JANUARY 29, ‘25 // “Stand at attention!” called the camp commander. The recruits rushed out of the cave that served as their training center in the Tora Bora Mountains, lining up in two straight rows. They waited as their commander strode between them and came to a halt. “In another few minutes, we will have the honor of hosting our beloved head commander,” he proudly announced. “The Sheikh himself, Osama bin Laden, has just informed us that he will soon be arriving here to see for himself how we have prepared for jihad.” The group of excited young cadets started clapping their hands. The name Osama bin Laden electrified them. From the time that they were small children, they had been taught that Osama bin Laden was the personal messenger of their prophet, and that his words were divine. Bin Laden understood the soldiers. He knew how Recap: The escape becomes dangerous as they are pulled into a helicopter by a group of guerillas. The helicopter crashes and the Americans are blamed. CHAPTER 10 to plant an intense hatred for America deep in their hearts. Each of these young men had suffered difficult lives, and they placed the blame squarely on America. They believed that the Americans were trying to control the world, and that the United States government had no qualms about destroying countries, families, nations— and their childhood. A division of soldiers proudly riding horses suddenly appeared from one of the surrounding ravines. They were dressed in white cloaks and were fully armed. They quickly surrounded the group of cadets and pointed their M-16 rifles at them. Bin Laden’s personal bodyguards were the only members of al Qaeda permitted to carry American rifles. The other soldiers had to manage with outdated Russian M-47s. The division commander dismounted from his horse and walked between the two rows of cadets. “Throw your weapons to the ground,” he ordered. The cadets were quick to obey. The ground thundered 186
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