1. Name Al-Qaeda prepared for jihad. Training camps were set up. When the
Taliban took over Afghanistan, al-Qaeda headquarters moved there.
But now the holy warriors were training for a different battle. Their
foe would not be an armed force. They were taught to strike anywhere
Al-Qaeda--"The Base" their actions might further the cause of jihad.
By Toni Lee Robinson Since then, seven major terrorist acts have been laid at the feet of
al-Qaeda. September 11 was the most deadly. In response, the U.S.
Have you ever watched the TV news and thought, "This just can't be bombed al-Qaeda bases in Afghanistan. Its facilities were destroyed
happening?" September 11, 2001, was one of those times for many and some top leaders were killed. Bin Laden and the rest of al-Qaeda
people. It was a day that brought home a cruel fact-terrorism is a part went underground.
of our world. The events of 9/11 made al-Qaeda (all-KY-dah) the
most notorious terrorist group of our day. More than 3,000 al-Qaeda members have since been captured. It is
estimated that a third of Bin Laden's aides are dead. Cells have been
What sort of group would cause such havoc? There is no simple disrupted. Front businesses have been raided, and the flow of money
answer. Experts have suggested that al-Qaeda is as much an idea as a has slowed.
body. Al-Qaeda means "the base" or "the camp." It has been described
as a loose network of groups and causes. Cells in fifty or more The huge network has been weakened. Some of its plans have been
countries around the world function under al-Qaeda's "umbrella." thwarted. In 2001, passengers aboard a plane tackled a man trying to
activate a bomb hidden in his shoe. Kenyan terrorists were stopped in
Osama Bin Laden leads the organization. His circle of aides decides an attempt to bring down an Israeli aircraft with a hand-held missile.
strategy, relays orders, even handles publicity. But each small,
separate group has its own system. The isolated cells have little Yet, events show that al-Qaeda is still functioning. The group carried
contact with each other. Each finances its own operations. Petty crime out bomb attacks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2003. In March of 2004,
or drug trafficking are some ways cells raise money. nearly 200 were killed in the bombing of a train in Madrid.
The core of al-Qaeda was formed in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Bin The shifting structure of al-Qaeda makes it difficult to pin down.
Laden, son of a wealthy Saudi family, joined the fight to oust Soviet Meanwhile, Western agencies continue to pursue the shadowy group
forces from Afghanistan. The Soviets did not follow Islam. Muslims and its leader. Governments work to guard their citizens from its
considered the Soviet presence in the Islamic nation an offense violent attacks. And the world wrestles with causes and solutions to
against Islam. Bin Laden and other Arabs trained and equipped the the painfully real problem of terrorism.
mujahideen (moo-ha-DEEN), or holy warriors, in what was seen as
jihad (GEE-hawd), holy war.
Ten years of fierce guerrilla warfare wore the Soviets down. Their
retreat from Afghanistan left Bin Laden and the Arab volunteers
energized. Jihad had defeated one of the world's most powerful
nations! What other great battles could be won?
Bin Laden saw jihad as the duty of all Muslims. He issued fatwas, or
religious rulings, to all Islam. Muslims should to go to war, he said.
Pro-Western regimes in Arab countries should be toppled. All Arab
countries should become a single Muslim nation. There should be no
law but the strict rules of Islam. Infidels, non-Islamics, were enemies.
It was the duty of every Muslim to kill these enemies.

2. 4. Why was the presence of Soviet forces in Afghanistan an
Name offense to all Muslims?
A. There were female Soviet troops and Muslims thought
women should be at home.
B. The Soviets did not eat according to Muslim dietary laws.
Al-Qaeda--"The Base" C. Afghanistan is an Islam nation and the Soviets were
infidels.
Questions D. The Soviets brought powerful modern weapons and
people were frightened.
1. Al-Qaeda is described as "the most notorious terrorist group of 5. Explain the effect of the Soviet troop withdrawal on Bin Laden
our day." What does this mean? and the Arabs who had worked together in Afghanistan.
2. Why do experts say that al-Qaeda is as much an idea as a 6. Osama Bin Laden's nation of origin is:
group?
A. Kenya
A. The word al-Qaeda means "the idea." B. Saudi Arabia
B. Bin Laden had the idea for al-Qaeda and then acted on it. C. Egypt
C. Leaders choose attack plans from ideas submitted by D. Afghanistan
underlings.
D. It is more a rallying point for hundreds of different 7. Bin Laden issued fatwas to all Muslims. Describe the rulings
groups than a strong, cohesive organization. contained in them.
3. Explain the words mujahideen and jihad. How are they
related?
8. What is an "infidel?"
A. One who does not practice Islam
B. A Russian
C. A faithful practitioner of Islam
D. A member of al-Qaeda

3. Think of a cause, some idea in which you believe so strongly that you
Name would like to persuade others to support your idea. What ways could
you use to promote your cause?
Describe your impressions of the events of September 11. What made
it so terrible? Why was it so startling?