QUIETLY HUM THE THEME FROM JAWS AS YOU READ THIS.

Bin Laden Son Plays Key Role in Al Qaeda (Douglas Farah and Dana Priest, Washington Post, 10/14/03)

Saad bin Laden, one of Osama bin Laden's oldest sons, has emerged in recent months as part of the upper echelon of the al Qaeda network, a small group of leaders that is managing the terrorist organization from Iran, according to U.S., European and Arab officials.

Saad bin Laden and other senior al Qaeda operatives were in contact with an al Qaeda cell in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the days immediately prior to the May 12 suicide bombing there that left 35 people dead, including eight Americans, European and U.S. intelligence sources say. The sources would not divulge the nature or contents of the communications, but the contacts have led them to conclude that the Riyadh attacks were planned in Iran and ordered from there.

Radical Islamic government. Check. Rogue nuclear program. Check. Oil. Check. Violation of international accords. Check. Ties to Al Qaeda. Check. Destabilizing influence in region. Check. Threat to US allies. Check. History of attacks against Americans and US interests. Check. Membership in axis of evil. Check.

Posted by David Cohen at October 14, 2003 9:18 AM