The leadership of Osama bin Laden's organization is composed largely of Egyptian veterans of militant Islamic groups that fought against the Egyptian government of President Hosni Mubarak. They are now thought to be the commanders who direct the hundreds of Muslim extremists in Afghanistan and the global financial network that funds their operations. They share Osama bin Laden's anti-Western ideology and a history of jihad against the Soviets in Afghanistan and secular regimes in the Arab world, particularly Egypt. Their experience in clandestine warfare is considered to be far greater than Osama bin Laden's, and intelligence agencies are beginning to believe that they are the operational brains, as well as the links in the field, with the loose-knit cells that carry out attacks. Osama Bin Laden's popularity is due in large part to the millions of dollars he has spent from his personal fortune and the profits he has earned from his many business enterprises which have enabled him to pay Arab fighters and finance the purchase of arms. All the men discussed in this article figure on the "most wanted" list issued by United States authorities in October 2001.