History of the Creation of a Terrorist Organization Al Qaeda - Term Paper Example

Al Qaeda (AQ) Introduction Increasingly, international terrorism is acknowledged as a threat to United States (U.S.) foreign, as well as homeland, security. The timing and areas targeted by terrorists often interfere with the U.S. interests in aspects such as commerce, nuclear non-proliferation, and Middle East peace process. Provide a brief description of the group, and summarize its origins (1pg). Al-Qaeda, Arabic for “the base,” was formed by Osama Bin Laden in 1988, immediately preceding the end of the war in Afghanistan. It was molded out of an organization referred to as Maktab al-Khidamat (Services Office), whose main aim was to absorb, place, and manage the thousands of Muslim volunteers who came to Afghanistan to fight alongside local mujahidin against Soviet invasion. During and after the war, Afghanistan attracted young Muslims across the globe, and it was there that al-Qaeda’s worldview was fashioned. The objective of the newly formed organization was to draw together people who had amassed substantial professional knowledge during the Afghanistan war and shape them into an outstanding power base with the capability of promoting Bin Laden’s ideology of militant Islam to the global arena. Osama Bin Laden came forth as the unrivalled supreme leader of al-Qaeda following Abdullah Azam, the chief ideologue of the Afghanistan War Volunteers and spiritual mentor to Osama, was killed in an explosion in 1989. Immediately afterwards, Bin Laden was praised as the leader of the organization, and all those who embraced al-Qaeda pledged their allegiance to him. Among the closest associates and advisors of Bin Laden was Muhammad Atef, al-Qaeda’s military commander, who was later on killed in 2001 by American shelling. Osama always worked in close and consistent consultation with dominant figures in the organization, more so on matters pertaining to al-Qaeda policy and decision making. Even though Al-Qaeda joined the ranks of terror organizations conducting suicide attacks almost fifteen years after this form of operation became part and parcel of terrorism, it became the predominant terrorist group in late 20th century and early 21st century in so far as suicide terrorism is concerned. Also, Al-Qaeda has played a critical role in the internalization of suicide terrorism, transforming it from a local phenomenon to a global phenomenon. As regards to ideological inclinations, al-Qaeda ushered in the ideal of self-sacrifice, istishhad, which symbolically represented a jewel in the crown of global jihad. Preceding the September 11 attacks in the American soil, al-Qaeda had launched only three recognizable attacks. The first attacks occurred in August 1998 almost at the American embassies based in Kenya and Tanzania. Secondly, al-Qaeda claimed responsibility of the attack on the USS Cole in October 2000. The third attack occurred on September 9, 2001, two days prior to the attack in the U.S. It is widely believed that this last attack was launched against Ahmad Shah Massoud, leader of the Northern Front, who spiritedly opposed the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Following the attacks in the U.S., al-Qaeda carried out three other attacks, two of which employed suicide bombers acting under the directions of a senior members of the group’s general command, and a further attack in Kenya in November 2002. The attack in Kenya was under carried out by a terrorist network acting under the instructions of an al-Qaeda filed operative based in the region. Other direct attacks from the group include a flopped missile attack on Arkia Airline flight and a suicide car bomb that exploded at a hotel mostly visited by Israeli tourists. The remaining suicide attacks bore no direct linkage to al-Qaeda. Most of the latter attacks were done by either al-Qaeda affiliates or by terror groups inspired by the concept of istishhad. Explain the group’s major motivation(s) (beliefs or causes), and / or its justification for engaging in terrorism (2 pgs.). Al-Qaeda beliefs and motivations trace their roots to the Afghanistan war. The multi-national engagement during the decade of war called for the creation of one ideological framework upon which the unity of the fighters would be pegged. As a result, the idea of jihad in the path of Allah against the enemy become the unifying manifesto. Christian empire was casted as an enemy trying to impose its control over Muslim territories and their occupants. The master ideologue, Abdallah Azam, considered the local areas and its occupants as a model of the Islamic nation. As the Afghanistan War came to an end, Bin Laden, who had risen in ranks to become a reputable contributor, an organizer, and a fighter opted to retain this force for the future. Its notable composition was the large number of fighters drawn from different nations sharing common experiences, emotions, and ideology. Most of these fighters were more than willing to be sent, or rather planted all over the world and be used in the recruitment of new cadres to advance the idea of global jihad. In the meantime, thanks to his multi-national experience in Afghanistan, Osama Bin Laden instituted a decentralized organization that not only respected but also embraced the differences between organizations and people. This policy gave a leeway for the fighters and commander to earn their liberty of action, provided they adhere to the organization’s key principle of self-sacrifice. The principle of istishhad guided