IF week 4 notes

AQ Formation

Originally meant to support Afghanistan in war against soviets, became overall Jihad

Forerunner Maktab al-Khidamat founded in 1984.Founded 1998 in a series of meetings held in Peshawar w/  BL, Abdullah Azzam, Zawahiri and other Soviet-Afghan war vets

AQ major attacks

1998: Nairobi Kenya and Dar es Salaam embassy bombings; USS cole Oct 12, 2000; 2001 WTC & Pentagon attack; 2003 Istanbul bombings

Aq history

Forerunner Maktab al-Khidamat founded in 1984.Founded 1998 in a series of meetings held in Peshawar w/  BL, Abdullah Azzam, Zawahiri and other Soviet-Afghan war vets; soviets withdrew from Afghanistan 1989, went to sudan in 90s, back to Afghanistan 1996

Key people

Bin Laden; Zawahiri, Khalid sheik mohammed, Abdullah Azzam, Saif al-Adel

Ideology

See connection to Muslim brotherhood

Salafi-jihadism - strict interpretation of salafism advocating a return to earliest practices of Islam

Global jihad - primary goal is to establish a global islamic caliphate governed by Sharia (islamic law)

Anti-western sentiment- AQ view US and allies ad enemies of Islam due to their military presence in Muslim lands, support for Israel, and perceived corruption of Islamic societies

Takfir doctrine- anyone not following their strict interpretation of Islam are apostates, justifying attacks against them

…

Al-Qaeda members believe that a Judeo-Christian alliance (led by the United States) is waging a war against Islam and conspiring to destroy Islam.^[115][116] Al-Qaeda also opposes man-made laws, and seek to implement sharīʿah (Islamic law) in Muslim countries

(direct affiliates)

• Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

• Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS)

• Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

• Al-Shabaab

• Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)

Difference in opinion as Soviet Afghan war ended

As the war ended, a difference in opinion emerged between Azzam and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) led by Ayman al-Zawahiri over the future direction of MAK. Azzam wanted to use the wealth it had generated, and the network it created to help install an Islamic government that aligned with its vision in post-war Afghanistan^[3] and opposed "fitna" among Muslims, including attacks against governments of Muslim countries. Al-Zawahiri wanted to use MAK's assets to fund a global jihad, including the overthrow of governments in Muslim countries deemed un-Islamic.^[4][5] Bin Laden, MAK's most important fundraiser, was strongly influenced by Zawahiri, although he remained close to Azzam.^[6