Though he had spent over 10 years in combat and been injured six times while fighting Soviet forces of occupation, Osama bin Laden, a son of a Saudi multi-billionaire whose business that his children inherited, our former President Bush, the father, still works for, generally remained a forgotten figure in the caves of rugged and remote mountains of Afghanistan. 

A few, even among his Arab and Muslim compatriots, would take the turbaned guerilla fighter seriously, despite all attempts by the U.S. government and media to promote him to the world as the leader of Muslim fundamentalist terrorists that American business needs as an enemy in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the destruction of Communism.

However, things have changed!

Most of the credit must be given to our leaders and strategists in Washington who lack the courage and vision to address the root of the problem that led, as we are told, 19 young Muslim men to carry out the most horrible non-governmental terrorist act in history.  Instead of steering America, a damaged ship, safely to shore, and reviewing our misguided and immoral policy that made America the most hated country on earth, and resulted in the destruction of our two symbols of economic and military powers, our President chose a with-us-or-against-us crusade as a solution.

Shortly after U.S. and British bombs came raining down on real people in various regions of Afghanistan, the poorest and the most devastated country on earth as a result of a planned, coordinated and CIA-led war that made America the only superpower in the world today, the popularity of bin Laden jumped up at a rate which has never been seen before. 

In the first night of America and Britain�s bombardment alone, the name Osama�which translates into the "lion of the desert" and is the first name of the Saudi millionaire who rejected the easy and glamorous life which the majority of Arab rich and famous enjoy wandering between the gambling casinos and whore houses of the civilized world�was given to thousands of new born babies throughout the Muslim world, over 30 in a single Yemeni town. 

Now little children call him baba (daddy) Osama and shower him from far away places with kisses.  Elderly men and women pray for his victory against satanic forces. Young boys and girls wish to join his al-Qaidah forces so they may contribute for a better world in which the lives and welfare of people of all colors and races are respected. 

His pictures and tapes have suddenly become best-sellers throughout Asia and Africa, even in Kenya and Tanzania where bin Laden is being accused of masterminding the bombing of the U.S. embassies that resulted in the death of over 200 natives.  Even in California, a Latin American was arrested on charges of tattooing his arm with a picture of bin Laden, a crime punishable by 25 years in jail.

Bin Laden�s speech that he released to al-Jazareera Qatari TV a couple of hours after President Bush ordered the bombings, left the U.S. President and his European allies confused and dazzled.  It has captured the hearts and minds of the masses as far as Indonesia in the east, Senegal in the west, Chechnya in the north and the Union of South Africa in the south.  A fragile man, aided by a stick due to his injuries that he received fighting the Soviets, is standing up to a power which is robbing, raping and oppressing African, Asian and Latin American nations. 

To combat bin Laden�s rapid and frightening popularity and influence, the White House, which constantly and tirelessly lectures the world on democracy, human rights and respect of freedom of opinion and speech, instructed the U.S. media and so-called friendly Muslim countries to boycott or, at least, censor his statements, that are considered to be a weapon of mass destruction.

The great majority of Arab and Muslim kings, presidents and emirs, who continue to beg Washington to address the Palestinian problem, not blame Islam for terrorism and present evidence about the assault on New York and Washington in a desperate effort to silence their dissatisfied and uncontrollable subjects, do not represent or speak for their people.  Bin Laden, the new Saladdin, the long awaited for Messiah, does. 

His words are being echoed by 1.2 million Muslims throughout the world, including those who, for obvious reasons, publicly rushed to condemn him, as well as those who share his political objectives but disagree with his theory that Islam, as practiced by Prophet Muhammad 1,400 years ago, is the only solution to all current Muslim problems. 

Bin Laden�s voice has become music that touches the hearts of Muslims who fully agree with his demands to end Zionist occupation of Palestine�lift the sanctions and stop the aggression on Iraq, and withdrawal of foreign troops from all Muslim lands. In these days, Israeli tanks infest Palestine�in Jenin, Ramallah, Rafah, Beit Jalla, and other places in the land of Islam�and we don�t hear anyone raising his voice or shaking his limbs.

With no evidence presented, the President has declared a war against innocent people, a war that may last 10 years or more and will include other Muslim targets.

Prince Bendar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador in Washington described bin Laden and his comrades on American TV as s.o.b.s, and urged the U.S. to exterminate all those who threaten his Saudi dynasty and Royal Highness.

During the Friday prayer sermon, standing close to the tomb of Prophet Muhammad in Medina, Saudi Arabia, imam Hussein Ali al-Sheikh repeatedly implored Allah to protect all Muslims in Afghanistan and Palestine. 

Over 250,000 believers echoed his words in one solemn voice, and then chanted �amen.�  Those who speak the language of the desert do understand. The imam, who is appointed by the regime that does not allow free expression, was actually saying, May God give victory to those who oppose tyranny, arrogance and oppression.