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al-Qaeda

al-Qaeda. Ontogeny of the prototypic RIF terrorist organization. COL . ENGR. JA NOS TOMOLYA Ph.D NATO CoE DAT Chief of Capabilities. Al-Qaeda Defined. Al-Qaeda training camp. A very complex organization that has been in existence since the late 1980’s

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al-Qaeda

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  1. al-Qaeda Ontogeny of the prototypic RIF terrorist organization COL. ENGR.JANOSTOMOLYAPh.D NATOCoEDATChiefofCapabilities

  2. Al-Qaeda Defined Al-Qaeda training camp A very complex organization that has been in existence since the late 1980’s Commits acts of violence aimed at America and Western Allies.

  3. Al-Qaeda’s Strategy • Soldiers operate in fast moving light forces. Work in complete secrecy to complete complex strategic strikes. • Avoids engagement in conventional fighting (forces are not strong enough) • Spreads rumors, fear and discouragement among enemy forces • Relies on a force of over 20,000 professionally trained soldiers throughout the world. The organization’s strengths are its’ secrecy extensive influence and planning.

  4. Misconceptions of Al-Qaeda • Islam vs. Islamist(has own interpretation of Koran) • Commit acts of desperation • They are a brand new organization • Al-Qaeda is an organization without a home

  5. NAME • Designated name:International Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders • Familiar name: al-Qaeda (“The Base”)

  6. RIF • Radical Islamic fundamentalist (RIF) terrorist organizations did not begin with and will not end with al-Qaeda • Evolved from earlier organizations • Morphed into ‘movement’

  7. Evolution • Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt • Egyptian Islamic Jihad • Maktab Khadamat al-Mujahidin al-Arab (MAK) • International Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders—al-Qaeda

  8. Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt • Formed in 1928 by Hassan al Banna (1906-1949) • Anti-colonial advocating expulsion of British influences in Egypt • Strong fundamentalist orientation • Generally nonviolent except for the “secret apparatus”

  9. Egyptian Islamic Jihad • Formed in the 1970s by militant faction of the Muslim Brotherhood • Advocated terrorist tactics to achieve goals including formation of Islamic state • Spawned parallel organizations in other Muslim countries • Ayman al-Zawahiri assumed control in the 1980s

  10. Muslim Brotherhood Primary objective: Muslim unity and expulsion of foreign influences (considerable RIF elements) fundamentalism a secondary objective Generally nonviolent approach to change Egyptian Islamic Jihad Primary objective: expulsion of foreign influences and establishment of an Islamic state (RIF core) fundamentalism a primary objective Generally violent approach to change Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt vs. Egyptian Islamic Jihad

  11. Maktab Khadamat al-Mujahidin al-Arab (MAK) • Formed in the 1980s by Osama bin Laden and Abdullah al-Azzam to recruit and train foreign fighters to combat the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan • Encouraged and indirectly supported by the U.S. during the Cold War • Had strong fundamentalists elements with a desire to influence the social-political system of post-war Afghanistan

  12. MAK Split • Conflicting agendas after Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan • Protection of Muslim populations in troubled spots throughout the world (Azzam objective) • Overthrow of despotic Arab regimens, especially Egypt and Saudi Arabia (bin Laden objective)

  13. 1989-95 Birth and Development • Al-Qaeda starts in the aftermath of Soviet invasion 1987 • By 1989 begins to target America • Recruits from across the globe including America • No solid base (Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq) • 1991-1996 primarily based in Sudan • Much soldier training and a system of Hierarchy stabilized (Bin Laden, Deputy, 5 committees)

  14. MAK Merger with Egyptian Islamic Jihad Leadership • Azzam was assassinated in 1989 leaving bin Laden in control • Zawahiri functionally merged Egyptian Islamic Jihad with former MAK members • Al-Qaeda emerges • bin Laden—financial aspects • Zawahiri—ideological and operational aspects

  15. 1996-2001 War Plans • Al-Qaeda still relatively unknown to US (1987-1999) • Strategy: Spread enemy’s attention and expose it. (2 Al-Qaeda members example) • Encyclopedia of Jihad released in 1996 conveniently upgraded to DVD in 1999. • Taliban team up (2,000 Al-Qaeda soldiers) • Al-Qaeda will officially declare war for the first time in 1996

  16. Conflict with bin Laden Escalates • Offers to raise a mujahidin army to defend Saudi Arabia from a potential invasion from Iraq in 1990 • Saudi Arabia declines his offer opting instead to accept the assistance of the U.S. and allow American troops (including women soldiers) in Saudi Arabia • Moves to Sudan by invitation of the Sudanese government in 1991 • Supports several small to medium attacks against Western interests • Moves to Afghanistan in 1996 by invitation of the Taliban • Cruise missiles fired at al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan to kill bin Laden in 1998

  17. International Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders “The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies─civilians and military─is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it.” Fatwa issued by Osama bin Laden & Ayman al-Zawahiri on 23 February 1998

