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Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was 'delighted' when George W Bush became the US president in 2001 as he wanted such a leader, who would 'break the country' by spending billions of dollars to fight the 'war on terror', his fourth eldest son Omar bin Laden has claimed.
'My father was so happy. This is the kind of president he needs -- one who will attack and spend money and break the country. I am sure my father wanted McCain more than President Barack Obama. McCain has the same mentality as Bush. My father would be disappointed because Obama got the position,' Omar told the Rolling Stone magazine.
However, Omar has also said that he respected former President Bill Clinton for his "smart" decisions to attack his father's training camp with cruise missiles in retaliation for attacks on US interests in Africa.
'He didn't get my father, but after all the war in Afghanistan, they still don't have my father. They have spent hundreds of billions of dollars. Better for America to keep the money for its economy. In Clinton's time, America was very, very smart. Not like a bull that runs after the red scarf,' The Times quoted him as telling the magazine in Syrian capital Damascus.
Omar has doubted that his father would order any more mass attacks like 9/11. 'He doesn't need to. As soon as America went to Afghanistan, his plan worked. He has already won. My father has a religious goal. He is controlled by the rules of jihad. He only kills if he thinks there is a need.'
Omar has also warned that Osama is worth more to the United States alive than dead because his death could unleash 'very, very nasty' attacks by militants.
Image: File photo of Osama bin Laden