History of al-Qaeda and 
Terrorism against the USA
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
When did al-Qaeda form? 
• The beginnings of al-Qaeda go back to the 1980’s 
when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
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
Desert Storm (Gulf War I) 
• In 1990, Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein invaded 
the tiny, oil-rich country of Kuwait
Operation Desert Storm 
• The United States feared Saddam would 
invade Saudi Arabia too. 
Iraqi tanks
US and Saudi coalition 
• The United States asked the Saudis for permission to 
establish military bases in their country.
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.
Saudis chose the USA and snubbed bin Laden.
1991--Bin Laden leaves Saudi Arabia 
for Sudan
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
• 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
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.
Black Hawk Down! 
• In 1993, 18 Americans 
died when their Black 
Hawk helicopter was 
shot down over 
Mogadishu, Somalia.
al Qaeda? 
• We think al Qaeda operatives taught the 
Somalians how to shoot down helicopters just 
like they did in Afghanistan against the 
Soviets.
1993-The 1st World Trade Center bombing
1993 WTC bombing 
It killed 6 people and injured over 1000.
May 1996 ---Sudan expels bin Laden, and 
he returns too Afghanistan
Afghanistan Was Run by the Taliban, A 
Violent Local, Afghanistani Group Led By 
Mullah Omar
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
1996 car bombing of Khobar Towers 
• 19 Americans were killed and hundreds injured.
Fatwa 
• In August of 1998, Al Qaeda, led by bin Laden 
and Ayman Zawahiri declare war on 
American.
Embassy bombings: 1998 
• Two American embassies in 
Kenya and Tanzania were 
bombed simultaneously. 220 
people were killed.
Clinton responds. 
• President Clinton decided to attack al Qaeda in 
response.
US sends missiles against Qaeda training camps 
in Sudan and Afghanistan----to little effect.
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
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.
9-11-2001
• 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.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
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
• 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
Discuss Before Moving On 
-Discuss US National Security Organizations 
-DHS(2001) 
-FBI(1908/1935) 
-CIA-1947 
-NSA-1952 
-Discuss Church Committee-1975
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
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

Al qaeda ppt

  • 1.
    History of al-Qaedaand Terrorism against the USA
  • 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-Qaedaform? • The beginnings of al-Qaeda go back to the 1980’s when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
  • 4.
    Bin Laden, andthe Arab Afghans, fought the Soviet Union in Afghanistan • The Soviet army left in 1988. • We helped the mujahideen fight the Soviets
  • 5.
    Desert Storm (GulfWar 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 Saudicoalition • 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.
  • 9.
    Saudis chose theUSA and snubbed bin Laden.
  • 10.
    1991--Bin Laden leavesSaudi Arabia for Sudan
  • 11.
    Why did binLaden 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. Supportingthe 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.
  • 16.
    1993-The 1st WorldTrade Center bombing
  • 17.
    1993 WTC bombing It killed 6 people and injured over 1000.
  • 18.
    May 1996 ---Sudanexpels bin Laden, and he returns too Afghanistan
  • 19.
    Afghanistan Was Runby the Taliban, A Violent Local, Afghanistani Group Led By Mullah Omar
  • 20.
    The Taliban DidNot 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 bombingof Khobar Towers • 19 Americans were killed and hundreds injured.
  • 22.
    Fatwa • InAugust 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 missilesagainst 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 attackOct. 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.
  • 28.
  • 29.
    • 2819 peoplewere 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.
  • 30.
  • 31.
    What Impact did9-11 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/tvshows/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 MovingOn -Discuss US National Security Organizations -DHS(2001) -FBI(1908/1935) -CIA-1947 -NSA-1952 -Discuss Church Committee-1975
  • 34.
    What did theUS 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