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MylesFlott HistorySeminar 12/12/2013

AlQaedaandItsWarwithAmerica Americahasnowbeeninthelongestconflictwithanothernationinitshistory.GeorgeW.Bush, whofirstcoinedthetermWaronTerror,enteredintoawarfollowingtheeventsof9/11whichstill continuestoday.OurpresencesinMuslimnationsandourforeignpoliciesmayneverbeoutofthe MiddleEast.AlQaedawhichtranslatesintothebasehasmanagedtostamptheirnameinAmericas historybooksbycommittingthemostdevastatingattackonAmericansoil.ThusAmericahasbeenat warwithalQaeda,andtheironcepowerfulleaderOsamaBinLaden.Thisessayattemptstotakea deeperlookintohowalQaedaandAmericahavecometobeinthelongestwarinAmericanhistory. ByexaminingtherootsofalQaedaandhowtheyhavecometohateAmerica,andourwayoflife, whilediscussingbinladensrisetopower,thenarrativeofthisstorybecomesverycomplex. InordertounderstandalQaeda,theirroots,motives,tacticsandconnectiontoAmerica,the narrativemustfirstfocusontheriseofOsamaBinLaden.BinLadenwhowasborninSaudiArabia, with52otherbrothersandsisters,camefromaverywealthyfamily.Beingraisedwithdeepfamily pockets,binladenlivedafrivolouslifestyle.Themajorityofhisfather'swealthcamefromowninghis owncementbusinesswhichwasresponsibleforconstructingmanyoftheroadsthatleadtoMecca,the holiestgroundintheIslamicfaith.IntheKorantherearefivepillarsthatallMuslimsliveby,onebeinga pilgrimagetoMecca.Binladen'sfatheralsowasapartoftheconstructionprojectsaroundtheAlAqsa MosquewhichisbitterlylocatedinJerusalem.Binladengrewupwelleducated,attendingcollegeto studyeconomics.Accordingtopeoplethatgrewupwithbinladenand,laterattendingcollegewithhim,

wouldcommentthathewasverydedicatedtohisfaith.HealsowaslivinginatimewhentheSahwa, alsoknownastheawakeningwastakingasweepingcampaignaroundtheMuslimworldwhich essentiallycalledfortrueIslamwasmorethanjustobservingthetraditionaltenetsofthereligionit shouldpenetrateallfacetsofthebelieverslife.1Atthistimetherewasnothingtooextreme ideologicallyaboutbinladen,andnoonecouldeverpredictthathewouldberesponsibleforfuture Americanattacks. ThisallchangedforbinladenwhenthesovietsinvadedAfghanistanin1979/1980.SinceWorld WarIItherehasnotbeenanonMuslimpowerthatnotonlyinvaded,butalsooccupiedaMuslim nation2.BinladenwasquicktohelpdefendhisfellowbrothersinAfghanistananditbecameavery transformingmomentforbinladen.WhileinAfghanistan,binladenmetanimportantmentor,Abdullah Azzam.Azzambecomesimilartoafatherfiguretobinladenwhowasapurereligiousscholar.Azzam publishedafatwathatseemedtosetthestagefortherestoftheMuslimworldandintroducedan ideologyforthejihadthatwasjusttakingshapeinAfghanistanstatingthateveryindividualMuslimhad areligiousobligationtofightinsomewayintheAfghanwar3.In1984binladentraveledto AfghanistanfollowingthroughwithhisobligationaccordingtoAzzamsfatwa.Thisiswherebinladen, asweunderstandhimtoday,startstotakeshap.Hebecomesmuchmoreassertiveandstartsto separatefromhismentor,AbdullahAzzam.BinladenbelievedthattheAfghanfightersshouldestablish aseparatemilitaryforcewhereAzzamisagainstthat,andbelievedthatallMuslimsshouldbeunited underoneforce,onefatwa.BinladendidestablishhisownbaseofAfghanjihadfightersandfought heroicallyagainsttheRussians.HisperformancesinAfghanistanmadehimaherowhichgavehimmore

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legitimacyinassertinghimselfastheleadertoajihadforcewhichwilleventuallybecomeknownas alQaeda.Atthispointtherewasarguablyonlyoneotherpersonthatcouldhavereeledbinladenback infromhisquesttocreatethemostdevastatingterroristnetworktheworldhadeverseen,hisbrother, Salembinladen.Salemdiedinaplanecrashleavingbinladenwithhismilitaryforcethathestartedin Afghanistan. BinladenmadeitveryclearthathewantedtohavenowesterninfluenceintheMuslimworld, butwhywasAmericaspecificallytargetedandinevitablythevictimofthecatastrophethatoccurredon September11,2001?BinladenhadmanyfamilymembersinAmericaandalsoAmericaishometo6.2 millionMuslimstoday.ItssafetosaythesefactsdidntaffecthisburninghateforAmerica.Onewas thesupportAmericagavetoIsrael.BinladenbelievedthatbyAmericasupportingandgivingmoneyto IsraelthisallowedtheJewstokillMuslims.OntopofthefactthatthethirdholiestplaceoftheIslamic faith,asImentionedearlier,theAlAqsaMosque,islocatedinIsrael.Anotherreasonhastodowith SaudiArabia.In1990SaddamHusseininvadedKuwaitwhichcreatedamuchmoreunstableMiddle East.BinladenofferedtohelpaidSaudiArabiawithhisarmyhecreatedinAfghanistanandthushave anantiSovietjihad.HisofferwasrejectedbytheSaudiKingdomandinsteadSaudiArabiabought protectionfromtheUnitedStateswhichbinladenbelievedthiswasallowingtheinfidelsinhishome country.HewasoutragedthatwomenwereinhiscountryprotectingSaudiArabia.Binladenthenwent toPakistan.TwoyearsafterSaddamwentintoKuwaitinDecember,1992,affiliatesofalQaeda bombedtwohotelsinYemen,whichwerehousingU.S.soldiers.Thisseemedtobethefirstattack targetedatAmericabyalQaeda. By1993,itwasclearthatalQaedahaditscrosshairsonAmericaandhadfullintentionof attackingAmericantargets.Forexamplein1998alQaedawasresponsibleforbombingtwoU.S.

