Origins of the War on Terror From the Cold War to 9/11/01

Background: COLD WAR  USSR and US needed Oil for their economies to function  US supported Israel and stayed friendly with Saudi Arabia, and Iraq  USSR supported other Arab nations such as Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iran

A Brief history of Afghanistan  Soviets invaded Afghan. in 1979 (communist expansion) and established puppet government  The population resisted. Mujahideen opposition forces  US and Pakistan sent CIA to train these rebels in terror tactics, and guerrilla warfare.  Soviets pulled out in  Guess you one of these Mujahideen fighters was?

Osama Bin Laden  Originally from a rich Saudi Arabian family.  Joined the call from Afghanistan to join a religious war against the Soviets  He received training from our CIA operatives.

Afghanistan after the Soviets left  Mujahidin factions started fighting one another for control  US pulled out (no interest since the Soviets were defeated) This caused bitter resentment by many, including Bin Laden  An Islamic extremist group known as the Taliban, eventually took control by 1996  This government supported any extremist group dedicated to preserving Islam and destroying Western influence in the Middle East.

Al Qaeda  Arabic translation “ The Base ”  Started by Osama during the Soviet Afghan war  Al-Qaeda's objectives include the elimination of foreign influence in Muslim countries, eradication of those deemed to be "infidels", elimination of Israel, and the creation of a new pure Islamic state.

Osama and the Taliban He now had a country to base his operations Al Qaeda sets up training facilities for anyone who was willing to fight for their cause The US knew about this but chose to do little as it was not seen as an immediate threat ( )

The Iran-Iraq War

Background: Iran-Iraq War  the Iranians had held American hostages from our embassy.  Sept 1980 Iraq invades Iran starting an eight year long war.  US and other western nations supported Iraq and Saddam against Iran (which was ruled by a fundamentalist Islamic gov ’ t AND had close ties with the USSR)  US sold Saddam chemical weapons to use against the Iranians. (he later used them in an attempted genocide of Kurds in the north).

The Gulf War

Iraq invades Kuwait  Saddam faced a huge $14 billion debt after his failed war with Iran  Kuwait was seen as a “ quick fix ” and he invaded it in  The US had close connections with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia (Oil).  Saudi Arabia allowed us to station troops in their country to eventually free Kuwait

Back to Osama  Osama offered the Saudi gov ’ t Islamic fighters to fight against Saddam, who was seen as a western conspirator  That is until…..  The Saudi government allowed “ infidels ” (US troops) onto holy ground  (Saudi Arabia is where Mecca and Medina are)  This infuriated the Al Qaeda leadership

Back to the Gulf war  US and allied forces take back Kuwait from Iraq in early 1991 with only 6 weeks of fighting.  Saddam was allowed to stay in power.  The UN decided that the goal was to free Kuwait, NOT oust Saddam

Events leading up to 9/11: Al Qaeda attacks against the US

Aden, Yemen: 1992, three hotels are bombed that housed US troops

Somalia 1993: US helicopter is shot down ( remember “ Black Hawk Down? ” )

World Trade Center bombing 1993-attempt failed

Embassy bombings  Al-Qaeda is believed to have conducted the bombings in August 1998 of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, killing more than 200 people and injuring more than 5,000 others. bombings NairobiKenyaDar es SalaamTanzania

Oct 2000 The USS Cole is bombed, Aden Yemen

US Finally Responds  US sends in Missiles to hit certain terrorist training sites in Afghanistan. (ineffective)  Nearly causes an international incident (missiles over other countries)

Al Qaeda Succeeds in the US: September 11, Commercial planes are hijacked by Al Qaeda sleeper cells 2 hit the World Trade Center in New York -American Airlines Flight 11 -hit North Tower -United Airlines Flight hit South Tower 2 more planes are hijacked shortly there after -American Airlines Flight 77 hits the Pentagon -Untied Airlines “ Hero ” Flight 93-passengers rebel and plane crashes in PA. 19 hijackers, 2,973 Americans Killed

Osama and 9/11  There is America, hit by God in one of its softest spots. Its greatest buildings were destroyed, thank God for  that. There is America, full of fear from its north to its south, from its west to its east. Thank God for that.  What America is tasting now is something insignificant compared to what we have tasted for scores of years.  Our nation (the Islamic world) has been tasting this humiliation and this degradation for more than 80 years.  Its sons are killed, its blood is shed, its sanctuaries are attacked, and no one hears and no one heeds.  To America, I say only a few words to it and its people. I swear by God, who has elevated the skies without  pillars, neither America nor the people who live in it will dream of security before we live it in Palestine, and  not before all the infidel armies leave the land of Muhammad, peace be upon him.