  18. September 11, 2001

  19. 2002-03 Regroup and Privatize • The full-scale war brought by America was expected • Al-Qaeda groups become almost separate working loosely with mother Al-Qaeda (Southeast Asia, North America, Europe, Iraq, North Africa and East Africa) • Aside from war in Iraq since 2002 groups have made attacks on the US and seven of our allies. (18 major attacks in 11 countries) • Each Al-Qaeda group is strengthened by perceived injustices to that country (i.e. radical Egyptians in North Africa)

  20. The Iraq Connection • Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is believed to have formed Jama'at al-Tawhidwal-Jihad in Afghanistan during the 1980s • May have received some funds from al-Qaeda but operated independently • Original objective was to overthrow the Jordanian government and establish an Islamic state • Expanded urban guerilla warfare in Iraq to include terrorist tactics also targeting Iraqis • Officially merged with al-Qaeda 21 October 2004 (finally providing an al-Qaeda connection to Iraq)

  21. New Role for al-Qaeda • Various RIF factions aggressively compete with each other for control, only uniting provisionally to fight the common enemies • Al-Qaeda evolved into the symbolic focus of a ‘united’ RIF terrorist movement • As demonstrated by Zarqawi, Sadr, and others, the leadership of al-Qaeda is not essential for continued RIF terrorist activities

  22. Parent Movement Less Militant Than Offspring? Essam al-Eryan and Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Guidance Office in Cairo urged an immediate release in a statement posted 18 January 2006. “We ... appeal to the kidnappers of the American journalist Jill Carroll to release her as lives of innocent civilians – Iraqi or foreign – should be well guarded,” they wrote. “Jill ... and her colleagues have come to Iraq to report the events to the world, reminding everyone of the hardships faced by the Iraqi people under occupation. Once more, we call upon our brothers in the Iraqi resistance not to target media workers. This contradicts the principles of our religion and doesn't help the cause of liberating the country.” Source: csmonitor.com (March 2006)

  23. Jill Carroll Released

  24. Timeline of the Evolution of the Modern International Terrorist Threat • 1979: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent occupation. • 1984: Radical preacher Abdullah Azzam set up an organisation called Maktab al-Khidmat (MAK) “Bureau of Services” to disseminate propaganda about jihad in Afghanistan. Usama bin Laden (UbL) joins. • 1989: Withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan. UbL returns to Saudi Arabia. Decision by MAK to continue to support further jihadist causes. Thinking around “the base” or “foundation” (translation: Al Qaida) for further operations articulated. Timeline adapted from the British Home Office Report on the 07 July 2005 London Bombings, printed by order of the House of Commons, 11 May 2006.

  25. 1988-89: UbL disagreement over focus of the cause and starts to form Al Qaida. November 1989, Azzam assassinated. • Early 1990s: Violence in a number of regions worldwide, including Afghanistan, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Chechnya, Bosnia, Tajikistan, East Africa, Yemen and Philippines. Groups that would later be a significant international terrorist threat formed eg Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines. Extremist support networks created in the UK and Europe. • Aug 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait. Saudi Government agrees to allow US troops to be stationed in the Kingdom for 1st Gulf War. UbL fiercely opposed. • 1991: UbL leaves for Sudan. Al Qaida (AQ) changes from being predominantly paramilitary organisation into a terrorist group, focussing on the US.

  26. 1992: AQ publishes a fatwa calling for jihad against western “occupation” of Islamic lands. • 1990s: Radical young men from the UK go to support jihad overseas eg Richard Reid, the shoe bomber, left for Pakistan/Afghanistan in 1997. • 1992: Somalia: two IED (improvised explosive device) attacks against hotels where US troops were staying. January 1993, “Black Hawk down” incident. • 1993: First World Trade Centre attack. • 1994: Taliban established. • 1995: Start of 4-month GIA (Armed Islamic Group) campaign in France. • Mid-1996: Relocation of AQ leadership and many other extremists to Afghanistan.

  27. Jun 1996: Truck bomb at housing complex in Saudi Arabia. • Aug 1996: UbL publishes fatwa “Declaration of War against the Americans occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places [Saudi Arabia]”. • Nov 1997: Islamic gunmen attack tourists in Luxor, Egypt. • Feb 1998: UbL’s second fatwa calling for jihad “to kill the Americans and their allies – civilian and military”. • Aug 1998: US Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya damaged in AQ truck bomb attacks. Many dead and injured. • Dec 1998: Yemen: kidnapping of 16 tourists, including 12 Britons. • Aug 1999: Russia: start of 2-month series of bombings.

  28. Dec 1999: Indian airlines flight hijacked. • Oct 2000: suicide bombers directed by AQ attacked USS Cole in Aden, Yemen. • Nov 2000: 2 British citizens of Bangladeshi origin arrested in Birmingham, UK on suspicion of preparing a large quantity of home made explosives. • Jan 2001 India: The Red Fort in New Delhi attacked by Kashmiri militants. • Sept 2001: AQ operatives crashed hijacked airliners into the World Trade Centre and Pentagon. • Late 2001- Early 2002: Coalition action expelled the Taliban, AQ and other extremist groups from main Afghanistan, dismantling training camps etc. Freezing of assets and targeting of support networks.

