Gentle eyes, squeaky voice, skeletal frame, long black beard and habitual Kalashnikov.

Youngest of some 20sons of a Yemeni born Saudi construction magnate, bin laden enjoyed  a youth of wealth and privilege. air conditioned houses and private stables and was surrounded by servants. His father's close ties to king Faisal won the family business rich contracts to rebuild mosques in Mecca and Medina. After his father's death in 1968, bin laden inherited some $300 million.

Graduated from King Abdul Aziz University in Jidda in 1979 with a degree in civil enginering, was not always in religious politics. Associates portrayed his as a frequent visitor with Saudi Royalty to Beirut for excursions.

He is said to be galvanized by three events in the late 1970s;

(i) the American-brokered Camp David Peace accords between Egypt and Israel,

(ii) the overthrow the Shah of Iran in a radical Islamic revolution,

(iii) the Soviet incursion in Afghanistan.

He spent first three years of war between Soviet forces and Afghan Guerillas traveling throughout the Persian Gulf raising money for the jihad against the  Soviets.

Abdullah Anas , a former Algerian ally who later fell out describes him as a man who was not " very sophisticated politically or organizationally," he was an activist with "great imagination."

He ate very little, slept very little was very generous who would give even his clothes.

1980 he founded al-Queda group to recruit forces globally for Afghan resistance; group later focused attacks on U.S. and its middle east allies.

1991 he was expelled from Saudi Arabia for anti government activities; lived in Sudan for 5 years until U.S. persuaded Sudan to oust him.