Presentation Transcript

1. Terrorism Terrorism - the systematic use of violence by a group in order to intimidate a population or coerce a government into granting it’s demands. Terrorists wish to gain publicity through acts of fear Terrorists gain attention through Bombings Kidnapping Hijacking Hostage taking Assassinations
2. Assassinations / U.S. Four U.S. Presidents have been assassinated Abraham Lincoln (1865) James Garfield (1881) William McKinley (1901) John F. Kennedy (1963) In recent years attempts have been made on George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Harry S. Truman and Theodore Roosevelt (1911 Presidential run)
3. Terrorists Targets Attacks are unfortunately aimed at soft targets and innocent civilians rather than military targets. The victims are normally people at the wrong place at the wrong time.
4. Terrorism or Not? If a Palestinian homicide bomber kills several dozen Israeli teens at a Jerusalem restaurant, is it an act of terrorism or retaliation against the Israeli government in a time of war?
5. Recent U.S. Terrorist Strikes 1988 - 270 killed in the crash of Pan-Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. It was found by investigators to be the handy work of Libyan operatives. 1993 - the World Trade Center in New York City was attacked by a car bomb, killing 6 and injuring nearly 1,000. 1995 - the Oklahoma City Federal Building was struck by a car bomb, killing 168. Timothy McVeigh (executed) and Terry Nichols (involuntary manslaughter / life) were found guilty. 1998 - U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed simultaneously, killing 190 and injuring 5,000. 2000 - the U.S.S. Cole, a U.S. warship was struck by a suicide boat, killing 17 U.S. servicemen.
6. American terrorists McVeigh and Nichols - Oklahoma City Federal Building. Ted Kaczynski (a.k.a the Unabomber) Sent mail bombs over a 17 year period Convicted of killing 3 and injuring 23 Targeted academics and executives who violated his environmental values
7. Al-Qaeda Founded by Osama Bin Laden Bin Laden used his vast fortune of hundreds of millions to fund Al-Qaeda Bin Laden moved to Afghanistan in the 1980’s to fight the Soviet army. After the Soviets withdrew in 1989, Bin Laden moved back to Saudi Arabia. He was expelled in 1991 for opposing Saudi cooperation with the U.S. in regard to Operation Desert Storm. He fled to Sudan, where he was expelled in 1994 for instigating attacks against the U.S. in Somalia and Yemen. Bin Laden then returned to Afghanistan where he stayed as a guest of the Taliban government. Here Al-Qaeda would set up training camps and a base of operation.
8. Al-Qaeda Bio Al-Qaeda means, “the base” Memberships stands between 3,000 and 35,000 worldwide. They are dispersed within 34 countries worldwide They function through autonomous cells Most cell members fit into normal society without much notice. They make their money through jobs, credit card fraud, and theft. These cells are often referred to as “sleepers”, because they lie dormant and “awake” to perform a job for the network.
9. Bin Laden Declares War Bin Laden issued a declaration of war against the United States in 1996. The reason behind his declaration was support by the U.S. for Saudi Arabia and Israel.
10. 9/11 American Airlines flight 11 crashed into World Trade Center Tower 1, killing 88. United Airlines flight 175 crashed into World Trade Center Tower 2, killing 60. 2,605 were killed within the buildings. United Airlines flight 93 crash landed in Shanksville, PA, killing 40. This flight was intended for either the Capital or the White House. American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, killing 59 and 125 on the ground.
11. Al-Qaeda has been unsuccessful in attacking the U.S. to this point. Al-Qaeda bombers killed 180 in a Bali, Indonesia disco (mostly Australian) 13 were killed in Mombassa, Kenya at a resort In 2004, Al-Qaeda bombed a railways and railcars in Spain. This attack coincided with the Presidential election of that week. The conservative incumbent was defeated. Before the attack he was leading in the polls. Great Britain subways and bus systems were targets in 2005. Al-Qaeda continues to be an influence in Iraq, with an insurgent contingent that attacks on a daily basis. Al-Qaeda uses religion as the reason for their attacks. This logic challenges both Muslim and American values.
