Al Qaeda News
AL QAEDA
Al Qaeda Background Information
Al-Qaeda was established by Usama Bin Ladin in 1988 with Arabs who fought in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union during their occupation. Mujihadeen, Muslim fighters who fought the Soviets following their 1979 invasion of Afghanistan were Al Qaeda’s original primary membership base. The Islamic Fighters were aided by Muslim and non Muslim countries as well as individuals and groups that helped finance, recruit, transport, and train Sunni Islamic extremists for the Afghan resistance. This organized effort led Osama bin Laden and other leaders to establish a network that would be able to answer threats against Muslims in the furure. Today times have changed and despite the early assistance against the Soviet occupation the main goal now is to unite Muslims to fight the United States and the West as a means of defeating Israel, overthrowing regimes it deems “non-Islamic,”, and expelling Westerners and non-Muslims from Muslim countries. The Eventual end goal would be establishment of a pan-Islamic caliphate throughout the world. Al Qaeda operated military training camps in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. It was here that Al Qaeda bean to grow rapidly. The Taliban government established in Afghanistan provided protection and an isolated location to bring in their recruits for the next Holy War that was to be against the West. The recruits came from the original base that fought against the Soviets. The Mujihadeen Islamic fighters that returned to their home countries began to spread the world of the success of the new Muslim organization and began sending radicalized youth to the training camps first in Sudan and later to Afghanistan. Al Qaeda was the answer for dealing with Western imposed issues. The U.S. attack on Afghanistan and subsequent toppling of the Taliban regime eliminated the safe haven. Elements of Al Qaeda’s leadership structure were scattered in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan following the American invasion in 2001. Today the groups leaders are still believed to be in the mountainous border regions where tribal rule is still more powerful than government influence between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Al Qaeda issued a statement in February 1998 under the banner of “The World Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders” saying it was the duty of all Muslims to kill US citizens, civilian and military, and their allies everywhere. Merged with al-Jihad (Egyptian Islamic Jihad) in June 2001, renaming itself “Qa’idat al-Jihad.” Merged with Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi’s organization in Iraq in late 2004, with al-Zarqawi’s group changing its name to “Qa’idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn” (al-Qa’ida in the Land of the Two Rivers). In the end the al Qeda network took many Radical Islamic groups under it’s massive umbrella that continues to row and spread throughout the world even today as I write this article.
Leadership and Organization
Al Qaeda’s organizational structure has been compared to that of a Hydra, a many-headed serpent of Greek myth. If you try to kill the Hydra by chopping off a head you will not destroy it, since the remainder of the body remains intact and eventually the head grows back. Likewise, what makes Al Qaeda’s structure so difficult to deal with, are small, autonomous cells whose exposure or destruction has little effect on the organization as a whole. The second difficult aspect of the organization of Al Qaeda is the fact that many small bands of non affiliated groups that seek acceptance of the main organization perform acts of terrorism around the world and swears their allegiance to Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. Al-Qaeda’s organizational strength is difficult to determine in the aftermath of extensive counterterrorist efforts since 9/11. However, the group probably has several thousand extremists and associates worldwide inspired by the group’s ideology. The arrest and deaths of mid-level and senior al-Qa’ida operatives have disrupted some communication, financial, and facilitation nodes and interrupted. The problem is that al Qaeda continues to evolve and have regrouped in the later parts of the first decade of the new millennium. New groups are emerging in countries that once did not have a presence. Africa seems to be a very fertile ground for radicalizing poor and disenfranchised youth and as time moves forward will be major concern for the West. Also See Internal Structure
Osama bin Laden Founder and Leader. Osama Bin Laden is the man the US accuses of masterminding the 11 September suicide hijackings and other attacks on US interests. He founded al-Qaeda in 1979-80, originally as a guesthouse in Peshawar for Arab fighters. Despite an extensive military operation in Afghanistan, it is still not known where he is or even if he is definitely still alive. Though the reports of his death is unlikely since he as issued many audio tapes that appear to be him. Arab broadcasters regularly air recordings of speeches attributed to the fugitive al-Qaeda figurehead. Those who have met Bin Laden describe him as a mild-mannered man, who is generally polite and hospitable to strangers. He was a member of the The Muslim Brotherhood
Ayman al Zawahiri Spiritual Adviser and number 2 in hierarchy Egyptian in origin, Ayman al-Zawahiri is believed to serve as Bin Laden’s spiritual adviser and doctor. He is also the architect of the al-Qaeda ideology. An eye surgeon who helped found the Egyptian Islamic Jihad militant group, is often referred to as Osama Bin Laden’s right-hand man. In 1998, he was the second of five signatories to Bin Laden’s notorious “fatwa” calling for attacks against US civilians. Since 911 Zawahiri has released many video tapes calling for Muslims to join the war against the West and has appeared to be taking over more duties for the organization. He like Osama bin Laden is in hiding in the Afghanistan and Pakistan border region. It is doubtful that the two are together in order to protect the organizations leadership. Zawahiri is also a known member of The Muslim Brotherhood.
