2. What is al-Qaeda?
• Al Qaeda means “the
Base.” It is a stateless
(meaning without a
country) terrorist
organization.
• It was led and financed
by Osama bin Laden, a
radical Sunni Muslim.
• It is now led by Ayman
al-Zawahiri
3. When did al-Qaeda form?
• The beginnings of al-Qaeda go back to the 1980’s
when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
4. Bin Laden, and the Arab Afghans, fought
the Soviet Union in Afghanistan
• The Soviet army left in
1988.
• We helped the mujahideen
fight the Soviets
5. Desert Storm (Gulf War I)
• In 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded
the tiny, oil-rich country of Kuwait
6. Operation Desert Storm
• The United States feared Saddam would
invade Saudi Arabia too.
Iraqi tanks
7. US and Saudi coalition
• The United States asked the Saudis for permission to
establish military bases in their country.
8. Saudi’s choice
• Osama bin Laden, back home from Afghanistan,
offered the Saudis the use of his soldiers to fight the
Iraqi army because Infidel armies have no place in the
holy land of Islam.
11. Why did bin Laden turn his
attention to attacking the US?
• In November 2002, bin Laden wrote his "
Letter to America” outlining motives:
• 1. Western support for attacking Muslims in
Somalia
• 2. Supporting Russian atrocities against
Muslims in Chechnya
• 3. Supporting the Indian oppression against
Muslims in Kashmir
12. • 5. Supporting the Jewish aggression against
Muslims in Lebanon
• 6. The presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia
due to Iraq invading Kuwait
• 7. U.S. support of Israel
• 8. Economic Sanctions against Iraq
13. USA in Somalia
• Dec. 4, 1992, George H.W. Bush sends 28,000
American troops to Somalia.
• Bush wanted to help the Somali people since
all attempts to send food to them were
intercepted by war lords.
14. Black Hawk Down!
• In 1993, 18 Americans
died when their Black
Hawk helicopter was
shot down over
Mogadishu, Somalia.
15. al Qaeda?
• We think al Qaeda operatives taught the
Somalians how to shoot down helicopters just
like they did in Afghanistan against the
Soviets.
19. Afghanistan Was Run by the Taliban, A
Violent Local, Afghanistani Group Led By
Mullah Omar
20. The Taliban Did Not Plan the 9/11
Attacks, But They Let Bin Laden
Operate in Afghanistan and Refused to
Turn Him Over to the US
21. 1996 car bombing of Khobar Towers
• 19 Americans were killed and hundreds injured.
22. Fatwa
• In August of 1998, Al Qaeda, led by bin Laden
and Ayman Zawahiri declare war on
American.
23. Embassy bombings: 1998
• Two American embassies in
Kenya and Tanzania were
bombed simultaneously. 220
people were killed.
24. Clinton responds.
• President Clinton decided to attack al Qaeda in
response.
25. US sends missiles against Qaeda training camps
in Sudan and Afghanistan----to little effect.
26. 2000—Millennium Attacks Foiled!
• Jordanian police halted 4 bombings
• Four al Qaeda terrorists arrested crossing the
Canadian border with nitroglycerin in their trunk.
They set out to bomb LA International Airport.
• In Yemen, a boat with explosives tried to bomb a
navy ship but sank due to being overloaded
27. USS Cole attack Oct. 2000
• In Yemen, Al
Qaeda operatives
sent a suicide
bomber aboard a
small ship near the
USS Cole and
detonated its
bomb, blowing a
large hole in the
US Navy ship.
• 17 sailors killed.
29. • 2819 people were killed
• 343 firefighters and
paramedics were killed
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the
central planner of 9/11. Most terrorists
(at right) were from Saudi Arabia.
31. What Impact did 9-11 have on US?
• Just under 3,000 families were torn apart
• Loss of jobs and paperwork due to destroyed
building
• Airports closed for a few days
– Re-opened with much tougher security measures
• National parks and landmarks were closed for
awhile due to potential attacks
• Professional and college sports were delayed
32. • Many movies/tv shows/videogames were
cancelled, changed or delayed
• Went to war in Afghanistan as that is where al-
Qaeda was based
• Patriotism increased greatly
33. Discuss Before Moving On
-Discuss US National Security Organizations
-DHS(2001)
-FBI(1908/1935)
-CIA-1947
-NSA-1952
-Discuss Church Committee-1975
34. What did the US do in Response
cont.?
•Department of Homeland Security was set up
– New Cabinet position in Executive Branch
•Patriot Act was passed
•NSA(National Security Agency) spying
•Waterboarding at Guantanamo Bay
•Bush Doctrine-see next slide for more
35. Bush Doctrine
• Us had the right to secure itself against
countries that harbor or give aid to terrorist
groups
• United States should depose foreign
governments that represented a potential threat
to the security of the United States
• Encourage democracy around the world,
especially in the Middle East as a strategy for
combating terrorism