12. Middle East Support for Terrorism There are several states in the Middle East which still support terrorism. This is done in several ways. Providing sanctuary Supplying weapons, money, and intelligence. Planning attacks using terrorists
13. Libya Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi provided terrorists with financial aid to kill his opponents living in Europe. U.S. warplanes shot down two Libyan warplanes over seas that the U.S. deemed international. This caused tension. Terrorists sponsored by Libya bombed a popular Berlin nightclub, killing three, including two U.S. soldiers. The U.S. then bombed Tripoli and Benghazi in an attempt to kill Qaddafi. We missed the Colonel, but killed many family members. In 1990 investigators found that Libyan agents orchestrated the destruction of Pan-Am 103. The mastermind was put in jail, but later released due to the aggressive nature of his cancer. That was 2010. He’s still not dead. Big oil got the guy out of jail (BP)
14. Afghanistan The United States entered Afghanistan in 2001. The Taliban was housing the wanted Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. Since then, Hamid Karzai has been installed as president. At times he seems cooperative, mostly, he is not. Corruption, voter fraud, and drug running have been issues that challenge his authority, not to mention the reemergence of the Taliban.
15. Iraq The United States attacked Iraq in 2003 to deposed the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. In 1998, UN inspectors found the following evidence of weapons of mass destruction A nuclear radiation weapon program, including 40 nuclear-research facilities and 3 uranium enrichment programs A program for making weapons from the VX nerve agent A biological weapons program, including production of, anthrax, and bombs to deliver toxic agents These reasons, coupled with Saddam’s refusal to admit inspectors in 2003, caused the US to act. Also a reason for invasion, Saddam’s mass murder of northern Kurds via mustard gas.
16. Iraq Continued The United States confrontation with Iraq in 2003 was act two for the pair. Iraq attempted to annex Kuwait in 1990. The United Nations, led by the United States launched 1991’s Operation Desert Storm. Iraq was defeated, but Saddam stayed in power. 2003’s invasion was not supported by a majority of the UN. In fact, three members of the UN Security Council (Russia, China, and France) withdrew support. Hussein’s brutal treatment of his people over the course of several decades was acknowledged by most of the world, but not seen as adequate reasoning for ousting Hussein. In 2006, after a trial that saw Saddam found guilty of war crimes, the former President was hung at the hands of his own people. Their new President, Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, is the first non-Arab president of the country.
17. Iran Hostilities between Iran and the United States started in 1979, with the overthrow of the U.S. supported Shah of Iran. Supporters of exiled Ayatollah Khomeini brought him back to form a theocratic Iranian state. Supporters of the Ayatollah seized the U.S. embassy in 1979, holding 62 Americans hostage until January 20, 1981 (ironically this was the day Regan took office. It has long been considered that the release was due to the Republicans’ new administration. They would attack if necessary. All hostages were safe and returned.) The U.S. has accused Iran of supplying and harboring terrorists, including Al-Qaeda.
18. Iran cont. Iran has continued to forge a path toward nuclear capabilities. In the face of international sanctions, Iran has become more defiant and inches closer every day. Israel has threatened to take action if the UN will not. They have Iran on the clock. The Iranians have threatened to close the straight of Hormuz if the world threatens them. This could choke off a large percentage of the world’s crude oil, thus affecting oil prices exponentially. An invasion of Iran in general could spike prices worldwide.
19. As Of 2013 Osama bin Laden was killed in May 2011 by US Seals. He was located in the shadow of our “friend” Pakistan’s military training center. He was buried at sea with no grave. Egypt has experienced a revolution, deposing Mubarak. Mohamed Morsi is the new President and a member of the Islamic Brotherhood. Syria is in revolution and the ouster of Bashar al-Assad is near (Russia is aiding Assad – we seem to outwardly support the rebels, who have al-Qaeda links. Hamas and Israel are still at odds, and Israel is ever mindful of the Iran nuclear schedule, with designs to destroy it if need be. We have pulled combat troops out of Iraq, with fewer personnel on the ground. We are still in Afghanistan and continue to hear about Afghan trainees killing their US handlers. Pirates are still a problem off the coast of Somalia. Libya had a revolution in 2012, ousting Qaddafi. What followed was chaos, where al-Qaeda once again gained a foothold. In November of 2012, the US embassy was attacked by an al-Qaeda mob, with the end result, a dead US diplomat (Chris Stevens) - controversy