Bin Laden told children 'live in peace in the West'

I could see Bin Laden saying this, I think its something that anyone trying to send a message that they very well might die/be killed for would say to ones family.

Bin laden was still a terrorist though, and this simple request of his children does not exonerate him of his past.

Disagree with the op...

Look at Kim Jong Il, look at what he had his sons do, get an education in a place where education actually exists. They went to universities in Europe.

It's the mindset of such a person, to want to keep the inner circle aware and educated, and to keep the followers un-educated and like sheep. It has nothing to do with whether he had anything to do with 911 or not.