24.
25. Ibid., p. 182.
26. The author is grateful to Bruce Hoffman, Kim Cragin, Nadia Oweidat, Sara Daly, Heather Gregg, and Anna Kasupski of the Early History of Al Qaeda Working Group for access to these texts from the “Harmony” collection, many of which were translated during 2006. “Supreme Council for Damage,” Harmony AFGP 2002- 003214–Statement 10, October 15, 1994.
27. “shady history…Muslims”: Harmony AFGP 2002-003214–Statement 10.
28. “has a shady past…on its people”: Harmony AFGP 2002-003214–Statement 13, “Prince Salmanand Charity Offerings in Ramadan,” February 12, 1995. “tricksters”: Ibid., Statement 16, “Prince Sultan and Flight Commissions,” July 11, 1995. “hostile to Islam and Muslims”: Ibid., Statement 18, “Tragedy of Bosnia and Deceit of Saudi Arabia,” August 11, 1995.
29. Affidavit of Carmen Bin Laden, February 1, 2006,
30. Testimony of Jamal Al-Fadl, op. cit. “We had…his people”: Quoted in Bergen and Cruickshank, “How the Idea of Al Qaeda Was Conceived…” 2006.
31. Harmony Statement 13, op. cit., February 12, 1995.
32. “she could not…hardship”:
33. Khalifa:
34. Affidavit of Omar Bin Laden, op. cit.
35. “I am tired…nostalgic I am”: Hassan Al-Surayhi,
36. “Emigration…Day of Judgment,’
30. HEDGE FUNDS
1. Interview with Chas Freeman, June 15, 2005, and with other officials who asked to not be identified.
2. Ibid.
3. Articles of incorporation filed by attorneys for Saudi Bin Laden Group in
4. Interviews with former and current Bin Laden employees and partners who asked to not be identified.
5. Lucrative GE contracts:
6. Rihani’s background: Interview with a colleague who asked to not be identified. His title, board service at Middle East Policy Council, Freeman as chairman: www.mepc.org, examined and typed, June 29, 2007.
7. A brother might open a travel agency, an American firm hired to inventory holdings: Interview with an individual close to the Saudi Bin Laden Group who asked to not be identified. “tank tops…denims…” and varied business lines: Saudi Bin Laden Group directory, from corporate Web site examined and printed by Peter Bergen prior to September 11, 2001. The author is grateful to Peter Bergen for access to these documents.
8. Loans to offshore companies: Russell Wood Limited filings, Companies House, London, 1996. The firm had outstanding loans to Celta Finance SA (117,669 pounds), Tropiville BV (2,048,498 pounds), and Saudi Investment Company (International) BVI (1,772,304 pounds). “We are unable…all respects…”: Russell Wood Limited filings, Companies House, London, 1991. The auditor was Stoy Hayward. Securities and Futures Authority required: Russell Wood (Holdings) Limited filings, Companies House, 1997.
9. Moawalla background, Pilley: Russell Wood Limited filings, Companies House, London, 1987–1997. “You don’t have a need”: Interview with a former colleague of Moawalla who asked to not be identified.
10. Hotel rooms, appearance: Photographs examined by the author, interviews with three acquaintances of Shafiq. January 1958: Symphony Advisers Ltd. filings, Companies House, London, 2000. USF: Telephone interviews with Gary McDonald, March 15 and 16, 2006. Could hold his own: Interview with a colleague who asked to not be identified. Investment committee: Interview with a second business partner who asked to not be identified.
11. Briody,
12. Ibid., pp. 69–80.
13. Raised $1.3 billion and California Public Employees: Ibid., p. 85; Soros: Ibid., p. 84.
14. Briody: Ibid., p. 145, quotes Basil Al-Rahim, an exiled Iraqi financier, saying that he brought the Bin Ladens into the Carlyle investment. The thrust of this account was confirmed by an individual familiar with the investment who asked to not be identified. The Bin Laden investment in Carlyle was about $2 million at the time it was sold in the autumn of 2001, but Briody’s reporting suggests that the family may have made and cashed out larger investments during the 1990s. “knew them…favorite politician”: Telephone interview with Charles Schwartz, September 20, 2006.
15. Saudi purchase, Middle East Broadcasting support: Interview with Tobin Beck, former UPI editor, October 12, 2005. “I don’t appreciate…service”: Interview with Arnaud de Borchgrave, March 10, 2005.
16. “clearly a man”: Interview with Borchgrave, ibid.
17. Interviews with two family members and several Desert Bear neighbors who asked to not be identified.
18. The portrait is drawn from interviews with several former classmates and Abdullah’s academic adviser. Range Rover: Telephone interview with Nada Abdelsater-Abusamra, January 2006 (RS). Near Beacon Street, Papa Razzi: Telephone interview with Lama Abu-Odeh, January 15, 2006 (RS).
19. “I would tease…you can tell me”: All quotations from interview with Abu-Odeh, ibid.
20. Ibid.
21. “It could well be…feasible”: Bin Laden, “Western Banking Practices…” p. 2.
22. “the academic…religion”: Interview with Frank Vogel, December 2005 (RS).
23. “They were interested…Middle East”: Interview with Vogel, ibid.
24. Interview with Andrew Hess, December 2005 (RS).
25. Ibid.
31. A TROJAN DESK
1. Car bomb: United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, staff report, September 12, 1996. Former Vinnell board member: Briody,
2. Christmas 1995, Bakr flew guests from America: Interview with Gerald Auerbach, May 11, 2005.
3. Interviews with several guests and members who have visited since the 1990s. The author visited the club as a guest more recently. 201 bedroom chalets and studios: Saudi Bin Laden Group Web site, pages examined and printed by Peter Bergen prior to September 11, 2001.
4. Interview with Auerbach, op. cit.
5. Ibrahim family real estate holdings:
