1 / 33

Al-Qaeda

Al-Qaeda. Adam Gregory, Mick Snyder, Joel Richardson, Chris Snyder 4/24/12. Introduction. Translates to “the Base.” Formed during the Soviet-Afghan War (1980-1988) Influenced by Sayyid Qutb from Egypt

cwen
Download Presentation

Al-Qaeda

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Al-Qaeda Adam Gregory, Mick Snyder, Joel Richardson, Chris Snyder 4/24/12

  2. Introduction • Translates to “the Base.” • Formed during the Soviet-Afghan War (1980-1988) • Influenced by SayyidQutb from Egypt • Their main objective is to eliminate western influence from the Middle East and establish Islamic Republics in Western Nations

  3. History of the Organization • Because of the American policy of Containment during the Cold War, it was in U.S. interests to aid the Afghans during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980’s • America trained and funded the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan who were fighting the Soviets • After the war’s conclusion, America largely withdrew its support of the Afghans

  4. Allies to Enemies • Sayyid and Mohammed Qutb were prominent teachers of radical Islam and jihadism • Two of their most dedicated followers were Osama bin Laden and Ayman Al Zawahiri • Unique view that most supposed Muslims in fact were not legitimate, which allowed them to bypass the Islamic law prohibiting the killing of other Muslims

  5. 1988: Bin Laden, Zawahiri, and Sayyid Al-Sharif met in Peshawar, Pakastan to collaborate their resources, knowledge, and beliefs to birth Al Qaeda as an organization • 1990: Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait. Bin Laden offers the aid of his Mujahedeen to the Saudis, who rejected him for American aid instead

  6. Bin Laden was outraged that American troops would be stationed on holy Muslim ground in Saudi Arabia throughout Desert Storm • He was then banned from Saudi Arabia, so he moved to Sudan • 1996: Bin Laden returns to Afghanistan as a guest of the Taliban and met with Mullah Omar to further organize Al Qaeda

  7. Attacks • 1992: Al Qaeda bombs a hotel in Aden, Yemen to attack American soldiers on their way to Somalia and kills two people • 1993: Truck bomb in the basement of the World Trade Center kills six people and injures many more

  8. 1998: Attacks on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania kill over 200 people. Few were Americans, but they were well planned and executed. Osama Bin Laden is placed on the FBI’s top ten most wanted • 2000: Attack on the U.S.S. Cole by a boat carrying explosives in Yemen, killing 17 sailors. Increasing confidence within Al Qaeda

  9. September 11, 2001 • Planes hijacked are crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and one failed attack crash lands in PA • Approximately 3000 Americans are killed • Finally, America recognizes Al Qaeda as a legitimate threat • October 2001: Bush sends troops to Afghanistan

  10. “Although 9/11 was a high point for Al Qaeda terrorism, it also brought the organization to the brink of ruin. The attacks made the danger of terrorism clearer to leaders around the world…” • Daniel L. Byman, Director of Research at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy

  11. After 9/11 • American invastion of Iraq in 2003 led to an increase in Al Qaeda’s recruitment and presence in the Middle East • July 7, 2005: Three bombs detonate on the London Underground and one on a bus, killing 56 and wounding almost 700 • Attacks against the West and Western influence continue

  12. Osama Bin Laden • Son of an extremely wealthy Saudi construction executive • Outraged by Americans stationed in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm • 1998: Declares “Fatwah”, or an official proclamation, to all Muslims calling them to kill all Americans

  13. Bin Laden served as the organization’s fundraiser, recruiter, and motivator. He did not have military strategic experience, and thus left tactics to others • Killed by an American SEAL team strike in Pakistan on May 1, 2011

  14. Other Key Figures • Al Zawahiri: leader of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad before they merged with Al Qaeda. Second in command to Bin Laden until Bin Laden’s death, when he assumed first in command. Not as charismatic as Bin Laden

  15. Khalid Sheikh Mohammad: Primary planner of the 9/11 attacks. Captured on March 1, 2003 in Pakistan. Currently being detained in Guantanamo Bay

  16. Anwar al-Awlaki: Primary recruiter for Al Qaeda until a successful drone strike killed him in Yemen on September 30, 2011. He was an American citizen, and he recruited 3 of the members of the 9/11 attacks

  17. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi: Led an effective campaign against American soldiers in Iraq until he was killed in 2006

  18. Al Qaeda Today • Al Qaeda has not yet succeeded in forcing Americans out of the Arabian Peninsula • It is estimated that the organization has been whittled down to about 500 members

  19. Bin Laden’s Death • Hurt Al Qaeda’s ability to recruit and finance its operations, but Bin Laden’s role as a leader had strongly diminished prior to his death • “With Bin Laden deep in hiding, his ability to lead was hugely constrained. Others quickly emerged to fill the vacuum his absence left” (Walt).

  20. Fragmentation • Because of American success in killing or capturing many of Al Qaeda’s leaders, it now operates as a loose network, branching out in many countries • This can make it harder for them to communicate, but also harder to combat

  21. Current Branches of Al Qaeda • Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP): currently the most active Al Qaeda branch • Al Shabaab’s branch in Somalia • Boko Haram: Al Qaeda branch in Nigeria that is increasing in prominence. Attacked the U.N. headquarters in Abujar in 2011 • Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

  22. Pakistan • “There is an entire alphabet soup of Pakistani jihadist groups with whom al Qaeda Core could partner to target the U.S…. And, as Pakistani-U.S. relations continue to deteriorate, there is an increased likelihood of a Pakistani Jihadist group seeking to target U.S. interests” (Sibler).

  23. American Actors • “The last twelve months have seen a significant increase in the number of Americans who radicalized to violence and decided that rather than travelling abroad to carry out their jihadist ambitions, they could conduct attacks at home” (Sibler).

  24. Mohammed Osman Mohammed: Attacked the Portland Christmas tree-lighting ceremony • Antonio Martinez: Attacked a military recruiting facility in Baltimore • Ahmed Ferhani and Mohammed Mamdouh: attacked a synagogue in Manhatten • Jose Pimintel made a bomb in a Manhatten apartment

  25. American Concern • U.S. National Security Analysts should continue to monitor and defend against attacks from any one of the many networks operating under the Al Qaeda umbrella

  26. References • Wander, A. (2008). A History of Terror: Al- Qaeda 1988-2008. The Guardian. Retrieved from: www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/13/history/alqaida • Sibler, M.D. (2011, December 27). Analysis: Al Qaeda vs. the West: 2012 and Beyond. CNN. Retrieved from: http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/27/ananalysis-al-qaeda-vs.-the-west-2012-and-beyond

  27. Walt, V. (2011, May 2). After Bin Laden: Al- Qaeda Will Persist in Diminished Form. Time World. Retrieved from: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2069001,00.html • Nichols, L. Lecture. Fall 2010.

More Related