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Bin Laden Son: George W. Invited Me to White House

But Omar bin Laden refused, out of loyalty to his estranged father

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 5, 2011 7:37 AM CDT

(Newser) – In the very last days of his presidency, George W. Bush was so desperate to locate Osama bin Laden that he reportedly invited son Omar bin Laden to the White House. This, of course, according to Omar bin Laden himself; a spokesperson for the White House refused to confirm or deny the previous administration's activities. Bin Laden tells a Spanish newspaper that White House staff visited him in Qatar in January 2009 to make the invitation.

"They invited me to accompany them to the White House, offered to defend, help, and protect me, on the condition that I helped them find my father," he says in an interview reprinted by the Telegraph. But bin Laden, 29, refused. "He is my father and I am his son, and as is the way the son must love and respect his father. Even if in many cases a man may be against the ideas of his father." Even so, the two have not spoken in almost 10 years, bin Laden says, adding that he doesn't know for sure whether his father is dead or alive.

A picture taken on September 11, 2008 shows Omar bin Laden, the fourth son of Osama bin Laden, on the outskirts of Cairo.
A picture taken on September 11, 2008 shows Omar bin Laden, the fourth son of Osama bin Laden, on the outskirts of Cairo.   (Getty Images)
Omar Bin Laden, the 26-year-old son of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, on February 4, 2008 in Rome, Italy.
Omar Bin Laden, the 26-year-old son of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, on February 4, 2008 in Rome, Italy.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
Spudsy
Apr 5, 2011 5:05 PM CDT
Dude looks like a vampire.
saucier111
Apr 5, 2011 10:31 AM CDT
This article is propanga,on 9/13/01 George W. Bush let 24 of Osama Bin Lauden family fly out of the USA back to Saudi Arabia,along with another 100 or so Saudis.The Bushes Sr.has been close friends with these saudis for 40 years,going back to his early CIA days.15 of the terrorist were saudis,they had a free pass in America.If we really wanted Osama Bin Lauden,we would not of let him slip away time after time.This was a inside job.
Park
Apr 5, 2011 10:21 AM CDT
Can you imagine the screams and howls of rage and abuse which the conservatives would hurl at Obama if Bin Laden's son had been invited to the White House on his watch?

 
Osama bin Laden • Omar bin Laden • George W. Bush

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