1. Al-Qaeda

2. Islamic fundamentalism is a construction based on the proclaimed primacy of religious identity Political Islamism is a political ideology, based on Islamic fundamentalism, which aims to seize power in the nation-state The movement symbolically represented by Al- Qaeda is a different kind of movement  It is based on Islamic fundamentalism but is explicitly global.

3. February 23rd 1998 Osama bin Laden establishes the “World Islamic Front for the Jihad Against Jews and the Crusaders”  a fundamentalist, terrorist, global network Origins can be traced to the CIA-financed training camps for anti-Soviet mujahedeen in Pakistan  today extends to at least 65 countries and numerous autonomous groups

4. The values and goals: The building of the umma Muslim societies should be ruled by shari'a law (The Taliban regime came closest to the Islamic ideals espoused by bin Laden) Bin Laden and al-Qaeda are not preoccupied by the kind of society they want to build ("pragmatic militants")

5. The values and goals: The defense of Islam starts with the defense of the holy sites in Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem Martyrdom No negotiation, no surrender, no way out

6. Islamic global terror networks rely on two main tactics of action: 1. Terror-->the expectation is that over time the institutions of democratic states crumble under the collective fear (al- Qaeda aims at the heart of Westerners) 2. Media politics-->transforming consciousness is the ultimate goal (al- Qaeda aims at the mind oppressed Muslims)

7. The dream They hope for: An unreasonable response from the West-->inflame the rotten world-->new society from the ashes

8. Who are the adversaries? The political regimes of Muslim countries (pawns of the Crusaders) Zionists The U.S. (and other Western powers)

9. Six stages of development 1. Resistance to Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1979) 2. Militants return home and engage in political-military battles against their own national governments 3. First direct attacks by al-Qaeda (1993 in NYC) 4. Concentrated on supporting movements in countries where a power base could be achieved (Sudan/ Afghanistan) 5. al-Qaeda moves toward open confrontation with the U.S. (embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, USS Cole bombing in Aden, 9/11) 6. U.S. destroys the Taliban regime, obliterates the basis of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, bin-Laden killed, many associated networks emerge around the world (inc in the U.S.)

10. Who are the members of al- Qaeda? They come from a number of ethnic and national groups (very few Palestinians) The nucleus was formed in camps Young (20s and 30s), male The core group of al-Qaeda come from wealthy families

11. Who are the members of al- Qaeda? Many are highly educated professionals (the core group of 9/11 attackers were engineering students) The military commanders mostly trained in national military academies

12. The structure Networking is critical-->core leadership but no control center Cells are largely autonomous

13. al-Qaeda provides training and indoctrination Fighting principle: string as hard as you can, anytime and anywhere you can, all Westerners are potential targets, as are symbolic points of connection between Muslim societies and non- believers (airports, multi-national corporate facilities, tourism centers) Nation-specific organizations fight against the states that oppress true-Muslims in their own countries

14. Establishing new networks bin Laden helped establish most active network in the world today: Jamaah Islamiyah in South East Asia

15. Chechnya A secular, ethnic-nationalist struggle against Russia becomes an Islamic struggle Rebels receive training and money from al- Qaeda For bin Laden, the Chechen struggle was simply a continuation of the fight against Russians in Afghanistan The dual character of local struggles and global networking is the essence of al-Qaeda's strategy