[Miss Marple]

And so they grow up, these socially awkward, intelligent misfits, looking for an outlet for their frustrations and, in 999,999 cases in a million, they somehow settle uneasily into ordinary life: the ill-tempered loner in the bedsit, the crank who writes green-inked letters to television celebrities, the theorist who reduces life to a single conspiracy theory (the Jews run the world, the blacks are undermining the white race, there are alien bodies in cold storage in New Mexico).

Similarities between bin Laden and others garbanzo named are striking. But there is one other factor.

When somone of this type is charismatic, they draw hosts of Ossipians to their side, and that is very, very dangerous. Hitler was able to do this, and he nearly destroyed Europe.

[MadIvan]

Also circumstance has to be in their favour. Had the monarchy in France remained stable, Napoleon would have remained an artillery officer for the rest of his life. In 1928, the Nazis got under 4 percent of the vote - then the Great Depression came around and changed circumstances so that people were looking for a radical solution.

bin Laden is dangerous - but do circumstances favour him and his survival?

Regards, Ivan