Embassies,oneinKenyaandtheotherbeinginTanzania.Americadidverylittletorespondtothis eventwhichlatermadebinladenbelievethatAmericacouldonlywithstandsomanylargehits,suchas 9/11.ButwhatAmericadiddowasputpressureontheSudanesegovernmenttogetridofbinladen. SudandideventuallyexilebinladenandheleftforAfghanistan.BinladenputalltheblameonAmerica forhisexilewhichcausedhimtohateAmericaevenmore.Asaresponsetohisdiscontentofbeingin exile,binladenmadehisfirstpublicstatementdeclaringthathewasatwarwiththeUnitedStateson August23,1996. AymanalZawahiri,wasasoontobememberofalQaedawithhugeinfluence.FromEgypt, ZawahiribelievedthattheEgyptiangovernmentwasnottruetotheIslamicfaithandthereforedeserved death.4ThiswasconfirmedintheeyesofZawahiribyadecisionmadebytheEgyptianpresident, AnwarSadat,whichwouldultimatelyleadtoSadatsdeath.Sadathadchosentosignaceasefirewith Israelwhichdidn'tsetwellwithmuchoftheMuslimworld,especiallyZawahiri.Sadatwasassassinated andtheindividualresponsiblewasZawahiri,whowasarrested.Afterbeingarrestedhewassenttothe notorioustorturecampsthatEgyptwasknownforandwouldalsobeeventuallyusedbyAmericato housesomeofourhighlevelprisoners.Zawahiriwasbrutallytorturedtherewhichintheendradicalized himevenmore. BinladenfirstmetZawahiriin1986,butZawahirisEgyptianjihadgroupwouldn'tcometobe anaffiliateofalQaedatill1997,thisbeingthetimewhenZawahirifirstcametoAfghanistan.Binladen wasveryinfluentialinnotonlyaddingZawahirigrouptoalQaedabutalsoidentifyingAmericaasthe centralenemy.BinladencalledAmericanasbeingthefarenemy.Zawahiri,nowbeingunderguidance ofbinladenandthealQaedabanner,wouldeventuallybemadeintobrainsoftheoperation,5

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regardingtoalQaedaanditswaronAmerica. ThereisnodoubtthatbinladenwasalQaeda.Hewasthefounderandtheleaderofhisjihad movement.TobeamemberofalQaeda,eachmemberhadtoswearareligiousoathpersonallyto him6.Whenpossiblefuturememberswouldmeetbinladentheywoulddescribeitasaveryintense moment.PeoplewouldlookathimasnotonlyafatherfigurebutalsotobeGodlike.AnalQaeda leaderinKandaharmentioned,IwassoimpressedwhenIsawhimthatIdidntdaretospeaktohim

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.Binladenalsohadanotheradvantageofbeingtallcomparedtomostpeoplethathewassurrounded

by.Histoweringappearanceincombinationwithhisassertiveleadershipofhisjihadgavehimaspecial presencethatplacedhiminhighregardstothemenbelowhim.Thekindofrespectthathewasgivento binladenallowedhimtojustifythecrimeshisjihadistsweretocommitbymanipulatingthewordsofthe Koranwhichwillbediscussedinfurtherdetaillater.Manyoftheiroperationsinvolvedkillingcivilians andalsosuicidemissionwhicharebothveryunIslamic.Yetbinladenconvincedthemotherwise despitetheriskofforeverspendinganeternityinhellandmissingoutonthose72virginsthatParadise promises. Afewweeksafter9/11occurred,binladenreleasedavideotapeexplainingthekindofpain andsufferingAmericaisexperiencingpost9/11wouldbenothingcomparedtothepainandsuffering thewesternworld,specificallytheUnitedStates,hadputontheMuslimworldthelastcentury.Bushin multiplespeechesaddressingAmericawouldmaketheargumentthatradicalgroupslikealQaeda, hatedAmericabecauseofourfreedoms,oursocialnormslikehomosexuality,andourconsumptionof alcohol,ouroverallwayoflife.Binladenrarely,ifever,madetheseclaimsinhisvideos.Inanexclusive

