al Qaeda

1. al Qaeda a case study in ideological terrorism

2. BIG IDEA • al-Qaeda is the single greatest terrorist threat to the U.S. • al-Qaeda covers the spectrum of types of terrorism • Ideological • State-sponsored • Narco terrorism • National liberation

3. BIG IDEA • al-Qaeda is especially threatening to the U.S. because it has become stateless • Without a country to attack • Without a central location • Loosely-knit group - bound by an idea MURKY ENTITY

4. al-Qaeda: Ideological Overview • ISLaM = submission to God • MuSLiM = one who submits to God • SaLaaM = peace • If you submit to God, you will achieve peace • Somebelieve they must fight those that disrupt peace

5. You Say al-Qaeda, I Say al-Qaida • al-Qaeda = “the base” • al-Qaeda-al-Jihad = “the base of the jihad” • The World Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders jihad = "holy war"

6. al-Qaeda: Ideological Overview • Multinational, militant Islamist org. • established by Osama bin Laden in 1988 • Current goal: to work with allied Islamist groups to overthrow corrupt regimes and evict Westernersand non-Muslims from Muslim countries in order to establish a pan-Islamic Caliphate

7. al-Qaeda: Ideological Overview Goals and Objectives of Jihad • Establishing the rule of God on earth • Attaining martyrdom in the cause of God • Purification of the ranks of Islam from the elements of depravity 7th Century

8. 9/11/01 - attacks on America result in war in Afghanistan to destroy al Qaeda’s bases and overthrow the Taliban al-Qaeda: Ideological Overview • February, 1998 - issued a fatwa, calling on Muslims to kill U.S. citizens - civilian/military - and their allies everywhere

9. Age-old Ideology • al-Qaeda’s ideology not new - justifications for jihad rooted in the Qur’an • Inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood • al-Qaeda = most recent manifestation STEPPED UP A NOTCH

10. VIDEO CLIP - ORIGINS OF AL-QAEDA

11. Origins of al-Qaeda 1980s: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan • inspire “mujahideen” to fight the jihad • gather from all over to fight USSR b/c disrupting peace in Afghanistan • young + religious • fight “godless” communists • defeat of communists + collapse of USSR • OBL = rising leader, parts ways

12. Chronology: Snowball Effect 1988: OBL forms al-Q, looks for new jihads 1990: offers al-Q to defend Saudi Arabia from Saddam in Kuwait, rejected for U.S. U.S. presence in S.A. = MUST FIGHT U.S. al azma = the crisis

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

14. Chronology: Snowball Effect Feb. 1993: WTC bombed, 6 die, 1000+ injured Oct. 1993: Black Hawk down in Somalia, trained by al-Q, 18 servicemen dead Uncle Khalid Ramzi

15. Chronology: Snowball Effect May 1996: OBL forced to leave Sudan Afghanistan - new base of operations June 1996: U.S. military base in S.A. bombed, 19 servicemen killed

16. Chronology: Snowball Effect Feb. 1998: OBL issues “fatwa” - kill U.S. Aug. 1998: embassy bombings in Kenya, Tanzania, 220+ people killed, U.S. retaliates Osama indicted

17. Chronology: Snowball Effect Oct. 2000: USS Cole attacked, killing 17 Sept. 2001: Worst Day Ever, R.I.P. 3000+ al-Q’s climax • U.S. retaliated • Disrupted al-Q network

18. Tactics, Strategies, and Targets Tactics: assassination, bombing, hijacking, kidnapping, suicide attacks, etc. Strategies: developing surrogates, alliances, seeking WMDs Targets: prominent symbols of U.S. wealth and military dominance

19. Ideologically Justified 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).”

20. Ideological Debate • Salafi = “proper” religious adherence to strict moral code of Prophet Mohammed • Implied other understandings are corrupt • Most believe in non-violent means of supporting Islam • Small radical fringe - violent means

21. Ideological Debate al-Qaeda: “America started the war…” • Supporters of non-violent response to U.S. are corrupt, and thus not credible • U.S. waging war against Islam, therefore “defensive jihad” • Killing civilians allowed in current climate

22. Ideological Debate Justified Jihad? • Offensive jihad - not widely accepted • Defensive jihad - religious duty, just cause par excellance Post 9/11 • al-Qaeda losing the ideological debate • Attacks on WTC seen as offensive by Muslim community

23. Ideological Debate Post U.S. invasion of Iraq: • Confluence of opinion • Mainstream Islamic scholars, al-Qaeda united in call for defensive jihad • Iraq = chaotic, breeding ground for terror • al-Qaeda + Hezbollah al Zarqawi

24. U.S. Response • Has largely been a “police” operation • Capture and detain terrorists, rather than going after the source of terrorism • Ideology?? • Are we giving OBL credibility? • Will catching OBL make a difference?

25. BIG IDEA The U.S. response has recently come under question (CIA, Michael Scheuer) for supposed mistakes in the War on Terror. More and more, invading Iraq seems to be pouring gas on the flames.