Osama bin Laden; once a friend of US, now a foe

by Vince DeFrusclo staff writer

Osama bin Laden is considered the greatest threat to Americans, but ironically he was an ally of the United States in the mid-'80s. Bin Laden was born into a wealthy Saudi Arabian family in 1955. His father was the founder of the bin Laden Group, a construction firm that received many contracts from the Saudi Government.

In 1979, Bin Laden left Saudi Arabia to go to Afghanistan to fight the Russian Soviet invasion. It was during the 1980s that bin Laden first interacted with the United States. The U.S. funded a group bin Laden co-founded called the Maktab al-K.hidamat (MAK), or "service office." This group helped funnel money to Afghan resistance fighters. America, then in the final stages of the Cold War, supported bin Laden to stop the spread of Communism. Afghanistan borders what was then the former Soviet Union. If Afghanistan had fallen to Communism. it could have created a super-power territory in Central Europe.

In 1988, bin Laden split from the MAK to form his own organization called Al-Qaeda, or "the base." The purpose of Al-Qaeda, in bin Laden's words, is to ''unite all Muslims and establish a government which follows the rules of the Caliphs." According to a declassified CIA document on AlQaeda, the group's goal is to "overthrow nearly all Muslim governments, which bin Laden views as 'corrupt,' to drive Western influence from those countries, and eventually work to abolish state boundaries."

Bin Laden was expelled from

Saudi Arabia in 1991 because of his anti-government sentiments. He relocated to Sudan. In 1996, Sudan expelled bin Laden from U.S. pressure. The U.S. saw him as a formidable threat. After expulsion from Sudan, bin Laden took refuge in Afghanistan, where it is believed he is currently located.

President Bush has said that bin Laden is "wanted dead or alive," as he is the prime suspect in the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11. British intelligence agencies have also said that bin Laden is their prime suspect for the terror in the U.S.

As of press time, bin Laden was vehemently denying any involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks.

b.y BeaeeTomc;anln managing editor

Like something straight out of a Richard Bachman novel, CBS based its newest reality series on the concept of old-fashioned racing. "The Amazing Race" puts 22 contestants against each other in a test of physical and mental agility.

Eleven teams of two people each compete in a race around the world to get the $1,000,000 grand prize. Each team has a pre-existing relationship. There is the engaged couple, the best friends, the single teachers, the life partners and the separated spouses to name a few. These add the extra conflict needed to create reality television sparks.

Throughout the race, teams have to unlock clues and endure physical tests in order to make it to their next location. There are also different ways that teams can gain advantages over the other teams. One example is the Fast Forward pass. Only one team per leg can receive this option, which allows them to bypass all tests and jump to the end of the leg. The last team who arrives to the final destination on each leg is eliminated.

The first episode started out in New York's Central Park. The teams were only given a limited amount of money to cover all expenses aside from airfare. This would have to last them until the end of the first leg of the race.

Lenny Hudson, who is competing with his girlfriend, described his feelings at the being of the competition. "It was anticipation, it was nervousness, it was excitement-I was scared. It was all of those emotions rolled into one," Hudson said.

The teams then had to receive clues to their next location and then find the quickest route there. This time it was Jo-

America's newest reality television show, 'The Amazing Racen was postponed last Wed. due to the horrible terrorist tragedy that occurred in the United States hannesburg, South Africa. Once in Johannesburg, the teams had to find a certain location and then test their strength. This time they bad to cross Batoka Gorge either by taking the lengthy, but safe, walking trail or by riding a zip line to a rope swing, which was quicker but more dangerous. This week the unfortunate married couple of Matt and Ana were eliminated.

"'i'he Amazing Race" has qualities that could make it interesting to watch. The exotic locations and the anxiety built up by time restraints could make viewers excited for each episode. However, the gimmicks wear thin, and it will be up to the intensity of the challenge to keep "The Amazing Race" running ahead of the pack.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE NEXT WEEK, WHEN THE SAGA CONTINUES IN THE WORLD OF REALITY TELEVISION.

HOPEFULLY, THE NEXT REALITY SHOW SURVIVES THROUGH ITS FIRST WEEK.

SNEAK PEAK: THE MOLE 2