  29. Oct 2001: Kashmir, India assembly attacked by militants. • Dec 2001: militants attacked Indian Parliament in New Delhi. • Dec 2001: disrupted plans to attack US, Australian and British Missions in Singapore. • Dec 2001: Richard Reid’s attempted “shoe bomb” attack on US airliner. • Jan 2002: Kidnapping and execution of US journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan. • Apr 2002: attack on Western tourists at synagogue in Tunisia. • May 2002: attack against a bus transporting French Naval engineers in Karachi, Pakistan. • Jun 2002: attack against the US Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan. • Jun 2002: : disrupted attacks on Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco.

  30. Oct 2002: : water-borne attack on MV Limburg in Yemen. • Oct 2002: attack on nightclub in Bali, Indonesia. • Oct 2002: Chechen terrorists occupy Moscow theatre, taking hundreds hostage. • Nov 2002: attack on hotel and Israeli charter aircraft in Mombasa, Kenya. • 2002-2003: Ricin plot (UK). • Feb 2003: Coalition action and removal of Saddam Hussain in Iraq. • May 2003: attack on residential compounds and US/Saudi office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. • May 2003: attacks on various (including Jewish) targets in Casablanca, Morocco.

  31. Aug 2003: simultaneous bomb blasts in Mumbai, India. • Aug 2003: attack on Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. • Nov 2003: attack on residential compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. • Nov 2003: multiple attacks on Jewish and British targets in Istanbul, Turkey. • Dec 2003: two assassination attempts on President Musharraf in Pakistan. • Feb 2004: bomb on Superferry 14 in Manila, Philippines. • Mar 2004: multiple attacks on Madrid, Spain train network.

  32. Apr 2004: Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) suicide attack in Saudi Arabia. • May 2004: multiple attacks in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. • May- Sept 2004: assassination of Westerners in Saudi Arabia. • Aug - Sept 2004: Chechen terrorists down 2 passenger aircraft in Russia, mount suicide bombing on the Moscow metro and take over 1,000 hostage at a school in North Ossetia. • Sept 2004: attack on Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.

  33. Oct 2004: attack on Israeli tourists at a hotel and campsites in Egypt. • Dec 2004: Further AQ attacks in Saudi Arabia. • Feb 2005: simultaneous Valentine’s Day bombings in the Philippines. • Mar 2005: suicide car bomb against Western theatre in Qatar. • April 2005: IED detonated in Cairo, Egypt bazaar, suicide attacks against tourists. • July 2005: bombings in London, UK. 52 commuters killed along with 4 suicide bombers, 700 others injured

  34. October 2004. Bin Laden bursts into the U.S. election campaign in his first videotaped message in over a year to deride Bush.  • January 2006 - Bin Laden's first public message for over a year is a bid to show he is still in command of al Qaeda. • September 2006. Bush vows "America will find you". • September 2007. Bin Laden issues first new video for nearly three years, telling U.S. it is vulnerable despite its power.

  35. January 24th 2010. Bin Laden claims responsibility for the failed Dec. 25 bombing of a U.S.-bound plane in an audio tape and vows to continue attacks on the United States. • March 25th 2010. Bin Laden threatens al Qaeda will kill any Americans it takes prisoner if accused Sept. 11 planner Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, held by United States, is put to death • January 21st 2011. Bin Laden says in an audio recording that the release of French hostages held in Niger by al Qaeda depends on France's soldiers leaving Muslim lands.

  36. On May 2nd 2011 Osama bin Laden was killed in a million-dollar compound in the resort of Abbottabad, 60 km north of the Pakistani capital Islamabad. • On the same day Osama bin Laden was buried at sea according to senior US administration officials who said Islamic practice calls for burial within 24 hours. • They also said it would have been too hard to find a country willing to accept the remains of the world's most wanted terrorist, and wanted to avoid creating a pilgrimage site.

  37. Backing & Affiliations Al Qaeda appears to be affiliated with militant groups in the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia and Eurasia. These groups include, most notably: Abu Sayyaf Group (Philippines, Malaysia) Al Qaeda in Iraq Egyptian Islamic Jihad Jemaah Islamiya (Indonesia) Lashkar e Taiba (Kashmir)

  38. AlQaeda in Iraq "Al Qaeda in Iraq' is a shortening of the organization's original name Tanzim Qaidat Al Jihad fi Bilad Al Rafidin: Organization of Qaidat Al Jihad in the Land of Two Rivers.

  39. MoktarBelmoktar, the Marlboro Man

  40. Al Qaeda group AQIM says killed French hostage seized in Mali

  41. Due to the War on Terror, Al Qaeda has become destabilized and decentralized. This means they no longer play as big a part in World Terrorism as they once did.

  42. QUESTIONS & COMMENTS

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