Al-Qaeda and their effects on U.S. military strategy By Mike Nahmias.

al-Qaedaand their effects onU.S. military strategy

By Mike Nahmias

About al-Qaeda

“Al-Qaeda” is Arabic for “The Base”Also known as al-Qaida and al-Qa'idaCreated in 1988 in AfghanistanLed by Osama bin Laden who is richNow is more of an ideological movementIs a decentralized organization

Motives

Practice a form of Islamic extremismMost Muslim scholars and clerics reject it

They want to impose their radical beliefs on everyoneWant to rid Muslim countries of Western influence, and ultimately destroy Western countries altogetherWant to kill all Christians and Jews

Doesn’t matter whether you’re a woman, child, civilian, or in the military

Successful AttacksFebruary 26, 1993

First bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City by al-Qaeda

October 3-4, 1993

• Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia• U.S. Special Forces fought against al-Qaeda-

trained enemies

November 13, 1995

Al-Qaeda bombs the National Guard Communications Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

June 25, 1996

Khobar Towers are bombed, which was a U.S. military housing complex in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

August 7, 1998

Two U.S. embassies are bombed in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar al Salaam, Tanzania

October 12, 2000

The USS Cole is bombed in the port of Aden, Yemen

September 11, 2001

4 commercial airplanes are hijacked and crashed: 2 into the World Trade Center, 1 in the Pentagon,

& the last crashed in Pennsylvania

Differences Between al-Qaeda & The Taliban

al-QaedaOperates all around the globe

Doesn’t have a central location

Leader is Osama bin Laden

TalibanOnly active in & around AfghanistanLeader is Mohammed OmarOriginate from Kandahar Province, AfghanistanThe strict, ruthless governing force in AfghanistanCame to power in 1996 during the Afghan Civil War

United States is fighting both al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the Middle EastTaliban are in the way of us getting to al-Qaeda and won’t hand them overBoth work together and support one another

Similarities

War on Terror

Al-Qaeda’s attack on 9/11 started America’s War on Terrorism with the help of NATO forces and other countries

136 countries offered military assistanceFour, main U.S. policies:

Make no deals with terroristsBring terrorists to justice for their crimesForce states that promote terrorism to change their waysStrengthen the countries that are supporting the U.S.

Greatly increased national security

“Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated.” (Bush)

In almost every area where there is fighting there are villages with localsInsurgents use these villages to their advantage by blending in with locals

They also stand near civilians so coalition forces aren’t able to attack, even if being shot at

Because there are so many locals, anti-terrorist forces usually aren’t allowed to attack anyone unless they are shooting at them, are armed, or have a radioA big part of the war is obtaining local support from locals and village elders

This is done by:Giving them medical aidSupplying food and waterProtecting them from the TalibanNot killing any localsKilling less locals than our enemies

By obtaining support coalition forces can receive intel on where the enemy is, their plans, and who exactly we’re supposed to be fightingHaving civilians support coalition forces will also stop them from helping out the insurgents

Involvement of Civilians

Involvement of Civilians

U.S. Marines meeting with elders in Marja, Afghanistan

Lots of deserts, valleys, and mountains as well as strong winds and stormsTakes away U.S. ability to use things like tanks and whole armies in many areas

Special Forces are used a lotAir support is used more

U.S. started to use drones again because of their ease of mobilitySome are only used for surveillance and others are equipped with rockets and bombs

Not incredibly effective; for every intended target, 50 unintended targets are killed

Native to insurgentsMuch more mobile that coalition forces

Carry only guns and ammoAre used to the harsh environmentsKnow the areas very well

Mostly unfamiliar to coalition forcesInsurgents use the location of Afghanistan and places like the Korengal Valley to their advantage

Many attack U.S. soldiers and then flee across the border into Pakistan

Terrain

U.S. soldiers in Kunar province, Afghanistan

Since the Taliban regime has been overthrown coalition forces have to help put a new government into effect like in Iraq after Hussein was taken down from powerSupport for the locals also has to be givenThe nation’s army has to be recruited and trained

The Afghan National Army (ANA)So they can take over land-based operationsA hard task because many are either highly undisciplined or corrupt

Government Reconstruction

American soldiers training ANA soldiers

ANA emblem

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