Russell Shortt

How did Al-Qaeda start?



Posted: Thursday, January 08, 2009

by
Exploring Ireland

The origins of Al-Qaeda can be traced to the Soviet War in Afghanistan. The United States viewed the Soviet support of the Afghan Marxists against the Afghan mujahedeen as a sign of Soviet aggression and expansionist policy. The CIA launched Operation Cyclone, channelling funds through Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence agency to the mujahedeen. A large number of Arab mujahedeen had joined the jihad against the Afghan Marxists, this was facilitated by organisations such as the Maktab-al-Khidamat, who were funded by wealthy Saudis who were approached by Osama Bin Laden. Al-Qaeda evolved from the Maktab-al-Khidamat organisation. The Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989, however Mohammed Najibullah's communist Afghan government remained in power for a further three years before been overrun by mujahedeen. Mujahedeen leaders struggled to agree on a method of administration. Alliances were in constant flux and fighting for territory left the country devastated. Some mujahedeen decided to extend their struggle to other parts of the world, a number of organisations were created to deal with these aspirations. One of these organisations was Al-Qaeda which was formed by Osama Bin Laden.

The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 threatened Saudi Arabia, as some of its most valuable oil-fields were dangerously close to Iraqi forces. In addition, there were fears that Saddam Hussein's call to pan Arab/Islamism might rally internal dissent. Bin Laden offered the services of his mujahedeen to King Fahd to protect Saudi Arabia. However, King Fahd chose instead the offer of US support and allowed them to deploy forces on Saudi territory. The deployment angered Bin Laden, as he believed the presence of foreign troops near the sacred sites of Mecca and Medina profaned sacred soil. After speaking publicly, he was denounced by the Saudi government and was forced to go into exile in Sudan. From 1992 to 1994, Al-Qaeda were based in Sudan, arriving at the invitation of the Islamist theoretician Hassan al Turabi following an Islamist coup. Bin Laden assisted the Sudanese government, purchased and created various business enterprises and established Al-Qaeda training camps.

After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, a new force began to emerge named the Taliban. The Taliban was constituted of children of the war, many who were orphans and many who had been educated in the rapidly expanding network of Islamic schools called madrassas. The infighting and lawlessness that dogged Afghanistan gave the well disciplined and well organised Taliban the opportunity to gradually expand their control, eventually capturing the capital Kabul in September 1996. At the same time, the Sudanese authorities were forcing Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda to leave Sudan, the Taliban invited them into Afghanistan. In 1996, Al-Qaeda announced a jihad to expel foreign troops from what they felt were Islamic lands. Bin Laden issued a fatwa, which amounted to a public declaration of war on the US and any of its allies.

 

Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source Russell Shortt, http://www.exploringireland.net

 

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