'Osama bin Laden has already won'

Osama's son Omar explains why the war on Afghanistan made his father happy

Osama's son Omar explains why the war on Afghanistan made his father happy

Osama bin Laden is worth more to the US alive than dead because his death could unleash "very,very nasty" attacks, his son has claimed.

Calling a spade a spade: Omar bin Laden

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, the terror leader's son Omar, said his father had already won the War on Terror because he had achieved his aim of humbling the US and would probably not feel the need to launch more big attacks.

However, he said that US President Barack Obama's decision to increase troop numbers in Afghanistan was a big mistake that would damage the US economy. "It is like adding water to sand, as we say in the Arab world. It only makes the sand heavier," said Omar.

"If I were in his position, I would make a truce. Then, for six months or one year, no fighting, no soldiers.

Afghanistan can never be won. It has nothing to do with my father. It is the Afghan people.

"It is going to be worse when my father dies," he added. "The world is going to be very, very nasty then. It will be a disaster."

He said he respected former US 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," he said. "They have spent billions. Better for America to keep the money for its economy. In Clinton's time America was very, very smart."

He said his father was delighted when George W Bush was elected US president. "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 Obama. McCain has the same mentality as Bush. My father would be disappointed because Obama got the position."

He said he doubted Osama would order any more mass attacks. "He doesn't need to. As soon as America went to Afghanistan, his plan worked. He has already won."