Al-Qaeda's Ideology and Major Attacks on the US

Sayyid Qutb

Islamic theologian who lived in the US in the 1940s. His writings condemned American 'hedonism,' shaping radical Islam's view of the US. Later advocated terror to counter Western modernism.

Islamic primitivism

Qutb's term for fundamentalism, advocating a return to strict Islamic principles in opposition to modern Western values like pluralism and consumerism.

Bin Laden-Taliban alliance

The Taliban, sharing Al-Qaeda's conservative ideology, provided Bin Laden a base in Afghanistan (1996-2001) to launch attacks on the West.

Taliban's role in Al-Qaeda

Ruled Afghanistan, allowing Bin Laden to operate Al-Qaeda from their territory during its peak operational period (1996-2001).

Afghan War's impact

The Soviet-Afghan War (ending 1991) bankrupted the USSR. After the Gulf War, US troops in Saudi Arabia made the US Bin Laden's primary target.

Gulf War consequences

US invasion of the Middle East and troop stationing in Saudi Arabia shifted Bin Laden's focus to the US as the main enemy.

Al-Zawahiri and Al-Jihad

Mentored by Qutb, Al-Zawahiri founded Al-Jihad in Egypt (1980), pioneering modern Islamic terror with suicide bombings and plane hijackings. Assassinated Anwar Sadat in 1981.

1981 Sadat Assassination

Al-Jihad, led by Al-Zawahiri, killed Egypt's secular leader Anwar Sadat, marking the start of modern Islamic terror tactics.

Al-Qaeda vs. Al-Jihad in the 1990s

Al-Jihad focused on regional terror; Al-Qaeda, funded by Bin Laden, became a global, anti-American terror group with a pan-Muslim ideology.

Bin Laden's strategy against the US

Lure the US into invading Afghanistan, the 'graveyard of empires,' to repeat the Soviet defeat and destabilize the US internally, akin to Vietnam.

Al-Qaeda founding

Founded in 1988 in Afghanistan by Osama bin Laden.

1992 Aden hotel bombing

Al-Qaeda's first attack; bomb detonated too late, causing no deaths.

1993 World Trade Center bombing

Al-Qaeda attack killed 6 and injured over 1,000 in New York City.

1995 Riyadh bombing

Al-Qaeda attack killed 5 Americans and 2 Indians, wounded 60.

1996 Khobar Towers bombing

Al-Qaeda attack killed 19 Americans and injured over 400 in Saudi Arabia.

1998 African Embassy bombings

Al-Qaeda bombed US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, killing 224 and injuring over 5,000.

2000 USS Cole bombing

Al-Qaeda attacked a US Navy warship, killing 17 American sailors.

9/11 planning

In 1999, after the 1998 embassy bombings, Bin Laden planned 'the planes operation,' focusing attacks on the US East Coast (initially planned nationwide).

9/11 targets

US Capitol (political heart), Pentagon (military heart), World Trade Center (capitalist heart) to give the US a 'heart attack.'

9/11 attackers' entry

Al-Qaeda operatives, mostly Saudis, entered the US in January 2000 with visas. CIA knew of some terror links but didn't share with FBI.

9/11 intelligence failure

CIA and FBI had enough data to stop 9/11 but failed due to lack of cooperation. CIA feared FBI prosecutions would expose intelligence secrets.

9/11 death toll

Over 3,000 killed: 200 on planes, 2,700 in towers, 400 nearby from collapse, unknown number poisoned by toxic ash/dust.