financial affairs”: Letter from Bakr M. Binladin to Ian Munro, July 25, 1993, filed in Ian Munro v. The Dee Howard Company, ibid.

  17. NCB settlement: Interview with Bengt Johansson, October 3, 2006, and a second individual who asked to not be identified. “He didn’t…debts”: Interview with Ghoneim, op. cit.

  26. AMERICA IN MOTION

  1. Attended USC, did not graduate: E-mail communication, James Grant, USC, March 1, 2006 Khalil majored in mechanical engineering and took classes between the autumn of 1975 and the autumn of 1980, before leaving without a degree. Profile of clothing, cars, habits, competition at card games: Interviews with three individuals who spent extensive time with him and who asked to not be identified, as well as with several neighbors who knew him less well. Aspects of his personality are also available from documents and deposition testimony in more than one dozen civil cases in which he or his companies were involved; see specific citations below.

  2. Isabel: Interviews and court documents, ibid. Jonesboro Drive: Los Angeles County property records, examined and typed, June 28, 2005. $600,000 renovation: Khalil Binladin and Isabel Binladin v. American Builders Association et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court, C663911.

  3. As of mid-2007, Cappello was managing director of Cappello Capital Corporation, an international investment firm.

  4. “If I don’t know…say no”: Interview with an individual who worked with Bin Laden. Business interests: Interviews cited in note 1.

  5. Kabeltan Corporation, Carrollton building, Dividend Drive: Dallas County, Texas, property records, examined and typed, February 16, 2006; author’s visits to properties. Cappello is listed as Kabeltan’s president in Dallas County records of December 30, 1983. Kenny Rogers horse loan: Interviews with two individuals familiar with the transaction, who asked to not be identified. These people differed slightly in their recollections of the loan amounts but described the deal and the profit margin in closely similar terms. A representative for Kenny Rogers did not respond to requests for comment.

  6. Interviews with three individuals, op. cit. In a written declaration filed in America in Motion Corporation and Khalil Binladin v. Ron R. Goldie et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court, WEC13994, Khalil identified Mark Love as an employee since 1985. BIN Corporation is identified in Dallas County property records as a “successor by merger” of Kabeltan Corporation.

  7. Tax cases: Dallas County v. Kabeltan Corp., Dallas County, Texas, 92-32136. Los Angeles County real property records document 99-1789705 describes a tax lien against Kabeltan, dating to 1986, involving a total liability of just over $172,000. See also 98-1432057, 97-1237072, 96-1849398, and 97-154966, which describe tax proceedings by Los Angeles County and the State of California against Kabeltan and BIN Corporation. Vituperative lawsuits: Khalil Binladin and Isabel Bin Laden v. American Builders, op. cit., and cross complaints.

  8. Interviews with three individuals, op. cit. Frisaura said that Khalil Bin Laden was an honorable businessman, but that he would make no additional comment.

  9. Leasing dispute history: America in Motion Corp. v. Magnum Aircraft International, Los Angeles County Superior Court, NWC043648. “a small corporation…$225,000 jet”: Declaration of Darius Keaton, ibid., March 9, 1989. No judgment or settlement: E-mail communication from Kevin S. Marks, attorney for Clint Eastwood, September 7, 2007.

  10. “a chartered accountant in Pakistan”: Proposed Joint Statement of the case, Ron R. Goldie, America in Motion and Khalil Binladin v. Ron R. Goldie, op. cit. Also, Khan’s statement of the case, Khalil’s deposition testimony and declarations, ibid.

  11. “an undivided…Massachusetts”: Goldie proposed statement, ibid. Resun history: Company Web site, examined and typed, June 5, 2007. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

  12. “Rebate”: Excerpted deposition testimony of Khalil Bin Laden, ibid. “kick back”: Letter from Ali-Khan to Khalil Bin Laden, February 28, 1989, ibid. Debt to Indosuez exceeded $3 million: Letter from Ali-Khan to Khalil Bin Laden, May 31, 1989, “Situation Report.” Default: In excerpted deposition testimony, Mark Love acknowledges receipt of a default notice from Indosuez, although he describes this as “just a technical issue on behalf of the bank.”

