The Formation of Al Qaeda Perspective

Do Now Today we will read bin Laden’s 1998 Fatwah. Think of this document as Bin Laden’s declaration of war on us. What do you think Bin Laden will argue for issuing this declaration or fatwah? Generate a list.

What did you write? 3 volunteers

Timeline Task Look at the timeline about Bin Laden’s life. Pretend you are working for the CIA. Identify (by underlining) any two sections that would be of importance to you or raise a flag.

Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1957 (7 th of 50 kids) His father obtained government contracts to build extensions on the Mecca, Medina and Al-Aqsa mosques. He became a highly influential figure. At 14, Osama received the beginnings of an education in some of the principles of violent jihad. The teacher who educated the children, influenced in part by a sect of Islam called The Brotherhood, began instructing his pupils in the importance of instituting a pure, Islamic law around the Arab world He relocated to Peshawar, Afghanistan, and using aid from the United States under the CIA program Operation Cyclone, he began training a mujahideen Iraq invades Kuwait in August of 1990 prompting the US to lead a coalition against Iraq. Out of fear of a Saudi Arabia being invaded by Iraq, Saudia Arabia allowed a military presence on Saudi Arabian soil where Medina and Mecca are located. Bin Laden openly criticizes the Saudi Royal Family leading to an exile of Bin Laden from Saudi Arabia in 1992 where he travels to Sudan By 1993, Bin Laden organizes Al Qaeda (the Base) from former Soviet Afghan warriors Al Qaeda begins acts of terrorism directed toward the US to try and start a holy war against America with hopes of unifying all Muslims in one Islamic state.

1992 US invades Iraq with the UN

Medina is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and the capital of Al Madinah Province. The burial place of the Islamic prophet Muhammad The prophet Muhammad designated Mecca as the holy city of Islam and the direction in which all Muslims should offer their prayers. Muslims should defend these holy places!

1998 U.S. embassies in Nairobi Kenya attack DAR ES SALAAM ATTACK SAME TIME TWO PLACES 224 Combined Dead

How should the US respond? Why the attack? US assisted in the prosecution and torture of four members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Such US intervention prompted the 1998 Bin Laden Fatwah

U.S. RESPONSE -- On August 20 the U.S. fired some 75 Tomahawk cruise missiles at facilities in Afghanistan and Sudan in response to terrorist activities. -- U.S. President Clinton said the strikes were a response to an "imminent threat" to the U.S. posed by a terrorist network backed by Osama bin Laden. -- Clinton said that the U.S. had "convincing information" that the network organized and financed by bin Laden had carried out the bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. -- He also blamed bin Laden's followers for other previous attacks and plots. American cruise missiles pounded sites inAfghanistan and Sudan Thursday in retaliation for the August 7 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.Afghanistan and SudanKenya and Tanzania U.S. officials say the six sites attacked in Afghanistan were part of a network of terrorist compounds near the Pakistani border that housed supporters of Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden.

Bin Laden’s Fatwah 1998

Fatwa Questions According to the author, what is the US guilty of? List each point. How do the author’s accusations support the view of a US foreign policy that is viewed as hypocritical? According to the author, what is the duty of every Muslim? Does the fatwa represent an ideological personal agenda or does the fatwa represent all Muslims? Connect Bin Laden’s fatwa to the Quran, Milestones, the work of Azzam and US actions in the Muslim and Arab world. Discuss the sections in bold font.

OBL Speeches and Sources OBL Speech Nov Clinton Response Statement on Military Strikes in Sudan and Afghanistan (1998) Brief Documentary Clinton Interview

Closure: Last two Boxes