“Since the Gulf War in 1991, bin Laden now declared [in his manifesto of February 23, 1998], the United States ‘has been occupying the most sacred lands of Islam: the Arabian Peninsula. It has been stealing its resources, dictating to its leaders, humiliating its people, and frightening its neighbors. It is using its rule in the Peninsula as a weapon to fight the neighboring peoples of Islam.’ The Americans had declared war ‘on Allah, His Prophet, and Muslims.’ In reply, the signatories of the manifesto ‘hereby give all Muslims the following judgment: The judgment to kill and fight Americans and their allies, whether civilians or military, is an obligation for every Muslim who is able to do so in any country.’ ”
– Steve Coll, Ghost Wars, Page 380