Unit 2: The Arab WorldExtremism & Terrorism

A Different Perspective

• “…all liberation movements are described as terrorists by those who have reduced them to slavery. …[The term] terrorist [can] hardly be held to persons who were denied the most elementary human rights, dignity, freedom and independence, and whose countries objected to foreign occupation.”• Moulaye el-Hassan• U.N. Ambassador from Mauritania

• “…the methods of combat used by national liberation movements could not be declared illegal while the policy of terrorism unleashed against certain peoples [by the armed forces of established states] was declared legitimate.”• Cuban representative to the U.N.

So the questions become . . .

• When is the use of force acceptable?• Who can use force? Nations, smaller groups?• What makes a person a terrorist?

• Revolutionary or Terrorist??

Definitions

• Extremism: belief in and support for ideas that are very far from what most people consider correct or reasonable

• Terrorism: the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes, often targets civilians

Terrorism

• Terrorist – person whose extremist views have led them to believe violence is justified • Cause – feel their cause is being neglected and/or ignored• Violence – believe that they have no other option left but violence to

bring attention to their cause, which will lead to change

Why have terrorists attacked the U.S?1. OUR SUPPORT OF ISRAEL (think about the Arab/Israeli Conflict)2. INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER WARS

ex: First Gulf War (1991)3. TROOPS STATIONED IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES

ex: currently have troops in Afghanistanex: also have military presence in Saudi Arabia, near Mecca

4. ECONOMIC POLICIES 5. BELIEVE “WESTERN” CULTURE IS DESTROYING THEIR CULTURE

Al Qaeda - Formed in 1988• A. Attacks: • 1. World Trade Center – 1993• 2. Tanzanian and Kenyan US

Embassies – 1998• 3. USS Cole – 2000• 4. World Trade Center 2001• 5. Kenyan Hotel -2002• 6. Bali nightclub – 2002• 7. Many attacks in Saudi

Arabia – 2001-2004• 8. Istanbul synagogue and

HSBC bank – 2004

• B. Goals: • 1. to unite Muslims to fight

against the U.S. as a way of defeating Israel• 2. overthrowing non-Islamic

regimes• 3. expelling westerners and non-

Muslims from Muslim countries• 4. merged with Egyptian Islamic

Jihad in 2001 • 5. merged with al-Zarqawi’s

group -2004

Al Qaeda (cont.)• C. Individuals:• 1. Usama bin Laden• 2. Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi• 3. Ayman al-Zawahiri

• D. Financing;• 1. personal wealth - Usama• 2. fund raising –false Muslim

and humanitarian charities

• 3. wealthy Arab sheiks (Saudi Arabia)• 4. individuals and businesses • 5. the heroin trade

International Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders

“The ruling to kill the Americans and their allies─civilians and military─is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it. ”

Fatwa issued by Osama bin Laden & Ayman al-Zawahiri on 23 February 1998

The link between September 11 and Afghanistan• Afghans did not carry out the terrorist

attacks on the U.S. Al-Qaeda, a terrorist network operating within Afghanistan and other places, did.

• Many Afghans expressed their solidarity with the people of the U.S. after Sept. 11.

• After September 11, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama bin Laden.

• U.S. and NATO forces remain in Afghanistan today.

http://www.indiadaily.org/images/9_11_attack.jpg

9/11 -NYC

American Airlines Flight 11

• Scheduled route: Boston to LA• Aircraft: Boeing 767• Building Hit: North Tower

(WTC 1) at 8:46 AM.• 92 on board

The hijackers

United Airlines Flight 175

• Scheduled route: Boston to LA• Aircraft: Boeing 767• Building Hit: South

Tower (WTC 2) at 9:03 AM.• 65 on board

The hijackers

Map showing the attacks on the World Trade Center (the planes are not drawn to scale).

American Airlines Flight 77

• Route: Washington, D.C. (Dulles) to L.A.• Aircraft: Boeing 757• Building Hit: Pentagon,

Arlington, VA• 58 on board

The hijackers

9/11 - Pentagon

Aerial view of the Pentagon during rescue operations post-September 11 attack

9/11 - PA

United Airlines Flight 93: “Let’s Roll”

• Scheduled Route: Newark, NJ to San Francisco

• Aircraft: Boeing 575• Terrorists Target: Speculated to be

Washington, D.C.• Crash Site: Somerset County, PA• 44 on board• The passengers revolted against the

hijackers, and the aircraft crashed before reaching its intended target.

The hijackers

Crash Site of United Flight 93

9/11 Targets: WHY?

• NYC World Trade Center – Economics• Pentagon – Foreign Policy• Flight 93 – White House, Capitol

Building??• To learn more about 9/11, go to:

http://timeline.national911memorial.org/

Osama bin laden

• How did this man become an extremist/terrorist?• To find out, go to:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/05/02/world/20110502-osama-timeline.html?_r=1&