the leadership of al-Qaeda’s decentralized structure and served as a unifying factor even as the group intensified its global jihadist struggles. Istishhad as a Unifying Organizational Value The ideology of istishhad as a principle of warfare is a component of the general philosophy that regards active jihad against perceived enemies of Islam as a key conceptual pillar and group’s ideal. Basing on the al-Qaeda’s paradigm, a person’s readiness to sacrifice their life for Allah and “in the path of Allah” (fi sabil allah) is a demonstration of the Muslim fighter’s advantage over the opponent. In al-Qaeda, the sacrifice of life is a sovereign value, the symbolic role of which is equal to, if not greater than, it’s tactical dimension. This terrorist’s organization took up suicide bombing as the supreme incarnation of global jihad thus giving raise to Islamic martyrdom (al-shehada). Al-Qaeda leaders inculcated this ideology of jihad among its members, building its ethos on a commitment to self-sacrifice and the achievement of this idea via suicide attacks. Essentially, the willingness to sacrifice oneself trough suicide attacks was the most critical characteristics that the leaders endeavored to imbue in veteran members as well as the new recruits. Any person willing to sacrifice their lives in the name of Allah is regarded as a jihad warrior. The ideology of jihad has been coined as some sort of enjoyment. For instance, a statement professed by al-Qaeda adherents to the jihadists’ states: “We are asking you to undertake the pleasure of looking to your face and we long to meet you, not in the time of distress…… take us to you.” The idealization of istishhad, which appears in a majority of the group’s official statements, is a contained in its motto: “we love death more than our opponent’s love life.” This motto instills or rather depicts the lack of fear among al-Qaeda fighters. These fighters are made to believe that a better eternal life of purity is awaiting them in heaven. Also, this statement is meant to show the depth of Islamic fight that sharply contrasts with the weak spit and hedonism of the Islam’s enemies. Jihad, basing on al-Qaeda, is what will guarantee Islam’s specific victory over the infidels, victory over material, soul over body, and good over evil. Describe the group’s major sources of both financial and non-financial support (1 pg.). Evaluate the importance of the group’s use of media to aid in its terrorist activities. Indicate, at a minimum, the group’s purpose for using the media, the image being portrayed, and the preferred methods of communication (1 pg.). Al-Qaeda capitalizes on the modern communication media for both the dissemination of the organization’s critical ideologies, key among them being self-sacrifice in the path of Allah, as well as for strategic plans in recruiting supporters of global jihad. Undoubtedly, the Arab and Western mass media have been principal tools of al-Qaeda leaders in building the organization’s areas that may not be directly under their control. An additional aim has been increasing the importance of the Arab media, which has traditionally been regarded as inferior to the Western media. Having recognized the role played by the media, al-Qaeda created a communication committee that for a long period was headed by Khaled Sheikh Muhammad before he assumed his pivotal role in the command structure of the group. Also, Osama Bin Laden established al-Sahab, a company which generated the professional tapes and promotional films clips that were disseminated all over the globe through Qatari television station Al-Jazeera. Al-Qaeda had a rather calculated media policy that permitted some selected journalists deemed as sympathetic to interview its top officials. For instance, journalist Yosri Fouda was given the first exclusive interview with Khaled Sheikh Muhammad prior to the September 11 attacks. Also, Ahmed Zeidan, the Al-Jazeera correspondent in Pakistan was permitted to interview Bin Laden quite a number of times before American invasion of Afghanistan. The media played an indispensable role in al-Qaeda’s claim of responsibility, for example, in the September 11 attacks. Before these attacks, Bin Laden had deliberately refrained from claiming responsibility of attacks rolled out by his groups. It is believed that this was strategic move to remain unexposed, prevent reprisal attacks, as well as tone down the Taliban leader who was weary of trouble al-Qaeda was creating for his regime. It was not until America’s resolve to attack Afghanistan that the al-Qaeda claimed responsibility of the September 11 attacks. In a three-part series of hour-long segments programs that were broadcasted in Al-Jazeera by Yosri Fouda, Osama Bin Laden indirectly owns up to being responsible for the attacks in the United States soil. Determine whether or not the group has a legitimate complaint or demand. Defend your response (1 pg.). Determine whether or not the group and its activities are of importance to the U.S., and explain the key reasons that they are or are not significant (1 pg.). Analyze the response of the U.S. to the group or its activities, regardless of whether or not either the group or its activities directly threaten or target the U.S. Determine whether or not that response has been effective. Support your answer with examples of such effectiveness—or the lack thereof (1 pg.). Suggest the major changes you would make geared toward increasing the efficiency of the U.S.’s response to the group. Justify your response (1 pg.). Read More