. Its leader, Osama bin Laden, issued a fatwa (religious ruling) in February 1998 calling for a worldwide Islamic jihad (holy war) to kill Christians and Jews. Bin Laden's primary targets appear to be American citizens and American property. He is enraged by the US military presence in Saudi Arabia and the influence of Western culture on Islamic nations. The United States is also Israel's strongest supporter, an enemy of Bin Laden and his followers who favor the Palestinians. He was also responsible for the American September 11 attack (Religious