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videoonbinladenshotafter9/11byAlJazeera,hemakesitclearthatitsAmericasforeignpolicyin theMuslimworldthatmotivated9/11andconsequentlyotherattacksoccurredpreandpost9/11. AccordingtoBinladentheeventsonSeptember11tharebutareactiontothecontinuousinjusticeand oppressionbeingpracticedagainstoursonsinPalestineandIraqandSomaliaandSouthernSudanand inotherplaceslikeKashmirandAssam.ThismatterconcernsthewholeIslamicnation.8Theattacks hadnothingtodowithourfreedoms.TheywerefocusedonwarswithIraqandAfghanistan,our supportforIsrael,andoursupportforotherregimessuchasEgyptandSaudiArabia. BinladennotonlyheavilyblamedtheAmericangovernmentbutalsotheAmericanpeople.He claimedthatsincetheAmericanpeoplearetheoneswhopaythetaxes,electtheirpresidentwhogives aidtoIsraelwhothenkillsMuslims,gavebinladenastrongenoughargumenttojustifykillingAmerican civilians.HealsopointstothefactthatnotonlywastheProphetMohammedareligiousleaderbuthe alsowasamilitarycommander.AddingtobinladensargumentwasSheikhRahmanwhowasaspiritual guidewhohadhighregardsandrespectintheMuslimword.AccordingtoRahman,ruledthatitwas permissibleandevendesirable,tocarryoutattacksagainstAmericanplanesandcorporations9.Sound familiar?Binladenfurtherwasabletobroadentheconceptofmartyrdomwhichtypicallymeansdying inthebattlefielddefendingIslam,andconnectedittosuicidemissionsthatmoretimesthannottargeted civilians.ThiswasaveryscarytransformationwithinalQaedaandbinladenwasclearlysuccessfulin doingso.Binladentookthisideasofarthathewaswillingandencouragedhisownsonstotakepartin suicideoperations. September11,2001:ahistoricaldayintheworstsensepossible,beingthemostcatastrophic

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Osama/UsamaBinLadenon9/11YouTube,2:34.PostedbyBufordT.Justice. Burgen,L.Peter,ThelongestWar(NewYork,NY2011Page50

attackonAmericansoil.Hittingtwobeautifultowersthatoncestoodtallandaddedtotheoverallawe ofdowntownNewYork,TheWorldTradeCenter:toweroneandtwo,camecrumblingdown,taking withthem3,000innocentmothers,fathers,sonsanddaughters.Americatookahugeblowand PresidentBushandhisadministrationknewthisalltoowell.Immediateactionhadtobetakenanda decisiononhowtoreactto9/11wasleftontheshouldersofPresidentBushandhisadministration. MiddleEastbeingsuchanalreadyunstablepartoftheworld,Afghanistanseemedtobethemost worrisomeofall.AfghanistanbeingsurroundedbyPakistan,adangerousIran,Uzbekistan,and Tajikistan,addedcomplexitytoanalreadycomplexsituation.Rightafter9/11therewasnoevidence thatIraqwasinvolvedbuttheBushadministrationworkveryhardtomaketheconnectionbetween Saddam,Iraq,and9/11.UntiltheBushAdministrationwasabletodothat,thecabinetmadeavoteto gotowaragainstalQaedaandTaliban:AfghanistaniswhereAmericawasheaded. OnSeptember20,2001,justninedaysaftertheattackonAmericaoccurredPresidentBush usedthetermWaronTerrorforthefirsttimepublically.InthisaddresstoAmerica,BushstatedOur waronterrorbeginswithalQaedabutitdoesnotendthere10.AfewdaysbeforeBushannouncing theWaronTerrortotheAmericanpeopleCongresspassedanauthorizationforuseofmilitary forcesonSeptember14,2001.SoonAmericawouldenterAfghanistanandbeganabombing campaignagainsttheTalibanandalQaedathatwouldbedevastatingandunexpectedtobinladen.Bin ladencompletelymisjudgedthewrathAmericawouldbring.Hepointedtopasteventssuchaswhen AmericapulledoutofSomaliain1993,orlikethelackofresponsetothebombingsoftheEmbassiesin KenyaorTanzania.ClearlybinladenwasmistakenbythinkingthattheAmericansweregoingtolandin theruggedterrainofAfghanistanbyhelicopterwhichhepreparedhismenfor.Instead,American

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launchedadevastatingcampaignagainstalQaedaandtheTalibanbyanimpressiveuseofAmerican airpower.Thousandsofpoundsofbombsweredroppedthatwereabletoripthroughmountainsand destroycaves.TensofthousandsofNorthernAlliancefightersalsojoinedAmericascampingin overthrowingtheTalibanwhichatonepointcontrolledupto98%ofAfghanistan.Americaalsohad roughly300U.S.Deltaforces.ThesearethemosthighlytrainedoperatorsAmericacanoffer.Ontop oftheSpecialForceunitsonground,110CIAagentswerepresent.Withthecombinationofthe Americanbombingcampaign,theNorthernAlliancefighters,andtheSpecialForcesunitsbeing supportedby110CIAagents,Kabulfell. TakingonlyweekstogetridoftheTaliban,thoughtonwhowastotakeoverAfghanistanto helpcreateanewandmoredemocraticregimewasbeingdiscussed.HamidKarzaiwasamemberof theNorthernAlliancewhohadbeenattackingtheTalibanforyears.Aplanwasdesignedaround KarzaitohelpoverthrowtheTalibaninTarinKowtanditactuallywasverysuccessful.Accordingto theU.S.SpecialForceteam,weweregoingtobuildaPashtunguerrillaarmyeffectivelyfromscratch underKarzaiscommand,seizethetownofTarinKowtinordertogaincontrolofUruzgan,andthen wewouldbuildalargerPashtunarmyandKandaharasafinalcoupdegraceagainsttheTaliban.Itall reallyhingedonthebeliefthatthePashtunwerereadytoriseupagainsttheTalibanleadership.11This planworkedandonNovember16th,theTalibanwereexpelled.Ultimately,thiscamedowntoyes,the powersupportoftheU.SSpecialforcesandotherAmericanAgentsonthegroundbut,itwasKarzai thatwasabletounifysuchanethnicallydiversegroupoffighterstocometogetherandtakeonthe Taliban. OnNovember27th,therewasaconferenceheldinBerlin,GermanycalledtheBon

