Al-Qaeda

ORIGIN OF AL-QAEDA
The true Origins of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network came about from the decade-long conflict that plagued Afghanistan from 1979-1989.

After Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviet Union, the Afghan Islamist extremists found motivation for their cause, as young Muslims from around the world came to Afghanistan to volunteer in what was being referred to as a "holy war," or jihad, against the invading Soviets. One of these young Muslims was a 23 year old from Saudi Arabia named "Usama" bin Ladin.

Son of a wealthy construction tycoon, bin Laden had taken to the religious teachings of Abdullah Azzam, a Palestinian and disciple of Sayyid Qutb. While he participated in few actual battles in Afghanistan, bin Laden became known for his generous funding of the jihad against the Soviets

However, his ambitions extended beyond the borders of Afghanistan, and he began to develop a complex international organization. He set up a financial support network known as the "Golden Chain," that was comprised mainly of financiers from Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf states. Using the large amount of funds, bin Laden and Azzam created a "Bureau of Services," which helped to channel recruits for the jihad into Afghanistan. With Saudi Arabia and the United States pouring in billions of dollars worth of secret assistance to the rebels in Afghanistan, the jihad was slowly gaining advantage againts the Soviets

GOALS OF AL-QAEDA
Primary goal: Replace corrupt Muslim states with Islamic Law

• Bin Laden’s version of Islam is to use the most violent and confrontational methods to enforce their service to Allah.
• They are intensely anti-western and view the United States as the ultimate enemy of Islam, but that was not always the case.

ACTIVITIES OF AL-QAEDA
2 Main Sectors

• Activities in Iraq
  -2006 Sadr City Bombings
  -al-Khilani Mosque bombing
• Activities in USA
  -1993 World Trade Center bombing
  -September 11 Attack

*Activities in Iraq

• 2006 Sadr City Bombings
• al-Khilani Mosque bombing

2006 Sadr City Bombings

• A series of car bombs and motar attacks in Iraq
• Began on November 23 at 15:10 Baghdad time
• 6 Car Bombs, 2 motar rounds used.
• Killed at least 215 people, injured 257 others making it the second deadliest attack since the beginning of the Iraq War in 2003`

al-Khilani Mosque bombing

• A truck bomb exploded in front of the Shia al-Khilani Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq
• At least 78 people were killed and another 218 injured in the blast.
• Because the site was a Shiite mosque, the bombing is presumed to have been the work of Sunnis
• The Mosque is significant because the al-Khulani mosque was named by the Shia in honor of one of their revered four “earthly” deputies anointed by the Imam Mohammed al-Mahdi (the so-called “Hidden Imam” who disappeared in the 9th century)

*Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki condemned the attack he issued a statement blaming the attack on “takfiris and terrorists who are focused on violating the sanctuaries and killing innocent lives” and said “It shows the determination of Saddamists and Takfiris to ignite sectarian violence"

*Activities in USA

• 1993 World Trade Center bombing
• September 11 Attack

1993 World Trade Center bombing

• Occurred on February 26, 1993
• A car bomb was detonated below Tower One of the World Trade Center in New York City
• Intended to knock the North Tower (Tower One) into the South Tower (Tower Two), bringing both towers down and killing thousands of people.
• It failed to do so, but did kill six people and injured 1,042
• Planned by a group of conspirators including Ramzi Yousef, Mahmud Abouhalima, Mohammad Salameh, Nidal Ayyad, Abdul Rahman Yasin and Ahmad Ajaj
• A granite memorial fountain honoring the six victims of the bombing was designed by Elyn Zimmerman and dedicated in 1995 on Austin J. Tobin Plaza, directly above the site of the explosion