Shelagh Rogers Interview with Osama bin Laden
CBC Transcript: October 24, 2001

SHELAGH: Mr. bin Laden, he-e-e-ll-o-o-o-! It’s so wonderful to speak with you.

BIN LADEN: Hello, Shelagh. How are you?

SHELAGH: Well, I’m just fine. But, how are YOU? Hiding in those damp mountain caves with the entire U.S. Army after you can’t be an awful lot of fun, now can it?

BIN LADEN: (chuckling) Yes, they’ve kept me on the move.

SHELAGH: Indeed! The last time we talked you were a successful Saudi-born millionaire with shell companies around the globe. But you’ve really been focusing on your spiritual side these days, I understand.

BIN LADEN: That’s right, Shelagh. It’s one thing, you know, to have multiple covert bank accounts and money-laundering schemes throughout the Western world, but it’s far more important to find peace with your God and do what you believe in.

SHELAGH: Fascinating. Mr. bin Laden —

BIN LADEN: Please, Shelagh, call me Ossie.

SHELAGH: Alright, Ossie, take us through that remarkable spiritual journey you’ve been on.

BIN LADEN: Well, as you know, Saudi Arabia is a very holy place for Muslims.

SHELAGH: Oh, and the music there. I just get chills thinking about it.

BIN LADEN: It has a great beat but you are forbidden to dance to it.

SHELAGH: (peels of girlish laughter) Still haven’t lost that fundamental sense of humour I see. That’s so important isn’t it, in times that test one?

BIN LADEN: It certainly is. Anyway, when the American infidels defiled our holy ground with their weapons and their women soldiers, I knew I just had to do something.

SHELAGH: And act you did! Boy, I’ll say. But, you know, Ossie, some people might say you went a little, dare I say, overboard. Embassy destruction. September 11. I mean, heavens.

BIN LADEN: It was a just act against the Great Satan.

SHELAGH: Yes, the dark side of your faith seems very attractive to you. Share that appeal with us, Ossie.

BIN LADEN: Like any holy soldier, I believe we must fight to the death to root the great Western poison from our midst.

SHELAGH: And I’m in the midst of a chat with Osama bin Laden, terrorist, freedom fighter, holy man and millionaire. You’re listening to This Morning on CBC radio and I’m Shelagh Rogers. Now, Ossie, The Globe and Mail, a national newspaper here in Canada, recently ran a front page photograph of you as a child. You were a cute little dickens, I must say. The girls must have just been lining up and today you’re still being pursued. You’ve talked a bit about the role faith played in that journey, but let’s talk a bit about your family.

BIN LADEN: My family is dead to me Shelagh.

SHELAGH: Oh, I’m so, so sorry Ossie. Goodness. You an orphan, hunted in caves. Many would have given up hope, Ossie. But you didn’t.

BIN LADEN: Hope, and thousands of sleeping operatives in dozens of countries waiting for the right moment to strike at the decadence of the Western serpent is all I have, Shelagh.

SHELAGH: And that’s all the time we have. Ossie, thanks so much for this. It was such a pleasure to speak with you.

BIN LADEN: Thank you. And if you ever get to Afghanistan please try to look me up.

SHELAGH: Oh, I will. Thanks so much again, what a great thrill, honour and privilege it’s been. Good bye and Allah bless.

BIN LADEN: Bye, bye and Allah bless to you.

SHELAGH: Wow. That was Osama bin Laden and I’m Shelagh Rogers. You’re listening to CBC radio. Now, from most wanted men to wanted words. Jane Farrow will join me in just a minute as we discover what you call that little piece of milk skin that sticks to your upper lip after you drink hot chocolate. Stay with us!

wayne

Wayne MacPhail

Wayne MacPhail has been a print and online journalist for 25 years. He was the managing editor of Hamilton Magazine and was a reporter and editor at The Hamilton Spectator until he founded Southam InfoLab,...