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Conference.AtthisconferencenumerousAfghansgatheredtoultimatelydiscussandchooseanew leaderforAfghanistan.Karzaiwasmentionedseveraltimespointingtohisbraveleadershipandthe respectpeoplehadforhim.KarzaigavealiveonlineaddresstothemembersoftheBonConference whilehewasamongstsomeofthepoorestAfghansinfreezingtemperatures.Thishelpedconfirmhis nomination.Incredibly,KarzaiwaselectedchairmanandtheTalibansurrendered.Overall,asuccessful campaignagainsttheTaliban. ThecampaignagainsttheTalibanwasclearlysuccessfulbut,thiswasn'tthecaseinregardsto binladenandalQaeda.Actuallytheoppositehappened,welostourbestchancetocapturebinladen. VerystrongintelligencecompiledbytheCIAagentsongroundputbinladentobeinToraBora.This wouldmakealotofsensesincebinladenlovedToraBoraandhealsobuiltaroadin1987thatranin Pakistanthroughthemountainousterrain.Binladeninmuchofthemid90smaintainedastrong alQaedabaseinToraBora,almostlikeaKingdom.12Asstatedearlier,binladenwasforcertainthat theAmericanswouldlandwithhelicopters.Theseassumptionsalmostleadtohiscapture.Thesame typeofairstrikesthatwascalledontheTalibanwasalsotargetedonpossiblealQaedacells.Inall, 1,110precisionguidedsmartbombsweredroppedonToraBora,manyofthemguidedinbyFurys team.13 AproblemwithToraBorawashowcanwiththelittleamountofAmericansoldiersonground possiblysealofftheAfghanistan/Pakistanborder?ItwasclearthatalQaedawasmakingaruntoslip intoPakistananditwasalsoclearthatPakistan,notonlyhadtheabilitytosealtheirborder,butalso didn'thavethewilltodosoaswell.PakistanwasinaconflictwithIndiaatthetimewhichalmost escalatedtotwonuclearpowers(PakistanandIndia)tostartanuclearwar.Asthisconflictwas

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eruptingPakistancouldnotaffordtoshifttroopstotheAfghanistanfront.Therewasalsotoofew Americansoldiersonthegroundtocutofftheborder.TheU.S.DeltaTeamrealizedthis,sentarequest togetmoretroopsonthegroundforsupport.Consideringthiswastheclosesttobinladenwehave everbeen,theteambelievedthiswasareasonablerequest.HankCrumpton,theCIAofficerwhowas overseeingtheAgencysAfghanoperationsaidhewasonehundredpercent.14positivebinladenwas lockedinthemountainsinToraBora.Butnotroopsweresent.GeneralFranks,whodeniedsending moretroops,explainedthatreasonsbehindthisdecisionwhichinvolvedacomplexityofissues.The comparativelightfootprintsofcoalitiontroopsintheater,andthefactthatthesetroopswerecommitted tooperationsongoingacrossAfghanistantheamountoftimeitwouldtaketodeployadditionaltroops wouldlikelycreateatacticalpausewhichwouldruntheriskoflosingthemomentumourforceswere enjoyingacrossAfghanistananduncertaintyastowhetherbinladenwasinfactinToraBora.15Flurry andisDeltaTeamwerefurious.Byfar,themostcoursechangingoperationtodateontheglobalwar onterrorwasafailure.Threemonthsearlierthemanresponsiblefor9/11,binladen,nowfoundhis pathinPakistanwhilewewerewithinafewsquaremilesofhim.BinladenwasnowinPakistanto rebuildanalmostdestroyedalQaeda. NotallofthemembersofalQaedawerehappywithbinladenandhisdevastatingblowto Americaon9/11,especiallyoneofbinladensson,Omarbinladen.The9/11attacksforeverchanged theirrelationship.Omarbelievethatnothingwastrulygainedbutactuallymorewaslost.They(United States)havedestroyedeverything,andfornothing.WhatdidwegetfromSeptember11th?16 Inreality whatbinladenwastryingtoaccomplish,gettingridofAmericaninfluenceintheMuslim,didnothappen

