Al-Qaeda |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| What other names does this group go by? | How can we identify the members? | |
| None | ||
|
Usama bin-Ladin first organized the Al-Qaeda terrorist group in the late 1980s. He wanted to have a group of fighters from the Arab nations that could help fight against Russia when it invaded Afghanistan. When the war with Russia was over and the Afghan and Al-Qaeda fighters had won, the purpose for Al-Qaeda changed. Now Al-Qaeda is very organized and works other Islamic extremist groups who would like to defeat other countries that they believe to be "Non-Islamic". They also want to kick any American citizens out of Muslim countries.
Usama bin Ladin and the Al-Qaeda leaders announced that it was the duty of all Muslims to kill US citizens, civilian or military, and their allies wherever they are in the world. |
||
| What terrorist events have they carried out? | ||
| In
August 1998 they bombed the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam that killed about 300 people and injuired over 5,000. They claimed that they had killed US servicemen and shot down US helicopters in Somalia in 1993. They also claimed that they made three bombings that were targeted for US troops in Aden, Yemen, in December 1992. Al-Qaeda is suspected for bombing the U.S.S. Cole in the year 2000. Al-Qaeda organized and attacked the World Trade Center in New York City, and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001. |
||
| February
1998 Call to Islamic Jihad "the World Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders" |
||
| Afghan-Russian War - The Art of War | ||
| How strong are they? | Who helps them train and prepare for an attack? | |
| They might have several hundred to several thousand people. They serve as an umbrella organization for a network that includes many Sunni Islamic extremist groups such as Egyptian Islamic Jihad, some members of al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Harakat ul-Mujahidin. | Usama bin Ladin inherited $300 million dollars frm his family when his father died. He uses this money to finance the group. Al-Qaeda also takes in money from the donations of rich middle eastern men who believe in what Al-Qaeda does. Several fake charities also solicit money from people who do not know what the money is used for. Everyone who buys and uses illegal drugs are most likely buying them from a terrorist group, and are supporting terrorism by buying drugs. Al-Qaeda has extended their friendship with Sunni extremist groups which gives them an even larger network to use in planning attacks. | |
| Where in the world are they located? | ||
| Al-Qaeda has a world wide network of terrorist cells that can strike at any moment.Until Al-Qaeda attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, these terrorists were supported by the Taliban Government. The Taliban allowed Al-Qaeda leaders to live in Afghanistan and build triaining camps to train men who came to learn how to become a terrorist. Since the war, Al-Qaeda members are fight ing against the U.S. and its allies in a war agains terrorism. It's members are trapped in caves in the mountains of Afghanistan, or have escaped into surrounding countries. | ||
| Thinkquest | Team | Interactives | Glossary | Index |
|
Photographic
Citations: Text
Citations: |