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War. but from a psychological point of view, it was really the beginning of sort of bin laden's almost mythic persona, because a group of arabs had held off the soviets. it got a lot of play in the middle east. >> reporter: the once reticent and terrified bin laden was now hailed as a fearless leader, a hero on the front lines of jihad. >> he's brave, and he's ready to give his life. he's not a coward. >> reporter: in 1988, the soviets, worn down and demoralized, began to withdraw from afghanistan. and bin laden now battle hardened, returned a holy warrior, without a war.

Spiritual. he is the man who would mentor and shape osama bin laden throughout much of the 1980s. >> my name is hadaifah azzam. i've been living with bin laden for more than eight years continuously you could say. >> reporter: this is abdullah azzam's son. this is his first interview for western television. >> my father was leading islamic and arabic studies and osama bin laden was studying engineering at that time. >> reporter: bin laden was drawn to the influential cleric, seen here in afghanistan. he was the ideological force behind the call for jihad and he implored the young and impressio...

Violent jihad, and he would never look back. ♪ [ male announcer ] in 2011, at&t is at work, building up our wireless network all across america. we're adding new cell sites... increasing network capacity, and investing billions of dollars to improve your wireless network experience. from a single phone call to the most advanced data download, we're covering more people in more places than ever before in an effort to give you the best network possible. at&t. rethink possible. mom! [ male announcer ] you know mom. mom! [ male announcer ] we know diamonds. and with an extra 10% off storewide no...

Hailed as a fearless leader, a hero on the front lines of jihad. >> he's brave, and he's ready to give his life. he's not a coward. >> reporter: in 1988, the soviets, worn down and demoralized, began to withdraw from afghanistan. and bin laden now battle hardened, returned a holy warrior, without a war. but this man would soon change that, ayman al zawahiri. >> we are muslims who believe in their religion. >> reporter: a radical egyptian who would give bin laden the enemy he was looking for. ♪

A call for jihad against the infidels sounds throughout the muslim world. a call raised by men like abdullah azzam, a palestinian cleric, charismatic and deeply spiritual. he is the man who would mentor and shape osama bin laden throughout much of the 1980s. >> my name is hadaifah azzam. i've been living with bin laden for more than eight years continuously you could say. >> reporter: this is abdullah azzam's son. this is his first interview for western television. >> my father was leading islamic and arabic studies and osama bin laden was studying engineering at that time. >> reporter: bin la...