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Although Saad bin Laden is not the top leader of the terrorist group, his presence in the decision-making process demonstrates his father's trust in him and an apparent desire to pass the mantle of leadership to a family member, according to numerous terrorism analysts inside and outside of government.

Like other al-Qaida leaders in Iran, the younger bin Laden, who is believed to be 24 years old, is protected by an elite, radical Iranian security force loyal to the nation's clerics and beyond the control of the central government, according to U.S. and European intelligence officials.

The secretive unit, known as the Jerusalem Force, has restricted the al-Qaida group's movements to its bases, mostly along the border with Afghanistan.

Also under the Jerusalem Force's protection is Saif al-Adel, al-Qaida's chief of military operations; Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, the organization's chief financial officer, and perhaps two dozen other top al-Qaida leaders, the officials said.

Al-Adel and Abdullah are considered the top operational deputies to Osama bin Laden and his second-in-command, Ayman Zawahiri, who communicate with underlings almost exclusively through couriers.
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http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1014binladenson14.html
Washington Post
Oct. 14, 2003 12:00 AM