Transcript PART II: AL QAEDA & 9/11

PART II: AL
QAEDA & 9/11
“ The base”
Why was bin Laden waging an
ongoing war against the USA?
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U. S. troops in Saudi Arabia—Desert
Storm (1991-1992)
U. S. fought & humiliated Muslims
U. S. support of Israel
U. S. support of sanctions on Iraq
U. S. presence in Middle East: war on
Allah & Muslims
SOLUTION
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Defense of Muslims
“Cosmic struggle” to save religion &
culture
1998: World Islamic Front for Jihad
against Jews & Crusaders
Al Qaeda: many international secret cells
POLITICAL ISLAM & THE
MIDDLE EAST
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Role of Islam
“Salaam”: peace
Family & tolerance
Jews lived peacefully in Ottoman Empire
Violence: self-defense
Great Jihad: Personal struggles
Little Jihad: enemies of Islam
“Let there be no 2 religions in Saudi
Arabia.” Prophet Muhammed
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Non-Muslims expelled????
Non-Muslim presence—American troops
condemned by bin Laden
Most Americans: separate religious &
political conflicts
Bin Laden: religious & political conflicts
are the same
Why is the U. S. concerned about
political Islam?
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Islamic Revolution of 1979: US hostages
Iran & Sudan: Islamic clergy control
government
Political Islam
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Islamic fundamentalism
Shar’ia:
Islamic law
Interpretation of Islamic tradition
Oppose free market economy
Unemployment up
Government aid to poor down
U. S. officials & political Islam
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Threat to stability
Destroy enemies of Islam
“Jihad” against enemies of Islam
But, U. S. supports Saudi government for
U. S. interests
What pricciples govern U.S politics in
ME?
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Access to oil
AIC
Lack of concern for government type
Preserve alliances in ME
Egypt: receives huge foreign aid
Little concern for human rights
What is U. S. perspective on relations
with Israel?
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Sponsors AIC
Agreements b/ Israel & Palestinians; & b/
Israel & Jordan
Israel: democracy
Israel: strategic ally: shared intell, testing
US weapons
U. S. CONCERNS WITH ISRAEL
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Treatment of Palestinians
Attacks on Lebanon
1st Middle East democracy
Strategic ally
AIC
IRAQ
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1991: Desert Storm, 1st Gulf War: Reaction
to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait
25% of world’s oil!!??##$!! (Iraq & Kuwait)
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, et al, saw U. S.
military presence as necessary
Post 1991: Containment of Iraq & Iran
WMD’S
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UN weapons inspections of Iraq
Attempt to prevent production of biological,
chemical, nuclear weapons
1998-2002: Saddam refused to allow
weapons inspectors to freely inspect
weapons plants
IRAQ WAR
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3 POINTS OF VIEW
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
President Bush
Madeleine K Albright