‘The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century’ — What Steven Coll’s Book Reveals
“The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century” is a 2008 book by Steven Coll. The book focuses on the family of Osama Bin Laden, especially on the patriarch of the family, Muhammad bin Awad bin Laden. He was a wealthy construction magnate who, among other things, built the palace of King Saud. In doing so, he curried favor with the Saudi royal family. The Bin Ladens were an important family.
He became wealthy, which explains why Osama Bin Laden was able to bankroll both the Mujahedin in Afghanistan and Al-Qaeda. The position of the Bin Laden family within the Saudi royal family helps explain the complex relationship Osama had with the kingdom. Of course, Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan, but he had 24 children. Do you think another terrorist may come from his children?
Muhammad bin Awad bin Laden
The book focuses on Osama bin Laden’s family. Given the immense amount of focus that was placed on him, there is a fascinating look. Important to the book is an explanation of the father, Muhammad bin Awad bin Laden, a wealthy construction magnate favored by the Saudi royal family.
He built a palace for King Saud and a crucial road from Jeddah to Medina. He was a billionaire who became the wealthiest non-royal in the kingdom. He was known as a loyal follower of the royal family and shrewdly cultivated relationships with the royals to curry their favor. He was known as the “Royal Builder” and founded The Bin Laden Group in 1930. He was killed in a plane crash in 1967, but not before he had 54 children.
The bin Laden Family
This is an immense family. One of those children, of course, was Osama bin Laden. He was closest to his brother Salim, so there is a great deal of focus on him. He was the eldest child and took over the company when his father was killed. He was, somewhat surprisingly, worldly. He was educated at a boarding school in England. Salim managed the family’s investment portfolio, was a billionaire himself, and was in charge of distributing the family’s income. He, like his father, valued a close relationship with the Saudi royal family. He also oversaw the individual education plans for his 53 half-brothers and half-sisters.
It is noteworthy that there was a tie between the bin Ladens and the family of President George W. Bush. He knew James Bath, a Texan businessman who served as the American representative to rich Saudis among bin Laden relatives, and used Bath’s connections. He met Salim and a banker, Khalid bin Mahfouz.
The two Saudis were willing to invest in the oil business. Salim bin Laden was one of the investors in Arbusto Oil, a company founded by George W. Bush in 1979. Salim had a home in Orlando, Florida. He died in 1988, when his ultralight plane crashed on the outskirts of San Antonio.
Osama bin Laden and Extremism
When Salim died, says the book, Osama went into a deep depression. Without this stabilizing influence in his life, Osama slid toward extremism. The Soviet Union also invaded Afghanistan. That happened after the Soviet puppet President of Afghanistan fell and was replaced by a more American-friendly president.
The invasion proved to be a magnet for Islamists from across the Middle East to fight the Soviets. Thousands flocked to the erstwhile Islamic state. As Osama bin Laden struggled to find his role, it soon became clear to him that his skills would be best applied by facilitating the transit of the fighters to Afghanistan. That was the role he filled, though there were stories, miraculous ones, of him fighting the Soviets.
Why You Should Read “The Bin Ladens”
The book ends there, but the rest, as they say, is history. The bin Ladens shaped history. The reason to read this book is simple: to learn about the family of one of the most important figures of the latter half of the twentieth century. Osama bin Laden was the product of his family conditions, so to understand him, you need to read this book.
