Al Qaeda a case study in ideological terrorism. BIG IDEA al-Qaeda is the single greatest terrorist threat to the U.S. al-Qaeda is the single greatest

al Qaedaal Qaedaa case study in ideological a case study in ideological

terrorismterrorism

BIG IDEABIG IDEA

al-Qaeda is the al-Qaeda is the single greatest single greatest terrorist threat to the U.S.terrorist threat to the U.S.

al-Qaeda al-Qaeda covers the spectrumcovers the spectrum of of types of terrorismtypes of terrorism IdeologicalIdeological State-sponsoredState-sponsored Narco terrorismNarco terrorism National liberationNational liberation

BIG IDEABIG IDEA

al-Qaeda is especially al-Qaeda is especially threatening to the U.S. because threatening to the U.S. because it has become it has become statelessstateless Without a country to attackWithout a country to attack Without a central locationWithout a central location Loosely-knit group - bound by an Loosely-knit group - bound by an

ideaidea

al-Qaeda: Ideological al-Qaeda: Ideological OverviewOverview

ISLaM = submission to GodISLaM = submission to God MuSLiM = one who submits to GodMuSLiM = one who submits to God SaLaaM = peaceSaLaaM = peace

If you submit to God, you will achieve If you submit to God, you will achieve peacepeace

SomeSome believe they believe they must fightmust fight those those that disrupt peacethat disrupt peace

You Say al-Qaeda, I Say al-You Say al-Qaeda, I Say al-QaidaQaida

al-Qaeda = “the base”al-Qaeda = “the base”

al-Qaeda-al-Jihad = “the base of al-Qaeda-al-Jihad = “the base of the jihad”the jihad”

The World Islamic Front for Jihad The World Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusadersagainst the Jews and Crusaders


Multinational, Multinational, militant Islamistmilitant Islamist org. org.

established by Osama bin Laden in established by Osama bin Laden in 19881988

Current goal: to work with Current goal: to work with allied allied IslamistIslamist groups to groups to overthrow overthrow corrupt regimescorrupt regimes and and evict evict WesternersWesterners and non-Muslimsand non-Muslims from from Muslim countries in order to Muslim countries in order to establish a establish a pan-Islamic Caliphatepan-Islamic Caliphate


Goals and Objectives of JihadGoals and Objectives of Jihad Establishing the Establishing the rule of Godrule of God on earth on earth

Attaining Attaining martyrdommartyrdom in the cause of in the cause of GodGod

PurificationPurification of the ranks of Islam of the ranks of Islam from the elements of depravityfrom the elements of depravity

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February, 1998 - issued a February, 1998 - issued a fatwafatwa, calling on Muslims to , calling on Muslims to kill U.S. citizens - kill U.S. citizens - civilian/military - and their civilian/military - and their allies everywhereallies everywhere

9/11/01 - attacks on 9/11/01 - attacks on America result in war in America result in war in Afghanistan to destroy al Afghanistan to destroy al Qaeda’s bases and Qaeda’s bases and overthrow the overthrow the TalibanTaliban

Age-old IdeologyAge-old Ideology

al-Qaeda’s ideology not new - al-Qaeda’s ideology not new - justifications for jihad justifications for jihad rooted in rooted in the Qur’anthe Qur’an

Inspired by the Inspired by the Muslim Muslim BrotherhoodBrotherhood

al-Qaeda = most recent al-Qaeda = most recent manifestationmanifestation

VIDEO CLIP - ORIGINS VIDEO CLIP - ORIGINS OF AL-QAEDAOF AL-QAEDA

Origins of al-QaedaOrigins of al-Qaeda

1980s: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan1980s: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan inspire “mujahideen” to fight the inspire “mujahideen” to fight the

jihadjihad gather from all over to fight USSR b/c gather from all over to fight USSR b/c

disrupting peace in Afghanistandisrupting peace in Afghanistan young + religiousyoung + religious fight “godless” communistsfight “godless” communists defeat of communists + collapse of defeat of communists + collapse of

USSRUSSR OBL = rising leader, parts waysOBL = rising leader, parts ways

Chronology: Snowball Chronology: Snowball EffectEffect

1988: OBL forms al-Q, looks for 1988: OBL forms al-Q, looks for new new jihadsjihads

1990: offers al-Q to 1990: offers al-Q to defend Saudi Arabiadefend Saudi Arabia from Saddam in Kuwait, from Saddam in Kuwait, rejected for U.S.rejected for U.S.

U.S. presence in S.A. = U.S. presence in S.A. = MUST FIGHT MUST FIGHT U.S.U.S.


