The Looming Tower

1. Chapters 6-10 Review The Looming Tower

2. Chapter 6: The Base • 1986 • Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri arrives in Peshwar • Joins Arab community • Adopts customs • Brother Mohammed follows • Sets up financial pipeline for jihad • Peshwar is in a state of disarary flooded with refugees and being controlled by warlords • Red Crescent Hospital • Zawahiri sets up practice • Links up with SayyidIman (a.k.a. Dr. Fadl) • Goal to re-establish Jihad • New recruits • New direction • “Takfir” or excommunication • Divides Arab Afghan community • Bin Laden • Attends lectures at hospital • Zawahiri and bin Laden need one another • Zawahiri needs $ • Bin Laden needs direction • Warns bin Laden of “security threat” and offers services of mujahideen (future al-Qaeda members)

3. Chapter 6: The Base • The Lion’s Den • February 1988 • Soviets withdraw in May • What would be direction of Jihad? • Zawahiri wants to “groom” Osama AND undermine competitor Sheik Abdullah Azzam • Against tarkfir • Azzam • Wants to build base (Qaeda) • Afghanistan only the beginning • Focus on: soviet republics, Somalia, Eritrea, and Spain • 1st goal: Palestine • Helped create Hamas to battle Israel • Didn’t want to focus on Egypt like Zawahiri • Bin Laden torn….. • Until August 11, 1988 • Meeting among leaders • Vote for new organization • 1st mention of name al-Qaeda • Still unclear of mission

4. Chapter 6: The Base • Zawahiri instrumental in ruining Azzam’s reputation • Eventually murdered, threat to Zawahiri and bin Laden’s al-Qaeda removed. • 1st al-Qaeda meeting • Set constitution • Leadership council created • Reps from Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia • By-laws voted on

5. Chapter 7: Return of the Hero • Bin Laden returns to Saudi Arabia 1989 • Kingdom’s 1st real “celebrity” • Returned with sense of mission • Royal Family • Out of control as ever • Except Prince Turki • Pro-democratic, works with CIA, reformed • Division within Islamic Factions in Arabia • Kingdom • Financially supports 90% of Islamic faith • Declining oil prices leads to tension • Osama voices “anti-west” and “anti- America” sentiments • Advocates boycott of US goods • Weird relationship with US • Saudi’s thought Royal’s condoned Osama’s statements • Two countries interdependent

6. Chapter 7: Return of the Hero • 1989: A new plan • Osama wants to overthrown Marxist government in Yemen • 1st opportunity for al-Qaeda • Prince Turki declines offer • Yemen is soon after united, Osama blames U.S. involvement • Bin Laden wants to finance guerrilla war, royal family tells him to stay out of it. • Saudi’s take bin Laden’s passport

7. Chapter 7: Return of the hero • Invasion of Kuwait • Saddam Hussien poses threat to Saudi Arabia and oil fields • Promises not to invade Kuwait, two days later invades. • Bin Laden offers his “services” to Royal Family to fight Saddam • Prince Turki finally realizes Osama’s delusions • Clergy supported Royal Family • Royal Family already accepted help, from U.S. • 1st goal to protect Saudi Arabian oil fields • Operation Desert Storm • Starts January 16, 1991 • Over by March 6 • Saddam still in power, but checked • U.S. could “see new world order” • Osama NOT happy • Osama gets passport back and heads to Peshawar, Pakistan in March 1992 to help mediate civil war • Realizes the Prince Turki is no his enemy

8. Chapter 8: Paradise • The Afghan Civil War • Most Arabs moved on, tried to return to home countries • Many jailed or refused entry = roaming mercenaries • A New Home • June 1989 Islamists staged a military coup in Sudan • Leader General Omar Hasan al- Bashir • Real brains: Hasan al-Turabi • Believed Arab world was insufficiently Islamic • Too dependent on West • Well-educated • Envisioned international Muslim community headquartered in Sudan • Sent bin Laden a letter of invitation • Gave a construction job to bin Laden Company • Two different people • Turabi was far more progressive and reformed • Advocated women’s rights, art and music • Khartoum • Happy time for Osama • had opportunity to imitate father’s career • Largest landowner in Sudan • Generous employer • Did not participate in conflict in Southern Sudan • U.S. presence in Saudi Arabia still bothered him