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atall.TheoppositehappenedAmericahadanevenstrongerinfluenceontheMuslimworldin post9/11.ManyofthehighrankingofficersinalQaedawereinagreementwithOmartheybelieved thatbywakingasleepinggiant,similartowhattheJapanesedidbyattackingPearlHarbor,America wouldcrushalQaeda.ThisalmostdidhappeninToraBora,givingthemgoodreasontobeconcerned. Butwhatdidbinladenandthe9/11attacksaccomplish?Ahugelyimportantpointwasthe9/11 attacksshowedthateventhatworldsmostpowerfulcountryisvulnerable.Withthat,therewashuge economicdamageaswell.ForexamplethewarcostingAmerica$500billiondollarsandcounting,wall streetlost16%instockvalue,hundredsofthousandsofemployeesinaviationlosttheirjobs,andhotels alongwithrestaurantssufferedgreatly.ThisimpactonAmerica'seconomy,beingtheworldslargest, hadaglobaleconomiceffectasaresult. AsbinladenbegantorebuildalQaedaitsimpressivetonotehowwellorganizedand bureaucratichisjihadgroupbecame.InordertobeamemberofalQaedatherewasaverydetailed applicationprocessthatwouldaskquestionsabouttheirlevelsofeducation,religiousbackground,how theyhadarrivedtoAfghanistan,militaryskill,involvementinotherjihads,maritalstatus,languageskills, andpoliticalaffiliation.17Inmostcaseseachmemberhadtoswearallegiancetobinladenhimselfathis feet,thiswasknownastheiremir. AlQaeda,alongwithadetailedapplicationprocess,hadannualbudgets,salarylevels,disability benefits,vacationtime,militarycommittees,publicrelationscommittees,andalsofarmingcommitteesto makesureallmembersofalQaedawerewellfed.DespitethatfactthatalQaedawassucha wellorganizedjihadwithstrongleadership,cleargoalsbackedbyimportantspiritualleaders,andalso thejustificationoftheKoranforkillingAmericanciviliansastheythought,binladenhopeforaglobal

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jihad.Thisglobaljihaddidntcomeasexpected.Ofthe1.2billionMuslimsintheworld,only7% actuallyapprovedofthe9/11attacksbybinladenandalQaeda.Eventhoughsomebelievedinbin ladensstanceonhisinterpretationofmartyrdom,manysawthewritingbetweenthelinesanddidntbuy intobinladen'sreasoning.BottomlineitisveryunIslamictomurderthousandsofcivilians.Thereis nojustificationforsuchanattackintheKoranorotherkeyIslamictexts.18Anotherreasonwhyitwas difficultforbinladentocreateaglobaljihadismanyintheMiddleEastsawbinladenasathreattothe Muslimworldinitself.AlQaedaworkedveryclosetogether,collaborating,meetingoften,andjoining forcesinjihaddrivenoperations.Thefearwasthatifbinladenweretogainaglobaljihadthenhewould bringatotalregimechangetotheentireMiddleEast,ranbytheTaliban.ThememoriesoftheTaliban controllingAfghanistanstillburnedlividlyinnotonlytheoneswhowereundertheTalibanbannerbut alsoaroundthewholeMiddleEastwhosawpictures,videos,andnewsreportsonAfghanistan.The Talibanranaverystrictregimegrantinglittlerightstothewomen,allowingnomusic,andnoTVwhich thencontrolswhatkindofinformationwasavailabletothem. Post9/11therewasagreatfearwithintheBushadministrationofanotherwaveofattacksfrom alQaeda.Theadministrationtookonanewattitudeofdowhateverittakestomakesurethatanything closeto9/11wouldneverhappenagain.Ascarethatcreatedsomeparanoiaandeventuallycreateda seriouscrisiswithintheAmericanPostalDepartmentwastheanthraxletters.Theanthraxlettersclosed downCapitolHillmaildeliverysystemaswellasamajorpostalsortingstationinWashingtonand eventuallykilledfivepeople.19TheselettersthatcontainedtheanthraxhadthemessageDEATHTO AMERICA.DEATHTOISRAEL.ALLAHISGREAT!Tomakesureanysortofanattackdidnttake

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placeagain,informationfromindividualswithinalQaedawashadtobegather.Issuesonthetypeof interrogationmethodsbecomeahottopicbecauseofthedisagreementbetweentheCIA,theBureau, andTheWhiteHouse.TheBureauchosetousetraditionalrapportbuildingtechniques,rathertheCIA andTheWhiteHousepreferredtousemoreintensetechniquesthatcouldbeconsideredtorture.One waytotakecareofthisproblemwhilemakinganattempttoprotecttheBushadministrationfrom gettingintroublewastosendanysuspectedterroristwithimportantinformationtoEgypt.Thisbecame knownastherenditionprogramandhadclearinstructionfromthepresidenttotakeallmeasures necessarytokeepAmericasafe. RobertDannenberg,whowasheadoftheoperationsfortheCIAsCounterterrorismCenter (CTC)commentedonthehowtherenditionprogramtookapsychologicaleffectonmembersof alQaeda.Aretheylookingovertheirshouldersbecausetheydontknowwhethertheyregoingtoget ahoodthrownovertheirheadatanygivenmomentofthedayandgetcarriedofftovanish?20This becameaninterrogationtoolinitself.Americaninterrogatorswouldthreatensuspectedterroristthat wouldntbecooperatingbytellthemtheyweregoingtobesenttoEgypt.Inmanyoccasionsthis workedbecauseofthehorrorstoriesmembersofalQaedaknewaboutthetreatmenttheywould receiveinEgypt. AnothercontroversialmethodwasouruseofGuantanamoBaytohouseprisonersandalso interrogatethemthere.TheBushadministrationfavoredusingGuantanamoBayformanyreasons.One isbecauseitwasveryclosetoAmericasmainland,beingonlyninetymilesoffthecoastofFlorida. Secondly,AmericanofficialsandagenciesbelievedthatsincetheywerehousingtheirprisonersinCuba thatAmericanlawsdidnotapply,givinginterrogatorsmorefreedomtousemoreintensetechniques.