1991: OBL kicked out of S.A. - 1991: OBL kicked out of S.A. - to to SudanSudan al-Q’s al-Q’s base of operations 1991-1996base of operations 1991-1996 Teams up with Teams up with Ayman al-ZawahiriAyman al-Zawahiri Idea = Idea = evict U.S.evict U.S. from M.E. from M.E. Search for nukes?Search for nukes? Organize attacksOrganize attacks


Feb. 1993: WTC bombed, 6 die, Feb. 1993: WTC bombed, 6 die, 1000+ injured1000+ injured

Oct. 1993: Black Hawk down in Oct. 1993: Black Hawk down in Somalia, trained by al-Q, 18 Somalia, trained by al-Q, 18 servicemen deadservicemen dead


May 1996: OBL forced to leave May 1996: OBL forced to leave SudanSudan

AfghanistanAfghanistan - new base of - new base of operationsoperations

June 1996: U.S. military base June 1996: U.S. military base

in S.A. bombed, in S.A. bombed,

19 servicemen 19 servicemen

killedkilled


Feb. 1998: OBL issues “fatwa” - kill Feb. 1998: OBL issues “fatwa” - kill U.S.U.S.

Aug. 1998: Aug. 1998: embassy bombingsembassy bombings in in Kenya, Tanzania, 220+ people Kenya, Tanzania, 220+ people killed, U.S. retaliateskilled, U.S. retaliates


Oct. 2000: USS Cole attacked, killing 17Oct. 2000: USS Cole attacked, killing 17

Sept. 2001: Worst Day Ever, R.I.P. Sept. 2001: Worst Day Ever, R.I.P. 3000+3000+

al-Q’s climaxal-Q’s climax

U.S. retaliatedU.S. retaliated Disrupted al-QDisrupted al-Q

networknetwork

Tactics, Strategies, and Tactics, Strategies, and TargetsTargets

Tactics: assassination, bombing, Tactics: assassination, bombing, hijackinghijacking, kidnapping, , kidnapping, suicide suicide attacksattacks, etc., etc.

Strategies: developing Strategies: developing surrogatessurrogates, , alliancesalliances, seeking , seeking WMDsWMDs

Targets: prominent Targets: prominent symbols of symbols of U.S.U.S. wealth and military wealth and military dominancedominance

Ideologically Justified Ideologically Justified Killing?Killing?

“The undersigned, leaders of Islamic movements, are horrified by the events of 9/11 in the U.S., which resulted in massive killing, destruction & attack on innocent lives. We express our deepest sympathies & sorrow. We condemn, in the strongest terms, the incidents, which are against all human & Islamic norms. This is grounded in the Noble Laws of Islam, which forbid all forms of attacks on innocents. God Almighty says in the Holy Quran: ‘No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another’ (Surah al-Isra 17:15).”

Ideological DebateIdeological Debate

Salafi = Salafi = “proper” religious adherence“proper” religious adherence to strict moral code of Prophet to strict moral code of Prophet MohammedMohammed Implied other understandings are Implied other understandings are

corruptcorrupt

Most believe in non-violentMost believe in non-violent means of means of supporting Islamsupporting Islam

Small radical fringe - violent meansSmall radical fringe - violent means


al-Qaeda: “America started the al-Qaeda: “America started the war…”war…”

Supporters ofSupporters of non-violent non-violent response to U.S. are corrupt, and response to U.S. are corrupt, and thus thus not crediblenot credible

U.S. waging war against Islam, U.S. waging war against Islam, therefore therefore “defensive jihad”“defensive jihad”

Killing civilians allowedKilling civilians allowed in current in current climateclimate


Justified Jihad?Justified Jihad? Offensive jihadOffensive jihad - not widely - not widely

acceptedaccepted Defensive jihadDefensive jihad - religious duty, - religious duty,

just cause just cause par excellancepar excellance

Post 9/11Post 9/11 al-Qaeda losing the ideological al-Qaeda losing the ideological

debatedebate Attacks on WTC seen as offensive Attacks on WTC seen as offensive

by Muslim communityby Muslim community


Post U.S. invasion of Iraq:Post U.S. invasion of Iraq: Confluence of opinionConfluence of opinion Mainstream Islamic scholars, al-Mainstream Islamic scholars, al-

Qaeda united in call for defensive Qaeda united in call for defensive jihadjihad

IraqIraq = chaotic, = chaotic, breeding groundbreeding ground for terrorfor terror

al-Qaeda + Hezbollahal-Qaeda + Hezbollah

U.S. ResponseU.S. Response

Has largely been a “police” operationHas largely been a “police” operation Capture and detain terrorists, rather Capture and detain terrorists, rather

than going after the source of than going after the source of terrorismterrorism Ideology??Ideology??

Are we giving OBL credibility?Are we giving OBL credibility? Will catching OBL make a Will catching OBL make a

difference?difference?

BIG IDEABIG IDEA

The U.S. response has recently The U.S. response has recently come under question (CIA, come under question (CIA, Michael Scheuer) for supposed Michael Scheuer) for supposed mistakes in the War on Terror.mistakes in the War on Terror.

More and more, invading Iraq More and more, invading Iraq seems to be seems to be

Documents

Al Qaeda a case study in ideological terrorism. BIG IDEA al-Qaeda is the single greatest terrorist threat to the U.S. al-Qaeda is the single greatest