History of al-Qaeda and Terrorism against the USA

What is al-Qaeda?

• Al Qaeda means “the Base.” It is a stateless (meaning without a country) terrorist organization.

• It was led and financed by Osama bin Laden, a radical Sunni Muslim.

• It is now led by Ayman al-Zawahiri

When did al-Qaeda form?

• The beginnings of al-Qaeda go back to the 1980’s when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.

Bin Laden, and the Arab Afghans, fought the Soviet Union in Afghanistan

• The Soviet army left in 1988.

• We helped the mujahideen fight the Soviets

Desert Storm (Gulf War I)

• In 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded the tiny, oil-rich country of Kuwait

Operation Desert Storm

• The United States feared Saddam would invade Saudi Arabia too.

Iraqi tanks

US and Saudi coalition

• The United States asked the Saudis for permission to establish military bases in their country.

Saudi’s choice

• Osama bin Laden, back home from Afghanistan, offered the Saudis the use of his soldiers to fight the Iraqi army because Infidel armies have no place in the holy land of Islam.

Saudis chose the USA and snubbed bin Laden.

1991--Bin Laden leaves Saudi Arabia for Sudan

Why did bin Laden turn his attention to attacking the US?

• In November 2002, bin Laden wrote his "Letter to America” outlining motives:

• 1. Western support for attacking Muslims in Somalia

• 2. Supporting Russian atrocities against Muslims in Chechnya

• 3. Supporting the Indian oppression against Muslims in Kashmir

• 5. Supporting the Jewish aggression against Muslims in Lebanon

• 6. The presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia due to Iraq invading Kuwait

• 7. U.S. support of Israel

• 8. Economic Sanctions against Iraq

USA in Somalia

• Dec. 4, 1992, George H.W. Bush sends 28,000 American troops to Somalia.

• Bush wanted to help the Somali people since all attempts to send food to them were intercepted by war lords.

Black Hawk Down!

• In 1993, 18 Americans died when their Black Hawk helicopter was shot down over Mogadishu, Somalia.

al Qaeda?

• We think al Qaeda operatives taught the Somalians how to shoot down helicopters just like they did in Afghanistan against the Soviets.

1993-The 1st World Trade Center bombing

1993 WTC bombing

It killed 6 people and injured over 1000.

May 1996 ---Sudan expels bin Laden, and he returns too Afghanistan

Afghanistan Was Run by the Taliban, A Violent Local, Afghanistani Group Led By

Mullah Omar

The Taliban Did Not Plan the 9/11 Attacks, But They Let Bin Laden

Operate in Afghanistan and Refused to Turn Him Over to the US

1996 car bombing of Khobar Towers

• 19 Americans were killed and hundreds injured.

Fatwa

• In August of 1998, Al Qaeda, led by bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri declare war on American.

Embassy bombings: 1998• Two American embassies in

Kenya and Tanzania were bombed simultaneously. 220 people were killed.

Clinton responds.

• President Clinton decided to attack al Qaeda in response.

US sends missiles against Qaeda training camps in Sudan and Afghanistan----to little effect.

2000—Millennium Attacks Foiled!

• Jordanian police halted 4 bombings• Four al Qaeda terrorists arrested crossing the

Canadian border with nitroglycerin in their trunk. They set out to bomb LA International Airport.

• In Yemen, a boat with explosives tried to bomb a navy ship but sank due to being overloaded

USS Cole attack Oct. 2000• In Yemen, Al

Qaeda operatives sent a suicide bomber aboard a small ship near the USS Cole and detonated its bomb, blowing a large hole in the US Navy ship.

• 17 sailors killed.

9-11-2001

• 2819 people were killed• 343 firefighters and

paramedics were killed

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the central planner of 9/11. Most terrorists (at right) were from Saudi Arabia.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed

What Impact did 9-11 have on US?

• Just under 3,000 families were torn apart

• Loss of jobs and paperwork due to destroyed building

• Airports closed for a few days– Re-opened with much tougher security measures

• National parks and landmarks were closed for awhile due to potential attacks

• Professional and college sports were delayed

• Many movies/tv shows/videogames were cancelled, changed or delayed

• Went to war in Afghanistan as that is where al-Qaeda was based

• Patriotism increased greatly

Discuss Before Moving On

-Discuss US National Security Organizations

-DHS(2001)

-FBI(1908/1935)

-CIA-1947

-NSA-1952

-Discuss Church Committee-1975

What did the US do in Response cont.?

•Department of Homeland Security was set up– New Cabinet position in Executive Branch

•Patriot Act was passed

•NSA(National Security Agency) spying

•Waterboarding at Guantanamo Bay

•Bush Doctrine-see next slide for more

Bush Doctrine

• Us had the right to secure itself against countries that harbor or give aid to terrorist groups

• United States should depose foreign governments that represented a potential threat to the security of the United States

• Encourage democracy around the world, especially in the Middle East as a strategy for combating terrorism