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Butmanybroughtintotheargumentthateventhoughtheirprisonerswerebeingheldinanothercountry, AmericacanstillbeheldresponsiblebecauseofTheGenevaConventionswhichplainlystatedthatall prisonersinanytypeofconflictweregivencertainrights.21Inmostcasesthiswasignored.Techniques suchaswaterboarding,whichissupposedtosimulatedrowning,werecommonlyusedandheavily supportedbytheBushadministration.Butintheend,GuantanamoBayhadalotofcriticismbecauseof thelackofinformationthatcameoutoftheinterrogationmethodsusedontheprisoners. EventhoughGuantanamoBaywasntacompletesuccess,oneofthemostimportant interrogationsthattookplacewasatasecretoverseaCIAprisononAbuZubaydah,whowas consideredthehighestrankingalQaedamembercapturedfollowing9/11.WhatZubaydahrevealed andmostimportantlyconfirmedwasKhalidSheikhMohammed(KSM)rolein9/11,beingthe operationalcommander.Thisinformationwasalsogainedbyusingstandardinterrogationtechniques whichwasgivenaboutaweekintohisinterrogation.Thisdiscoverycameasarealsurpriseto interrogators. AnotherverysuccessfulinterrogationwasinvolvingAbuJandal,whowasthefirstalQaeda insidertoexplaintheinnerworkingsofthegroupduringtheperiodafterbinladenhadmovedhismento Afghanistan.22Jandalalsogaveatonofimportantinformationthateventuallyledtothecaptureof KSM.KSMgaveupinformationabouttheinnerworkingsofalQaedaandalsodetailsaboutpastand futureplotsplannedbyalQaeda.AlongwiththeinnerworkingsofalQaeda,hegaveupinformation abouttheiranthraxprogram.HealsohelpleadtothearrestsofSayfullahParacha,hissonUzair Paracha,andalsoIymanFarisatruckdriverarrestedinOhiowhichwasconfirmedbyKSMasbeinga

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footsoldierofalQaedalivinginAmerica.Allofthisinformationwasgainedbyusingtraditional interrogationtechniques.OnthetreatmentKSMreceivedwhilebeingdetainedbyAmerican interrogators,FormerCIAdirectorGeorgeTenetcommentednoneofthesesuccesseswouldhave happenedifwehadtreatedKSMlikeawhitecollarcriminalreadhimhisMirandarightsandgothima lawyerwhosurelywouldhaveinsistedhisclientsimplyshutup.23 PresidentBushwasverydeadsetonfindingaconnectingbetweenIraq,Saddam,alQaeda, and9/11.ThisquestthattheBushAdministrationspearheadedwasundertheassumptionthatSaddam Hussein,hadweaponsofmassdestruction(WMD).ThisincludedbiologicalweaponswhichSaddam usedagainsthisownpeopleinthelate80s.TherewasalsofearthatSaddamhadanuclearprogram runningwhichhewouldnotonlyuseagainstotheralreadyhostilecountriesbutalsoprovideterrorist groupssuchasalQaedawithnuclearweapons.Thiswouldclearlyhaveanabsolutelydevastatingeffect onnotonlytheUnitedStatesbutalsotheworld.TheBushadministrationwasconvincedthatSaddam, ifhehadWMD,wouldnothesitatetosellthemtoalQaeda.Asmostpeopleknowbynow,goinginto IraqwasafailedmissioninfindingSaddam'ssupposedWMD.MostAmericanswerealsoconvinced thatSaddamwasconnectedto9/11,nearly70percentofAmericansbelievedthatSaddamwas implicatedintheattackonNewYorkandWashington,despitethefacttherewasnotashredof evidencethatthiswasthecase.24ManyothersfoundnoconnectionbetweenSaddam,alQaedaand 9/11.MikeMaloof:DefenseDepartmentOfficialDouglasFeith:numberthreeofficialatthepentagon, DavidWurmser:aneoconservativescholar,MichaelScheuer:formerheadoftheCIAsbinladenunit, andDanielColeman:FBISpecialagentwhowasknowntobeextremelyknowledgeableofalQaeda

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allcameupwithnothingtoconnectIraqandalQaeda.TheU.S.militaryhadby2006translated34 millionpagesofdocumentsfromSaddamsIraqandfoundtherewasnothingtosubstantiatea partnershipbetweenSaddamandalQaeda.25 FormanyintheBushAdministrationthiscameasacompletesurprisebecauseofhowconfident theywereonfindingtheseWMD.KarlRove,PresidentBushsSeniorAdvisorandDeputyChiefof StaffcommentedonBushsbeliefinIraqhavingWMDandaconnectiontoterrorist.After9/11he believedIraqrepresentedadeeplydangerousthreatarogueregimewithWMD,noconstraintson usingthem,andarecordofsupportofterrorist.26Sowhatwastheconvincingfactorthatmade AmericatodecidetodumpbillionsofdollarsintoawarwithIraqwhenthereseemedtobeno evidence?SomebelievedthatthereasonwhyBushwentintoIraqwastoseekrevengeforSaddams assassinationattemptagainsthisfather,GeorgeH.Bush.Highlyunlikelyofthisbeingthesolereason.A moreconvincingargumentcamefromColinPowell,whowastheSecretaryofStateduringtheBush administration.ColinPowelldeliveredanextremelyconvincingpresentationtotheUNSecurityCouncil onFebruary5,2003.ThisbecamethecrutchtheBushadministrationleanedonforbuildingacaseto invadeIraq.PowellstatedinhispresentationwhenourcoalitionoustedtheTaliban,theZarqawi networkhelpedestablishanotherpoisonandexplosivetrainingcentercamp,andthisislocatedin northeasternIraq.27OnMarch20th,2003OperationIraqiFreedomstartedandwouldcontinuefor anothereightyears.ThemaingoalsthatweretobeaccomplishedinOperationIraqiFreedomwasto destroytheSaddamregime,getridofalQaeda,andlocateSaddam'sWMD.Thiswasalltoprevent anotherattacklike9/11.AmericadidhavesomesuccessinIraq.Withinthreeweekwehadcomplete

