I remember reading a reporter’s account of meeting OBL at around that time. His description was to the contrary. When OBL discovered that the reporter was an American, he wanted to have him killed immediately. Only the reporter’s host prevented this from happening.

I don’t remember the reporter’s name, but I think it was in a major magazine or newspaper, like Parade, perhaps. It could have been misinterpretation of post facto reinterpretation, but it had the ring of truth.