Anwar Al-Awlaki: One of Al qaeda’s biggest weapons Regional Commander and Recruiter Anwar al-Awlaki is an influential spiritual advisor and cleric within al Qaeda. He has been given credit for recruiting young Muslim youth from the West to carry out terrorist attacks. He is a regional commander operating out of Yemen. He is a major recruiter for al Qaeda and even though there are others in the organization that may be more or equally as powerful he is one of the most dangerous and active in the current al Qaeda climate. He has been connected to individuals beginning with the 911 attacks on the United States as well as the attacks at Fort Hood. The latest connection is with the Nigerian underwear bomber that resulted in a failed Christmas Day attempt to explode a commercial airliner over Detroit, MI arriving from Amsterdam. US officials in late 2009 said al-Awlaki had recently been promoted to the rank of regional commander within al-Qaeda
Adam Gadahn The California kid turned jihadist has been the spokesperson for al Qaeda on numerous occasions. The FBI states Adam Yahiye Gadahn was indicted in the Central District of California for treason and material support to Al Qaeda. He has been hiding with top al Qaeda leadership as a messenger. Gadahn has become one of Osama bin Laden’s senior operatives. He is a member of Al Qaeda’s “media committee,” and his responsibilities are thought to include those of translator, video producer, and cultural interpreter. Primarily, though, Gadahn is a spokesperson, a role he performs with tremendous conviction. He provides a Western Face and understanding that al Qaeda hopes will aid in recruiting other Western born Muslims. In reality he is being used as a prop and in all likely hood is more of a high profile spokesperson for the group.
Major al -Qaeda Terrorist Attacks
Al Qaeda Articles, Links and Information
1998 Fatwa The threat and declaration of war by Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda against the America and the West.
Pashtunwali: The way of the Pashtuns Who are the Pashtuns and what is their role in the Afghanistan conflict and relationship with the Taliban and Osama bin Laden?
The Taliban The Taliban are a Sunni fundamentalist group that was created in large part from fighters from the Afghan – Soviet war and propagated by religion scholars.
Terrorist Sleeper Cells in America A sleeper cell is a dormant, on standby, group of individuals that were either smuggled in, arrived legally or possibly born in the country that is the point of attack. This article also looks into the threat of Home grown terrorism. individuals that were either smuggled in, arrived legally or possibly born in the country that is the point of attack. The members live among the general population and participates within the guidelines of that society attempting to blend in and to not draw any unwanted attention until the time when the cell is to carry out a terrorist attack. The Hijackers of 911 were operating as a sleeper cell before they acted that day. They traveled to Las Vegas and took part in gambling and other acts of vice without drawing attention to their real goals. The clandestine cell is the essential building block of a terrorist operation
The Muslim Brotherhood In depth article explaining who the Muslim Brotherhood is, there stance in America and there connection to terrorism. The Muslim Brotherhood is the most influential Muslim Groups in the World..
Al Qaeda’s New Front A Full Frontline Documentary you can watch on windows media or real player as well as supporting reports on Al Qaeda’s attempt to open new fronts in efforts to extend their reach and potential.
Anwar Al-Awlaki: One of Al qaeda’s biggest weapons Anwar al-Awlaki is a very influential spiritual advisor and cleric within Radical Islam. He is a high level member of al Qaeda and has been given credit for recruiting young Muslim youth from the West to carry out terrorist attacks.
European Islam Europe has struggled with the intricate balance of radical Islam and creating a peaceful and kinder Islam among it’s quickly growing Muslim population. Terrorist have struck London and Spain and young Muslims are becoming more radicalized
911 Guide A complete Guide to the day that changed America forever. A look at the news videos, the terrorists and the aftermath that pulled America back together. Chronologically put together to experience the events of September 11, 2001
Detroit Christmas Day Foiled Terrorist Attack: 23-year-old Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab Arrested On Christmas Day a Nigerian student attempted to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it arrived over Detroit, Michigan airspace shortly before landing.
New York Foiled Terrorist Attack: Najibullah Zazi Arrested The first al Qaeda terrorist cell to be uncovered in the U.S. since 911 has federal law enforcement agents working overtime from Denver, New York, Afghanistan to Pakistan looking for information to ensure that the al Qaeda plot was disrupted and can no longer be carried out after the arrest of 3 in New York.
Government Report: Nuclear or Biological Attack by 2013 The latest study on the terrorist threat to America was released and as can be expected there were many threats to the homeland. though it has been over 7 years since the last terrorist attack the groups that threaten America have not given up on targeting U.S. cities with devastating attacks.
Where is Osama bin Laden Since September 11, 2001 Osama bin Laden has been on the minds of many Americans. He carried out the deadliest and most shocking terrorist attack ever to occur. He has been the focus of the biggest manhunt that has ever been carried out by the U.S. government that has reached across the globe and concentrated in the last few years on the Afghanistan – Pakistan border.
Pakistan: The Frontline of Terrorism A closer look at the unique relationship between terrorists and the Pakistani Intelligence Service, ISI. Why is Pakistan so important to the United State’s War on Terror and who is winning in Pakistan’s struggle with Fundamental Islamists.
Al Shabaab Al-Shabaab is a violent and brutal extremist group with a number of individuals affiliated with al-Qaida. Many of its senior leaders are believed to have trained and fought with al-Qaida in Afghanistan. On May 1, 2008 a U.S. air strike hit it’s target in Somalia. It was Aden Hashi Ayro, who led al Shabaab militants that have been blamed for attacks on government troops and their Ethiopian allies that have assisted the Somali government in the past fight against the Islamist militant group.