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controlofBaghdad.ThisiswherethefamousimagesofSaddam'sstatuebeingtorndownbytheIraqi peoplewhichwaswidelybroadcastedaroundtheworld.AstheSaddam'sregimefell,whichwasa SunniregimeinacountrythatisdominatedbyShias,Americamadeamistakebynotputtinginanew respectedleaderlikewedidinAfghanistanrather,thecountrywassubjectedtoafullblownAmerican occupationundertheCoalitionProvisionalAuthority(CPA)28.Thisleadtoacoupleofmorecritical mistakesthathelpstimulateacivilwarinIraqandalsotheriseofAbuMusabalZarqawi,whowould becometheleaderofalQaedainIraq(AQI).FirsttheCPAdismissedover30,000minoritySunni membersoftheoldregimethatwasunderSaddam,puttingthemonthestreetswithoutjobsinacountry thathadanalmost50%unemploymentrate.Thiscompletelyflippedthesocialorder.Second,America didntsecuretheIraqiArmiesweaponsthatwerestashedaroundtheIraq.Thiswasasituationthatwas soontogofrombadtoworstandaSunniInsurgencywasbornwithanIraqicivilonthehorizon. ZarqawibecamealeaderinthealQaedagroupasheadofalQaedainIraq.Hebecamean extremelyfearedmaninIraq,partlyduetohissignatureexecutionswhichhewouldvideotapeandpost onjihadistwebsites.Hissignaturewastobeheadhisvictim,onebeinganAmericanbusinessman, NicholasBerg.ZarqawimaingoalwastostimulateacivilwarbetweentheSunnis,andShia.Bydoing soZarqawiwouldbeabletorecruitSunnisintothejihad,ultimatelyaddingtothealQaedaarmy.This worked.ZarqawigrewhisinsurgencywhichbecameamajorconcernandthreattotheUnitedStates. OneofthemajorconcernsaboutthepossibilityofSaddamhavingaWMDprogramwouldbe thepossibilityoftheseweaponsgettinginthehandsofbinladen,especiallyiftheseweaponswere nuclear.ItwasclearthatalQaedadidn'thavethetechnologytoachievenuclearweapons,but alQaedadidhaveanuclearphysicistwhoonceworkedatafacilityinPakistanthatmadenuclear

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weapons.AlQaedawasevenabletorecruittwoAmericaneducatedscientistsfromMIT,onebeing behindtheanthraxprogram.AlQaedahadthebrainsandthemoneytopossessnuclearweaponsbut didnothavethemeanstodosoyet.Plus,alQaedahadmadetheirintentionsveryclearthatthey intendtokillmillionsofAmericans,buttheirabilitytodosohasbeennonexistent.29AlQaedawas willingtopayupto$1.5millionforuranium,mostlyleftoverforthesovietsinvasion.Thiscreateda somewhatdangeroussituation.Whatwasreallytocomeoutofitwasapsychologicalwartacticby alQaedaconsideringtheveryunlikelihoodofalQaedabeingabletoobtainuranium.Also,nocountry thathadnuclearweaponsweregoingtobewillingtoselltheirnuclearweapons.Therewasanalsovery lowchanceofanynuclearweaponsthatcouldbestolen.Americaput$100millionintoPakistanalone justtoaidtheminprotectingtheirnuclearweapons. After9/11alQaedahadtocompletelyreorganizeandawholenewtypeofalQaedawas born.ThisnewtypeofterrorismthatalQaedawasashiftfromusinglargescaleattackssuchas9/11to morecovert,smallerattack.After9/11securityonplanesandairports,thecreationofTheHomeland SecurityDepartment,TSA,limitedamountofliquidsallowedonplanes,tightercontrolsoncustoms, plusnowtheCIA,FBIandWhiteHouseworkingasateamnow,allmadeanattacksuchas9/11a muchhardertaskthanbefore.When9/11occuredthesetypesofsecuritymeasureswerenonexistent. Itshardtobelieveintodaysworldthatpassengerswereabletobringonboardknifesnolargerthan fourinches.Accordingtothe9/11CommissionReportdiscussingtheFAAsstanceonallowingknives, TheFAAsBasisforthispolicywas(1)theagencydidnotconsidersuchitemstobemenacing,(2) mostlocallawsdidnotprohibitindividualsfromcarryingsuchknives,and(3)suchkniveswouldhave beendifficulttodetectunlessthesensitivityofmetaldetectorshadbeengreatlyincreased.30The

