An article starting on page 24 of the July 14 issue of Time Magazine about the very elusive Osama bin Laden has a family connection with Albert Lea, because of the author’s last name.

This article in the Time issue with Mark Twain’s photo on the cover is by Peter L. Bergen of Washington, D.C. He is the son of D. Thomas Bergen who grew up in Albert Lea and now lives in Hyattsville, Md., and the grandson of the late Dr. and Mrs. Francis J. Bergen, also of Albert Lea.

Bergen is the author of two books, “Holy War, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden and “The Osama bin Laden I Know.” Both books are based on his television interview with the al-Qaeda leader on April 12, 1997, in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan, plus later research into the activities of the man called the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Bergen is one of the very few Western journalists to have met and interviewed bin Laden.

Bergen was born in Minneapolis and grew up in London. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Oxford University.

After graduation from Oxford, Bergen moved to New York City in 1984 and worked for the ABC network. In 1990 he became a part of CNN’s bureau in New York City , then went to Washington, D.C. During his years with CNN he has produced a variety of documentaries and news stories,. And after 9/11 he became known as an expert on terrorism. He has written about Islamist militants for the Washington Post, Foreign Affairs Magazine, the Times of London, Vanity Fair Magazine and other publications. Bergen is an Emmy award winner and has taught at Johns Hopkins University and is now a professor at Harvard.

On Oct. 19. 2002, Bergen gave a special presentation about his research on the terrorism movement in Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Albert Lea High School auditorium.

Bergen’s Time article said in part that bin Laden may be ready to strike again and that the threats from his organization to other parts of the world, including the U.S., hasn’t been extinguished.

Another article in this same issue of Time says the U.S. State Department has a reward of $50 million for the capture or killing of bin Laden.reau New York City, then went to Washington, D.C. During his years with CNN he has produced a variety of documentaries and news stories,. And after 9/11 he became known as an expert on terrorism. He has written about Islamist militants for the Washington Post, Foreign Affairs Magazine, the Times of London, Vanity Fair Magazine and other publications. Bergen is an Emmy award winner and has taught at Johns Hopkins University. He is a professor at Harvard.

On Oct. 19. 2002, Bergen gave a special presentation about his research on the terrorism movement in Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Albert Lea High School auditorium.

Bergen’s Time article said in part that bin Laden may be ready to strike again and that the threats from his organization to other parts of the world, including the U.S., hasn’t been extinguished.

Incidentally, another article in this same issue of Time says the U.S. State Department has a reward of $50 million for the capture or killing of bin Laden.