9. Chapter 8: Paradise • Opportunity • U.S. soldiers stopping over in Yemen on way to Somalia to help with famine • Al-Qaeda believed this was just an excuse to extend U.S. control • New idea of Jihad against America • Linking to the Crusades • Struggle between Christianity and Islam • America was “everywhere” • Unite all sects of Islam against U.S. • December 29, 1992 • Bombs exploded in Yemen, targeting US troops • No troops died, but moved on to Somalia • Al-Qaeda saw this as victory • Two innocent civilians died • Led to new fatwas • Attack US troops • Murder of Innocents

10. Chapter 9: Silicon Valley • February 26, 1993 • World Trade Center Bombing • Few Americans had any idea of radical Islamists in country • Bombing done by RamziYousef • Product of al-Qaeda • Ordered by bin Laden? • Ambition and skill changed nature of terror • Explosion • Six people died, 1, 042 injured • Yousef fled to Pakistan • Plotted assassinations of Pope John Paul II, Bill Clinton and others • Lacked organization • Importance was SYMBOLISM of attacks

11. Chapter 9: Silicon Valley • Fundraising • Zawahiri is in states fundraising for the jihad • Guide: Ali Abdelsoud Mohammed • Assigned to penetrate CIA • Does, is exposed but too late • Becomes U.S. citizen • Joins Army • While being a “good” soldier he’s copying manuals and maps for al-Qaeda • Training Muslim militants on the weekends • Takes leave in 1988, joins reserve in 1989 • Meets with FBI 1993 • Gives info on bin Laden, al-Qaeda • Information dissmissed • $ Problems • Zawahiri can’t raise funds needed • Realizes he must join bin Laden to keep Jihad alive • Egypt • Still Zawahiri’s main focus • August 1993 • 1st use of suicide bomber • Became known as “martyrdom operations” • Broke taboo against suicide • Backfires • Young girl killed • Egypt turns against terrorism

12. Chapter 10: Paradise Lost • Sudan • Sociopaths and philosophers flock to bin Laden • Gave them a common enemy • Convinced America only needed a couple “blows” • 1st Chance- Somalia • U.N. overseeing peacekeeping effort dealing with famine, backed by U.S. • Several failed attacks • Local tribesmen shoot down two Black Hawk helicopters and drag bodies through streets • President Clinton immediately withdraws troops • Proved bin Laden’s assessment of U.S. and furthers his ambitions • Algeria 1992 • Al-Qaeda gets involved in civil conflict • Country drenched in blood for five years • Argued democracy and Islam incompatible • Anyone with voter card deserved to die • Even bin Laden alarmed by slayings and removes support, but damage is done • Early 1990s Osama still refining concept of al-Qaeda

14. Chapter 10: Paradise Lost • 1994 • Attempt on bin Laden’s life • He blamed Egyptians • CIA believe Saudi’s in charge • This event allows Zawahiri to have more influence • Convinces Osama for need of bodyguards and to carry weapons • International Pressure • Algeria and Yemen pressuring Saudi family to stop bin Laden • Egypt revokes his citizenship • Saudi’s revoke his passport • Bin Laden family ordered to cut him off • His business failed in Sudan, money running out • Cut salaries • Jamal al-Fadl becomes 1st traitor • 1990s Africa • Continent bleeding • Conflict in: Liberia, Angola, Sierra Leone, Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe • Bin Laden sends operatives to Kenya to stake out targets • U.S. embassy becomes main target • Almost attacked but held “off” when U.S. withdrew from Somalia • 1995 • Osama having 2nd thoughts • Wants to return to the Kingdom, to family • Has opportunity, but it never happens…….