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hijackersof9/11hadknivesonthemtoaidthemintakingovertheplaneandkilledtheflightattendants usingtheseknifes.ThisisnottherealitytodayandalQaedawasforcedtoadjust. ThetypeofterrorismthatalQaedaisusingtodayisaconstantthreattoAmerica.Thisshiftin terrorismisonamuchsmallerscalesuchasthe7/7trainbombinginLondon.Thesetypesofoperations aremuchmoreaffordableforalQaedaandaremuchhardertodetect.TheBostonMarathon BombingsisanotherexampleofasmallscaleattackthatcanforeverchangetheclimateinAmericas economy.WithoutadoubtforthenextBostonMarathonthesecuritywillbeintensified,costingthecity additionalcosts.Thesesmallscaleattackswerealsohavinghomegrownterroristperformthem.Thisis anotherscarecounterintelligenceunitsaredealingwithtoday.Notonlyhasitbecomemoredifficultto detecttheseattacksbutalsopinpointingexactlywhoisoperatingthem.Thisisbecauseofthe progressiveuseoftheworldwideinternetthatalQaedanowuses.AlQaedacannowputvideoson theirsitesthatactasarecruitingtoolandradicalizetheirviewers.Thiscanandmostlikelyishappening rightnow,insideAmerica.Today,memberswhowishtobeapartofalQaedanolongerhavetotravel totheMiddleEastandsweartheirallegiance.Thefutureaspiringmembersnowcantakethisoathof allegiancethousandsmilesawayinAmericaorotherplacesaroundtheworld. ThesetypesofnewtacticsmakeanewclimateofrealityforAmericansandthoseinthewestern world.EssentiallyeverytimeanAmericanstepsoutoftheirhousetheyarerunningtheriskofbeinga victimofanattackbyalQaeda.Itmaynotbeboilinginthefrontofeveryone'smindsastheyleavetheir houseeverymorning,butthoseinTheWhiteHouse,whoareresponsibletokeepussafe,thisisa realitytheydealwitheveryday.Whatwouldhappenifsomeonewouldwalkontoacollegecampusand butabackpackwithabombinitinsidealibrary.Thiswouldcreateanabsoluteterrifyingworld.Thisis

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whybombthreatsarenowtakensoseriously.Thiswasneverthecaseevenfifteenyearsago. Toconclude,therootsofwherealQaedawasborngobackfarbeforetherewasany recognitionthatsuchacomplexterroristgroupwouldeventuallybesuchadevastatingandterrifying forceonAmericaandthewesternworld.Thenarrativehadtostartwiththefounderandleaderof alQaeda,Osamabinladen.Atall,charismaticmanthatthatwasextremelydevotedtohisfaith.He camefromaextremelywealthybackground.HisfatherbeingoneoftherichestmeninSaudiArabia,bin ladencouldhavelivedluxuriouslife.Thispathforbinladenquicklychangedforhimwhenthesoviets wereinAfghanistan.BinladenleavesSaudiArabiatohelpfightagainstthesovietsandindoingsonot onlybecomesawarhero,buthasatransformation.Thistransformationwouldsoonhelphimcreatehis platformagainstthewesternworldespeciallyAmerica.Binladen,indisagreementwithhismentor, Azzum,begantomakehisownmilitaryarmywhichwasthefirstformationofhowweknowalQaeda today.ShortlyafterSaddaminvadedKuwait,thiscreatedatroublesomesituationintheMiddleEast. Binladen,beinganativefromSaudiArabia,offeredprotectiontohishomecountrywithhisarmythat hecreatedinAfghanistanwhilefightingtheSoviets.SaudiArabiarejectshisofferandhismilitaryand insteaddecidestoseektheprotectionfromtheUnitedStates.Thisabsolutelyinfuriatedbinladen becauseinhiseyesinfidelswereinhishomecountryprotectinghispeople.Thiswasoneofthereasons whybinladenhadadeephatredforAmerica.HealsohatedAmericaforsupportingIsrael,because AmericawasgivingmoneytoIsraelandthereforeaidingthedeathsofmanyMuslimsintheMuslim world.Thishelpedjustifyhisfutureactionsthatwouldtakeplaceon9/11.Binladenwasabletogain widesupportforhisjihadandevenmanipulatingtheIslamicbeliefofkillingAmericanciviliansandalso engaginginsuicidemissions.BothkillingciviliansandengaginginsuicideoperationsisveryunIslamic. HemakestheclaimthatbecauseAmericanselecttheirpresident,paytaxeswhichthenhelpaidthe

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murdersofMuslims.ThisIdeologycaughtonandgeneratedahighlymotivatedjihad,willingtoeven taketheirownlifetokillinfidels.9/11changestheissuesandAmericaninfluenceintheMiddleEast possiblyforaverylongtime.TheWhiteHousefirstmovedintoAfghanistan.FightingahighlyTaliban controlledcountrytheAmericanforcesdroppedthousandsofbombs,andtakingouttheTalibanwith ease.Thiswasnotthecasewithbinladen,whowasinToraBorawhileAmericawasinAfghanistan. ThisopportunityslipsawayfromtheAmericanforces.BinladenandtherestofhisalQaedaforcesflee intoPakistantorebuild.ThroughoutAmerica'sWaronTerror,Americahasspentwellover$500 billionandcostingmanymoreAmericanlives.PostdayalQaedahastakenacompletelydifferentturn fromengaginginlargescaleattackssuchas9/11butnowaremostlikelytoengageinsmallscale attacks,suchasthe7/7bombingandtheBostonMarathonBombings.Theseareveryscarybecauseof howhardthatistodetectandmanyofthosewhofollowthroughontheseoperationsarehomegrown terrorist.AmericaswarwithalQaedapossiblymayalwayscontinueandexistinournewsheadlines.