al-qaeda and their effects on u.s. military strategy by mike nahmias
TRANSCRIPT
al-Qaedaand their effects onU.S. military strategy
By Mike Nahmias
About al-Qaeda
“Al-Qaeda” is Arabic for “The Base”Also known as al-Qaida and al-Qa'idaCreated in 1988 in AfghanistanLed by Osama bin Laden who is richNow is more of an ideological movementIs a decentralized organization
Motives
Practice a form of Islamic extremismMost Muslim scholars and clerics reject it
They want to impose their radical beliefs on everyoneWant to rid Muslim countries of Western influence, and ultimately destroy Western countries altogetherWant to kill all Christians and Jews
Doesn’t matter whether you’re a woman, child, civilian, or in the military
Successful AttacksFebruary 26, 1993
First bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City by al-Qaeda
October 3-4, 1993
• Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia• U.S. Special Forces fought against al-Qaeda-
trained enemies
November 13, 1995
Al-Qaeda bombs the National Guard Communications Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
June 25, 1996
Khobar Towers are bombed, which was a U.S. military housing complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
August 7, 1998
Two U.S. embassies are bombed in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar al Salaam, Tanzania
October 12, 2000
The USS Cole is bombed in the port of Aden, Yemen
September 11, 2001
4 commercial airplanes are hijacked and crashed: 2 into the World Trade Center, 1 in the Pentagon,
& the last crashed in Pennsylvania
Differences Between al-Qaeda & The Taliban
al-QaedaOperates all around the globe
Doesn’t have a central location
Leader is Osama bin Laden
TalibanOnly active in & around AfghanistanLeader is Mohammed OmarOriginate from Kandahar Province, AfghanistanThe strict, ruthless governing force in AfghanistanCame to power in 1996 during the Afghan Civil War
United States is fighting both al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the Middle EastTaliban are in the way of us getting to al-Qaeda and won’t hand them overBoth work together and support one another
Similarities
War on Terror
Al-Qaeda’s attack on 9/11 started America’s War on Terrorism with the help of NATO forces and other countries
136 countries offered military assistanceFour, main U.S. policies:
Make no deals with terroristsBring terrorists to justice for their crimesForce states that promote terrorism to change their waysStrengthen the countries that are supporting the U.S.
Greatly increased national security
“Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated.” (Bush)
In almost every area where there is fighting there are villages with localsInsurgents use these villages to their advantage by blending in with locals
They also stand near civilians so coalition forces aren’t able to attack, even if being shot at
Because there are so many locals, anti-terrorist forces usually aren’t allowed to attack anyone unless they are shooting at them, are armed, or have a radioA big part of the war is obtaining local support from locals and village elders
This is done by:Giving them medical aidSupplying food and waterProtecting them from the TalibanNot killing any localsKilling less locals than our enemies
By obtaining support coalition forces can receive intel on where the enemy is, their plans, and who exactly we’re supposed to be fightingHaving civilians support coalition forces will also stop them from helping out the insurgents
Involvement of Civilians
Involvement of Civilians
U.S. Marines meeting with elders in Marja, Afghanistan
Lots of deserts, valleys, and mountains as well as strong winds and stormsTakes away U.S. ability to use things like tanks and whole armies in many areas
Special Forces are used a lotAir support is used more
U.S. started to use drones again because of their ease of mobilitySome are only used for surveillance and others are equipped with rockets and bombs
Not incredibly effective; for every intended target, 50 unintended targets are killed
Native to insurgentsMuch more mobile that coalition forces
Carry only guns and ammoAre used to the harsh environmentsKnow the areas very well
Mostly unfamiliar to coalition forcesInsurgents use the location of Afghanistan and places like the Korengal Valley to their advantage
Many attack U.S. soldiers and then flee across the border into Pakistan
Terrain
U.S. soldiers in Kunar province, Afghanistan
Since the Taliban regime has been overthrown coalition forces have to help put a new government into effect like in Iraq after Hussein was taken down from powerSupport for the locals also has to be givenThe nation’s army has to be recruited and trained
The Afghan National Army (ANA)So they can take over land-based operationsA hard task because many are either highly undisciplined or corrupt
Government Reconstruction
American soldiers training ANA soldiers
ANA emblem
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