  13. “loan”: Letter from Ali-Khan to Bin Laden, May 26, 1989, “Re: Your Fax…” ibid. “my personal guarantee”: Letter from Ali-Khan to Bin Laden, May 31, 1989, “Situation Report.” “Please provide…a copy”: Letter from Bin Laden to Ali-Khan, May 23, 1989, “Re: Your fax…” “The faxes…guaranteed”: Letter from Khalil Bin Laden to Ali-Khan, date illegible, June 1989. All from court file, ibid.

  14. “the $130,000…by Khan”: Declaration of Khalil Bin Laden, July 13, 1992, ibid. September 22, 1989: Los Angeles Police Department preliminary investigation report, ibid. “if this…this form”:” Excerpted deposition testimony of Khalil Bin Laden, ibid.

  15. The People of the State of California v. Mussarat Ali Khan, “Felony Complaint for Arrest Warrant.” “possible international…in Paris”: “Declaration for Bail Deviation,” filed in America in Motion Corporation and Khalil Binladin v. Ron R. Goldie et al., op. cit.

  16. Declaration of Geoffrey Morson, ibid.

  17. Declaration of Khalil Bin Laden, ibid.

  18. “unable to leave…pay monies”: Elizabeth Borges responses to interrogatories, Isabel Binladin v. Elizabeth Borges, Los Angeles County Superior Court, SC003124.

  19. All quotations, Elizabeth Borges responses to interrogatories, ibid.

  20. “slanderous…Saudi Arabian visas”: Bin Laden complaint, September 5, 1990, ibid.

  21. All quotations, ibid.

  22. All quotations, Borges answer to the complaint, ibid.

  23. Interview with an individual familiar with the transaction who asked to not be identified.

  27. THE SWISS ACCOUNTS

  1. The August 6 meeting has been described similarly, with slight variations, in a number of published accounts. Schwarzkopf on his knee: Freeman quoted in The House of Saud, Algeria Productions, 2004. See also Bronson, Thicker Than Oil, pp. 194–95; Clarke, Against All Enemies, pp. 57–59. Lippman, Inside the Mirage, pp. 300–1.

  2. “Don’t you think…take your point”: Freeman, ibid. “Okay”: Lippman, ibid.

  3. “to increase…of Muslims”: Lawrence (ed.), Messages to the World, pp. 198–99.

  4. Family foundation, pre
vious accounts in a Swiss bank: Interviews with international banking officials who asked to not be identified. The Swiss Bank Corporation account documents were submitted as exhibits by lawyers for the Bin Ladens in In Re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 03 MDL 157. “Sub-accounts…invasion of Kuwait”: Affidavit of Omar Bin Laden, January 25, 2006, In Re Terrorist Attacks.

  5. All account document quotations, dates, financial transfers, from original account documents submitted by attorneys for the Bin Ladens in In Re Terrorist Attacks, ibid.

  6. “has been forbidden…your economy”: Messages to the World, op. cit., p. 167.

  7. Interview with Khaled Batarfi, February 19, 2005.

  8. Islamists in South Yemen: Interview with Dominic Simpson, former British intelligence officer who served in both Saudi Arabia and Yemen, May 17, 2002. “did have…funded everything”: “Interview with Shaykh Al-Fadli On Aden-Abyan Islamic Army…” Al-Quds Al-Arabi, November 8, 2001, FBIS translation. See also “Yemen’s Enduring Challenges…” TerrorismMonitor, Jamestown Foundation, Volume II, Issue 7, April 8, 2004, interview with former U.S. Treasury official Jonathan Winer.

  9. “had reportedly asked…regime”: Against All Enemies, op. cit., p. 59. “came to see me…not acceptable idea”: Quoted in Meeting Osama Bin Laden, Brook Lapping Productions, 2004.

  10. Badeeb: Interview with Orbit Television, tape provided by Badeeb to the author, translated by The Language Doctors, Inc. Raid on Bin Laden’s farm: Sharaf Al-Din, Bin Laden…the Arab Afghans, pp. 52–53.